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JOHN DIXON. 






HISTORY 



( I 




LEE COUNTY, 



TOGETHEH WITH 



BIOGRAPHICAL MATTER, STATISTICS, ETC. 



GATHERED FROM INTERVIEWS WITH OLD SETTLERS, COUN'I'Y, 

TOWNSHIP AND OTHER RECORDS, AND EXTRACTS 

PROM FILES OF PAPERS, PAMPHLETS, AND 

SUCH OTHER SOURCES AS HAVE 

BEEN AVAILABLE. 




CHICAGO: 
H. H. HILL AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 
1881. 
T.C 






.0 






\p 



PREFACE. 



In presenting the History of Lee County to the public the editors 
and publishers have had in view the preservation of certain valuable 
historical facts and information which without concentrated effort 
would not have been obtained, but with the passing away of the old 
pioneers, the failure of memory, and the loss of public records and 
private diaries, would soon have been lost. This locality being com- 
paratively new, we flatter ourselves that, with the zeal and industry 
displayed liy our general and local historians, we have succeeded in 
rescuing from the fading years almost every scrap of history worthy 
oi preservation. Doubtless the work is, in some respects, imper- 
fect; — we do not present it as a model literary effort, but in that 
which goes to make up a valuable book of reference for the present 
reader and future historian, we assure our patrons that neither money 
nor time has been spared in the accomplishment of the work. Per- 
haps some errors will be found. With treacherous memories, per- 
sonal, political and sectarian prejudices and preferences to contend 
against, it would be almost a miracle if no mistakes were made. 
We hope that even these defects, which may be found to exist, may 
be made available in so far as they may provoke discussion and call 
attention to corrections and additions necessary to perfect history. 

In the writing of the general coiinty history Di-. Cochran has 
had the advice and constant counsel of many of the early settlers of 
the county, to whom the manuscript was submitted and by them 
approved ; and while there may be some mistakes, it is thought that it 
would hardly be possible, after so many years with nothing to depend 
upon for many of the facts but the memories <jf the early settlers, 
that it is as nearly correct as it could pussibly be made. Certain it is 
that at no time in the future could such a work be undertaken with 
circumstances so favorable for the production of a reliable record 
of the early times of Lee county. 



6 . PREKACK. 

The township histurics, by E. S. llicker, Prof. J. H. Atwooil, C. 
F. Atwood, and others, will be found full of valuable recollections, 
wliicli but for their patient research must soon have been lost for- 
ever, but which are now happily preserved for all ages to come. 
These gentlemen have placed upon Lee county a mark which will 
not be obliterated, but which will grow brighter and broader as the 
years go by. 

The biographical department contains the names and private 
sketches of nearly every person of importance in the county. A 
few person, whose sketches we should be pleased to have presented, 
for various reasons refused or delayed furnishing us with the desired 
information, and in this matter only we feel that our work is incom- 
plete. However, in most of such cases we have obtained, in regard 
to the most important persons, some items, and have woven them 
into the county or township sketches, so that, as we believe, we can- 
not be accused of either partiality or prejudice. 



LIST OF PORTRAITS. 



' John Dixon (Frimtispieee). 
; J. A. Wernick, 
. Abfjah Powers. 
^ C. C. Hunt, . 

Abram Browk, 
, .T. N. Hills. . 
7 Alexander Charters. 
' Joseph Crawforh. 

W. W. Bethea. 

W. H. Van Epps, . 

H. T. Noble, . 

John Dement. 

James A. Hawlet. . 

E. B. Stiles. 

Riley Paddock, 

George Eton, 

Lewis Clapp, 

Alvah Halk;, 

James H. Preston, . 

Chester S. Badoer, 

Isaac Edwards, 
i» John B. Wtman, . 



ece). 


W. E. Ives, . 


. 418 


. 43 


Volney Bliss, . 


439 


61 


Ira Brewer, 


. 447 


. 79 


C. B. Thummel, 


463 


97 


John H. Page. 


481 


. 115 


Gkor'-.e H. Page, 


497 


133 


E. H. Johnson, 


. 515 


. 151 


A. P. Dysaet. . 


581 


169 


John Yetter, 


. 549 


. 187 


Isaac Thompson. 


565 


205 


G. W. Hewitt, 


. 583 


. 323 


U. C. Roe. 


599 


241 


S. F. Mills, . 


. 617 


. 259 


N. A. Petrie. . 


635 


277 


Walter Little, 


. 653 


293 


David Smith. . 


671 


311 


Williaji McMaiian, 


. 689 


. 327 


J. H. Braffet. . 


707 


345 


W. M. Strader. . 


. 725 


. 861 


George M. Berkley, 


743 


379 


William J. Fritz, 


. 761 


. 395 







HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 

DISCOVERY AND EARLY HISTORY. 

In sketching the history of Lee county we must take the 
reader back to the early days of the northern part of the State of 
Illinois, embraced in tlie great territory lying northwest of the Ohio- 
river. This territory', embracing northern Illinois, was discovered 
by Jacques Marquette, and Louis Joliet in 1673. Marquette was a 
French Jesuit missionary, and Joliet was a Quebec fur-trader. 
These men had penetrated the wilderness of Canada to the upper 
lakes, each engaged in his appropriate occupation. The French, 
missionary, while at La Pointe, received information through the 
Illinois tribes who had been driven by the Iroquois from their hunt- 
ing grounds on the shores of Lake Michigan to a region thirty 
daj's" journey to the west, that there existed a "great river" flow- 
ing through grassy plains on which grazed countless herds of buffa- 
loes. The same information had. been received by Dablon and 
Allouez, two missionaries, who were exploring Wisconsin from the 
Miamis and Maskoutens. This information resulted in the appoint- 
ment, by the governor of Canada, of Joliet to explore the "Great 
River." Pierre Marquette was chosen to accompany liiin, "for in 
those days religion and commerce went hand in hand." Joliet fitted 
out the expedition, which consisted of "two canoes and five voy- 
ageurs, and a supply of corn and smoked meat; and May 27, 1673, 
the little band left St. Ignace for their perilous voyage through an 
unknown country, preoccupied by wild beasts, reptiles, and hostile 
savages." Coasting to the head of Green Bay, they "ascended the 
Fox river ; crossed Lake Winnebago, and followed up the quiet and 
tortuous stream beyond the portage ;" launched their canoes in the 
waters of the Wisconsin, and without their Indian guides they 
swept down this stream until they caught sight of the hills which 
bound the valley of the "Great River," and at nightfall landed, to 
eat their evening repast on the banks of the broad Mississippi, for 
which they launched their canoes one month before. They floated 
2 



10 HISTORY OF LEE COUNIT. 

down tlie mighty current to the Arkansas, where they were com- 
pelled to return because of the hostility of the Indians, who on the 
lower Mississippi were furnished with rifles by the Spaniards. 

Having determined to return to the north, on July 17, one 
month from the discovery of the Mississippi, they launched their 
canoes and started on the returning voyage ; and reaching the 
mouth of the Illinois river they ascended this stream until they came 
to a small village, then known as Kaskaskia, about seven miles 
below Ottawa. Here they procured guides, who conducted them 
up the stream to the head of the Des Plaines. when b}' an easy port- 
age they entered the Chicago river, and thus reached Lake Illinoise 
(now Lake Michigan), and were the first white men to visit what is 
the present site of the city of Chicago, more than two hundred years 
ago. From that point they passed up the western coast of Lake 
Michigan northward, i-eaching Green Bay late in the month of Sep- 
tember, after an absence of four months, and having traveled more 
than twenty-five hundred miles. Here Joliet separated from his 
traveling companion, Pierre Marquette, and ''hastened to Quebec to 
announce to the governor the results of the expedition ; but almost 
in sight of Montreal, in the rapids of La Chine, his canoe upset, a 
portion of his crew were drowned, and he himself narrowly escaped, 
with the loss of all his papers." 

Joliet never returned to this territory ; but engaged in the fur 
trade with the Indians of Hudson's Bay. After receiving from bis 
government, "in consideration of his services, a grant of the 
islands of Mignan and Anticosti, he engaged in the fisheries,'' and 
subsequently explored the coasts of Labrador. "He was made royal 
pilot for the St. Lawrence, and also hydrograi)her at Quebec. He 
died poor, about 1699 or ITUO, and was buried on one of the islands 
of Mignan." 

Marquette, however, through love of humanity and devotion to 
the cross and the work of the Master, returned to the Illinois valley 
late in the following autunm to preach to the benighted people of 
that region. Leaving Green Bay in October of 1674, he with two 
voyageurs started for the Chicago river, up which stream they 
ascended to a point about six miles above the present locality of the 
city of Chicago. Here he built a hut to shelter him from the storms 
of winter, in which he remained until the following spring, when 
he performed his last acts of devotion to his favorite cause — the 
mission of the cross to the children of the forest — and with which 
were associated the romantic sadness and sweet peace of the closing 
scenes of the life of this noble man. Through the exposures of th' 
expedition to the Mississippi and Illinois the previous summer, ' 



DISCOVERY AND EARLY HISTORY. 11 

contracted a disease which proved to be fatal. Having suffered 
much from hemorrhage he was illv prepared for his return to the mis- 
sion field. His fi-ail constitution suffered much from the exposures 
of the voyage to Chicago, being late in autumn. The cold October 
winds swept the lake and tossed them on a rough sea and drenched 
them with cold rains. Their rude tents and camp-fires were insi;f- 
cient to give protection in the cold, damp October nights. The 
hemorrhage from which he had previously suffered, returned and the 
good man seemed conscious that he was making his last voyage in 
time, and that the day was not far distant when he would cross that 
river from beyond which there is no return. In their lonely hut he 
and his two voyageurs spent the winter, surrounded by the wild 
beasts that roamed over the prairies and wandered through the for- 
ests from the waters of the Ohio on the south to the snowbound 
regions of the north ; and from their hut could be seen in their 
native wilderness the buffalo, the deer, the bear, and the wild 
turkey. The historian says, "with the return of spring his disease 
relented, when he descended the river to the Indian village below 
Ottawa, where he gathered the people in a grand council, and 
preached to them concerning heaven and hell, and the Virgin, 
whose protection he had specially invoked. A few days after Easter 
he returned to Lake Michigan, when he embarked for Mackinac, 
passing around the head of the lake beneath the great sand-dunes 
which line the shore, and thence along the eastern margin to where 
a small stream discharges itself into the great reservoir south of 
the promontory, known as the 'sleeping bear.' Marquette had for 
some time lain prostrate in the bottom of the canoe. The warm 
breath of spring revived him not, and the expanding buds of the 
forest did not arrest his dimmed gaze. Here he requested them to 
land. Tenderly they bore him to the bank, and built for his shelter 
a bark hut. He was aware that his hour had come. Calmly he 
gave directions as to the mode of his burial, craved the forgiveness 
of his companions if in ought he had offended them, administered 
to them the sacrament, and thanked God that he was permitted to 
die in the wilderness." The darkness of the night settled over the 
scene, and ere the dawn of the morning light the noble spirit of 
Pierre Marquette had crossed the river that flows between this and 
the brighter worlds beyond. Thus closed the life of him who 
accompanied the first exploring expedition which discovered the 
territory of this commonwealth, and he was the first christian mis- 
jsionary to raise the standard of the cross to natives of the north- 
■west. He died on May IS, 1675, and was buried on the bank of 
'ue stream that bears his name. His remains were subsequently re- 



12 mSl'ORY OF LKE COUNTY. 

moved to St. Ignace and deposited beneath the floor of tlie cliapel 
in which he had so often administered the sacred rites of his church. 

The xext white man to tread the verdant soil of tliis territory was 
a Frenchman residing at Fort Froiitenac (now Kingston), by the 
name of Rene-Robert Cavelier Sieur De La Salle, commonly 
known as La Salle. He was born at Rouen, France, in 1643, of an 
"old and affluent family." He left his native country and arrived 
in Canada in 1666. He learned through the Seneca Iroquois that 
there was a river called the Ohio which flowed to the sea at a dis- 
tance of many months' journey. Having resolved to explore this 
stream, he sold his possessions in order to procure the necessary 
funds to carry out his plans. Connecting his enterprise with other 
parties, they left La Chine with a party of seven canoes and twenty- 
four men, attended by two canoes filled with Senecas, who acted as 
guides to the party ; in all, a fleet of nine canoes, which ascended the 
St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, and along the southern shore of that 
water to tiie mouth of the Genesee; then passed ]S'iagara under the 
sound of the great cataract to the village, where, in September, 
1669, he separated from the seminary party, who started with him, 
and alone plunged into the unknown wilderness of the west. Pass- 
ing Onondaga he reached an affluent of Ohio twenty or twenty-five 
miles from Lake Erie, and followed down thiss tream to its junction 
with the Ohio, which he descended to the falls of Louisville, where 
his voyageurs deserted him, which compelled him to abandon his ex- 
plorations and return to Canada. The following year, 1670, he 
passed the head of Lake Michigan and penetrated to the waters 
of the Illinois, by which he reached the Mississippi, which he de- 
scended to some miles below the mouth of the Ohio. But little is 
known of the route over which he returned to Canada. This expe- 
diti(->n, however, prepared him ft)r his future enterprise in the local- 
ity of Illinois, which has perpetuated his mime in history for 
succeeding generations. 

In contemplation of a return to the Illinois country, La Salle de- 
signed the building of a vessel for a voyage around the lakes ; and 
in the spring of 16S0 the "Griffin" was launched at the mouth of 
Cayuga Creek ; and on the 7th of August her sails were spread and 
she started on her voyage, being the first vessel that ever plowed the 
waters of the notrhern lakes. On reaching the islands at the en- 
trance of Green Bay he disembarked all his stores and sent the 
" Griffin " back ladened with furs with orders to return to him ; but 
he never saw her again, and it still remains a mystery as to what 
her fate was, or what became of her crew. La Salle, however, was 
not to be deterred from his purpose by even the loss of his favorite 



.4,0^ 



DISCOVERY AND EAELY HISTORY. 13 

vessel, but having swept down the western shore of Lake Michigan, 
passed the montli of the Chicago, and rounded tlie liead of the hxke to 
the mouth of the St. Josepli, wliich he called the Mianiis, and landed 
on the 1st of November. On the 3d of December he left the waters of 
Michigan, and with fourteen men and four canoes he ascended the 
St. Joseph to the present site of South Bend, Indiana, where he 
crossed a portage of five miles to the waters of the Thealike, or 
Haukiki, now Kankakee, conveying their canoes and cargo, by 
which they descended the Kankakee, down through the swamps, and 
meandered out into the great prairies to the valley of the Illinois, 
and reached Peoria Lake on the 30th of January, 1680. He con- 
structed a fort on the southern bank of the stream below the lake, 
and named it Creve-coeur. '■ This was the first civilized occupation 
of Illinois." After commencing the building of a vessel for the 
waters of the Mississippi valley. La Salle returned for an outfit 
to Canada, a journey of fifty-five days, and reached Fort Fronteuac 
May 6, 1680. Soon after his departure from the new settlement on 
the Illinois, which he left in charge of Lieut. Tonty, it was destroyed 
by a band of Iroquois. He returned in the autumn of the same 
season, and finding all laid waste he returned to St. Joseph, where 
he spent the winter ; and in the following spring returned to Cana- 
da, leaving the St. Joseph in May, 1681, passing Mackinac, where 
he rejoined Tonty, and proceeded to Fort. Frontenac, where he 
accumulated the necessary resources, and late in the season re- 
turned to the Illinois with twenty-three Frenchmen, eighteen 
Mohegan warriors and their ten women and three children. The 
expedition consisted of fifty-four persons, and their journey, from 
Fort Miamis on the lake to Fort Creve-co?ur on the Illinois, was beset 
with hardships and perils. "It was in the dead of winter when 
they set out. La Salle placed the canoes on sledges, and thus they 
were conveyed around the head of the lake to Chicago, thence across 
the portage to the Des Plaines and even to Peoria Lake, where open 
water was reached." Here they launched their canoes, and passing 
the lake they swept down the Illinois to the Mississippi, and on the 
6th of April reached the Gulf of Mexico, where they erected, on a 
"dry spot," near the mouth of the Mississippi, a column to France 
and decorated it with the French arms. The last of the summer 
they returned to Illinois, and stopping at a point on that stream 
known as the " Starved Rock,'' La Salle began at once to fortify that 
bluff, which has become famous in the history of Illinois. This 
fort he named St. Louis, which crowned the summit of a natural 
fortress. "At the base of the clifl:' he gathered about him the 
Indian inhabitants who were sheltered in log cabins and bark 



14 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

lodges. The resident aboriginal inhabitants in the region amounted 
to about 4-.000 warriors or 20,000 souls." We must here turn aside 
from this great man, and refer the reader to "'The Discovery of the 
Great West," by Francis Parkman, for the study of his character and 
wonderful career in the wilds of America. 

From the building of Fort St. Louis the French continued to oc- 
cupy Illinois. As early as 1720 they had a chain of forts extending 
from Canada to the mouth of the Mississippi. 

In 1762, by the treaty of Fontainbleau, all the territory east of the 
Mississippi with the reservation of the island of Xew Orleans was ceded 
to the British, and the territory west of the great river, including 
New Orleans, was granted to Spain. In 1765 the British took formal 
possession of the country through the military authority of Capt. 
Sterling, a British officer who was sent to exact allegiance from its in- 
habitants. 

The cession of this region to Great Britain and tiieir occupancy of 
the territory caused dissatisfaction among the natives, who were un- 
willing: to abandon their hunting-grounds, to which manvof tliera were 
attached as the inheritance of their fathers. They determined to drive 
the invaders from their soil, and under Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, who 
was an ally of the French, had seen much service and was famous as a 
great warrior. "He organized one of the most formidable combina- 
tions that the English on this continent were ever called upon to en- 
counter. Having embraced in the league all the tribes from the lakes 
to the Carolinas and from the Mississippi to the Alleghanies, he con- 
ceived the idea of attacking simultaneously all the English forts 
throughout the west, stretching from Mackinac to Cumberland, and 
numbering not less than sixteen. He assigned particular tribes to per- 
form a particular work, and on the appointed day the assault was made 
and all but three of the forts succumbed. Pontiac himself led the 
assault on Fort Detroit, but his scheme having been divulged by a 
squaw the night previously, was unsuccessful." 

Pontiac being disappointed in his attempt returned from further 
warfare, and leaving his native haunts in the vicinity of Detroit, he 
lodged on the banks of the Mississippi, near Cahokia, and here he 
was assassinated by an Indian of tlie Peoria tribe. This assassina- 
tion is laid to the charge of the English, who resorted to this method 
to remove a formidable enemy. It is presumed that his remains rest 
near the place where he met his fate. The treacherous murder of the 
great chief created great hostility against the tribes of Illinois from 
tliose of the north, and the former were well nigh exterminated by 
the latter. 

" In 1765 Col. George Croghan was sent west as a commissioner 



DISCOVERY AND EARLY HISTORY. 15 

to conciliate the Indians. He descended the Ohio as far as Shawnee- 
town, and thence proceeded to Vincennes, when, after pausing a few 
days, he ascended the Wabash 210 miles to the Ouiatonon, or 
Weastown as it was called by the Americans, and thence crossed over 
to Detroit." 

In 1776 the relations of the colonies with the mother country were 
severed by the Declaration of Independence. This territory was held 
under the state authorities of Virginia. At this time the French were 
still occupying the posts all along the Mississippi, and had manifested 
a want of sympathy with the revolution struggle ; as they had affiliated 
with the natives for nearly a century and had intermarried into the 
various tribes, had done but little to improve the country but were 
satisfied to live in a rude and uncivilized state, and looked with but 
little favor upon any change of government or civilization that would 
tend to disturb their manner of life. That they might be made feel 
and acknowledge the sovereignty of tlje United States, the governor 
and council of Virginia sent an expedition of two hundred men, who 
enlisted for three months, under the command of George Rogers 
Clark, a Kentucky backwoodsman, to occupy this territory. Clark 
embarked with his force at Pittsburgh, and descended the Ohio river 
to within forty miles of its mouth, where he landed, and after conceal- 
ing his boats "he marched across the country to Kaskaskia, where the 
first surrender was made without i-esistance ; their example being fol- 
lowed by a general surrender and acknowledgment of the sovereignty 
of the United States by taking the oath of allegiance to the constitu- 
tional authorities of the government."' 

In October of that year (1776) the general assembly of the State 
of Virginia constituted the county of Illinois, which embraced all the 
territory north of the Ohio river. In this relation it remained until 
1783, in which year that " state passed an act authorizing the cession 
to the United States of this territory', and during the subsequent year 
the deed was executed.'' 

At a session of congress held in New York an ordinance was 
passed June 11, 17S7, titled "An ordinance for the government of 
the territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio. " This act 
forever excluded slavery from this part of the country, which has 
proved to be a very important measure, in having much to do with 
the future of this great nation ; for had this vast territory been open 
to the introduction of American slavery it would have been quite 
different with the progress and freedom which now characterize the 
political and social economy of the nation ; and no people have 
greater cause to be grateful for the wise enactment than those who 
live on the fertile soil of the vast prairies of the northwest. 



16 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

There were at this time but few Americans in this territory. Vir- 
ginia having found it impracticable to maintain an outpost at so great 
a distance in a wilderness, the men were "quartered on the French 
residents, but ultimately were compelled to shift for themselves. And 
a few Americans who had accompanied this expedition found their 
way into the French villages along the Mississippi and remained." 

In 1781 an expedition started from Maryland consisting of five 
men, James Moore, Shadrach Bond, Robert Kidd, Larkin Ruther- 
ford and James Garrison, who, taking their wives and children with 
them, pushed out into the western wilds. They crossed the Allegha- 
nies to the Ohio river, down which the}' passed to the Mississippi ; 
thence up that stream to Kaskaskia, where they separated and settled 
in difl[erent localities of that part of the territory. The first three 
settled on what was known as tlie "American Bottom," while the 
other two pushed on to Bellefountaine. 

In the 3'earl7Sl a small colony from the State of Massachusetts, 
under the direction of Gen. Rufus Putnam, settled on the Ohio at 
the mouth of the Muskingum river, on the present site of Marietta, 
Ohio. It is claimed that this was the first organized English settle- 
ment in this vast northwestern territory, and that Marietta is tlie 
oldest town of the same origin northwest of the Ohio river. 

"Prior to the year 1788 there were about forty-five improve- 
ments made by Americans, which entitled each to 400 acres of land 
under a subsequent act of congress, which was passed in 1791." 

The General Assembly of Virginia, on the 30th of December, 
1788, passed an act authorizing the division of the Northwestern 
Territory into republican states. In recognition of this the con- 
gress of the United States, on August 7, 1789, passed enactments 
providing for its government, and in 1791 there were but sixty-five 
Americans who were capable of bearing arms. 

First Civil Oovernvient. — In 178S Arthur St. Clair located at 
Marietta, Ohio, to exercise official fum-tidiis as governor of the terri- 
tory, to which administrative position he had been appointed. Here 
he organized a territorial government, and in 1790 he proceeded to 
Kaskaskia on the Mississippi and effected a county organization, 
which he named St. Clair. It was under this official act that Illi- 
nois- was first placed under civil jurisdiction. The first territorial 
legislature met at Cincinnati in September 1799, at which time Will- 
iam Henry Harrison was elected the first delegate to congress. 

On the 7th of May, 1800, the territory was divided by an act of 
congress, into two separate governments. At this time the popu- 
lation of Illinois, which numbered about three thousand souls, were 
of French ancestry, and occupied the southern part of the state. 



DISCOVERY AND EARLY HISTORY. 17 

Under this governmental provision the territory remained but nine 
years, when, in 1S09, Illinois was set apart to herself under a terri- 
torial government ; and in 1812 a legislature was convened and a 
delegate to congress chosen. 

The organization of the Illinois state government was authorized 
by an act of congress passed on the 18th of April 1818 ; and on the 
18th day of December following Illinois was admitted into the Union 
as the twenty-second state. 

Military Posts. — At the organization of the Illinois state gov- 
ei'nment, the northern region of the state was not opened to settle- 
ments, in which state it remained until after the Black Hawk war, in 
1832 ; being occupied by the Chippewas, Ottawas, and Pottawato- 
mies of the Illinois and Milwaukee. The government had, as early 
as 1804, established a military post at Fort Dearborn, on the present 
site of the city of Chicago. This fort was garrisoned with a com- 
pany of infantry, who maintained amicable relations with the natives 
until after the declaration of war, in 1812, when the Indians became 
restless and gathered in the vicinity of the fort with evident signs of 
hostility. Under orders from the war department, Captain Ileald 
negotiated with the Indians that he might withdraw from the fort, 
leaving for them the "provisions and munitions in the fort." But, 
true to the Indian character they ambuscaded the command when two 
miles from the fort, but two or three escaping to recoi'd the fate of 
their comrades. Four years following, in 1816, the fort was rebuilt 
and garrisoned by two companies of infantry, who gathered the 
bleaching bones of those who fell in the massacre four years before, 
and carefully interred them with ajjpropriate ceremonies. 

Mineral. — The first discovery of coal ever made on the Amer- 
ican continent was by Father Hennejjin, a Jesuit priest, at Fort 
Creve-cceur, on the Illinois, in 1879. He not only indicated on his 
map a "coal-mine,'" but wrote in his journal that "there are mines 
of coal, slate, and iron." The next discovery recorded was ninety 
years later, in 1765, by Col. George Croghan, when as Indian 
commissioner for the government he visited Illinois. He wrote in 
his journal, " On the south side of the Ouabache (Wabash, probably 
below Covington) runs a high bank in which are several fine coal- 
mines." This precedes the discoveries of the Pennsylvania coal 
beds, and strange as it seems the honor of the discovery of this 
fossil product was left to the great prairie state of Illinois. 



# 



18 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

TOPOGRAPHY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Geographical Position. — Lee county lies between il and 42 de- 
grees north latitude, and its longitude is 12 degrees and 30 minutes 
west of Washington. It is in the northern quarter of the State of 
Illinois in the third tier of counties from the northern boundary of 
the state ; the eastern border of the county being near the median 
line north and south between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi 
river, and sixty -two miles west of Chicago. It is divided, north and 
south, by tlie third principal meridian, leaving Ranges 1 and 2 
east, and Ranges 8, 9, 10 and 11 west of said line. 

Lee county embraces 792 square miles, and is bounded on the 
east by De Kalb ; on the south by La Salle and Bureau ; on the 
west by Whiteside, and on the north by Ogle county. The extreme 
length of the county east and west is thirty six miles, and the ex- 
treme width north and south is twenty-two on the western boundary 
line, and eighteen on the eastern line. A variance arises from an 
angle in the northern boundary line fourteen sections east of the 
northwest cor er of the township where it turns to the south one 
mile, thence east on the section line to the northeast corner of the 
count}', throwing the northern tier of sections from the point above 
mentioned into Ogle county, though it geographically belongs to 
Lee county. The northern boundary line also makes a deviation 
to the north and south, following the ''grand detoure" of the river, 
throwing all the land north of the detour into Ogle county. 

The southern boundary beginning with Range 8, between 
Townships 18 and 19, runs east to the third principal meridian, 
where it turns three miles north on said line, then east to the south 
east cnriier of the county. For convenience in civil purposes it is 
divided into twenty-two civil townships. 

In physical geography Lee is unsurpassed by any other county 
in the state. It not only presents the quiet beauty of rounded out- 
lines of the prairie, but the rugged grandeur of river bluffs and 
rocky fastnesses. There are beautiful landscapes clothed with grassy 
plains, interspersed with pleasant groves and forests of useful timber, 
generally of a few hundred acres in extent, breaking the usual 
monntony of the prairie landscape at very frequent intervals, and 
affording a supply of fuel and fencing material. The count}', how- 
ever, is principally prairie. 

The surface of the land in the county varies from the low swamps 
of the south to the Rock river bluffs of the north. In the soutliwest 
corner of the county we meet with the Winnebago swamp which 
extends in a belt two and three miles in width across Hamilton 
township from the southwest to the northeast into the north part of 



TOPOGRAPHY OF LEE COUNTY. 19 

East Grove and the south part of Marion township, and sends a 
branch west through the southern portion of Harmon township. 
This swamp is fed from the drainage of Inlet swamp, which is situ- 
ated east of the center of the county embracing a portion of tlie west 
of Viola township, the southeast corner of Bradford and the north- 
east of Lee Center. The drainage of this into the Winnebago is 
through Inlet creek which flows to the southwest, watering the Inlet 
grove in Lee Center, passes to the south of the city of Amboy, and 
spreads its waters into the latter swamp ; it is fringed in its meander- 
ing course by groves of timber. A.S we go to the east from the 
Winnebago swamp the land becomes rolling and of a sandy loam 
soil of beautiful prairie dotted with groves to the eastern boundary 
of the county. The Paw Paw grove, south of the village bearing 
that name in Wyoming township, and Malugin's grove ten or twelve 
miles east of the city of Amboy, are the largest in that part of the 
county, each covering from one to two thousand acres. These fur- 
nish much valuable timber for fuel and fencing purposes. 

South of Amboy city we meet with a tract of timber-land embrac- 
ing eighteen or twenty square miles. Along Rock river in the 
northwest quarter of the county is found the Largest timber supply. 
Among the most valuable woods found there may be mentioned : 
oak of diiferent varieties, hickory, sugar maple, ash, poplar, etc. . of 
abundant supply for present demands. Lee county, however, can- 
not boast the luxuriant growth of timber found in other sections 
of the country, as on the Ohio and AV abash rivers. Dr. Foster, 
speaking of the northern part of the state, appropriately adds : 
" The absence of a forest growth is no detriment to its development, 
since beneath the surface at accessible depths are stored inexhausti- 
ble sujjplies of fossil fuel, and the borders of the upper lakes are 
fringed with forests of pine affording the best quality of lumber, 
which can be delivered in the Chicago market at comparatively 
cheap rates. The soil which sustains these pine forests contains only 
three or four per cent of organic matter and is unfit for agriculture ; 
while the prairie soil contains organic matter sufficient for fifty suc- 
cessive crops." It is, therefore, more to the material interests of 
the county to draw her supplies of lumber from other sources than 
to divert her fertile acres from the growing of grain and other 
products of husbandry. 

Origin of the Prairies. — "This is not due," says Foster, "so 
much to the mechanical texture, or chemical composition of the soil, 
but to the unequal distribution of moisture. They are the phase in 
a gradation between the densely wooded belt, where the moisture is 
equally distributed, and the inhospitable desert, where it is almost 



20 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

wholly withheld. The excess of moisture which is precipitated on 
the plains during the spring and summer months, and the consequent 
deficiency which ensues during the fall and winter months, are con- 
ditions not favorable to the growth of trees. Leaving the thickly 
wooded crests of the Alleghanies, and traveling westward to the 
base of the Rocky mountains, the observer will witness the gradual 
disappearance of those noble forms of arborescent vegetation which 
are dependent for their growth on an abundant, equable supply of 
moisture, and their final replacement by otlier forms, like the cactus 
and ai'teniisia, which flourish where the moisture is almost wholly 
withheld." 

Beginning on the east line of the county, five sections north of 
the southeast corner and in the vicinity of Paw Paw, we find the be- 
ginning of a ridge which extends westward two townships, where it 
bears to the southwest through Sublette township, at which point is 
the greatest altitude between Mendota and Dixon, sloping oH" to the 
Winnebago flats. There is a depression on the face of the land, 
entering the county on the east and about midway north and south, 
which runs westward through Willow and Viola townships, then 
bearing to the south it extends to the southwest corner of the county, 
where we find the greatest depression. As we advance northward 
we cross a ridge which passes from the eastern boundary along the 
northern third of the county westward to the median line 7iorth and 
south where it meets a like ridge extending down from the iiDrth, 
then bearing southwest it becomes less prominent as it reaches the 
western border of the county, between tlie low lands of the Winne- 
bago swamp on the south and the tributaries to Rock river on the 
north. As we advance to the north in the western third of the 
county we come to the high lands and biufl's of Rock river, covered 
with timber and jiresenting many attractions in connection with the 
meandering waters of this beautiful and historic stream. 

On the banks of Rock river and in the vicinity of Dixon are 
natural observatories, from which the eye is greeted with such 
grandeur of scener}- as inspired the poetic mind of the honored Bryant, 
whose visit to this county is recorded in the following pages. Of those 
most prominent may be mentioned the Clarks blulis, on the south side 
of the river and about three miles below the city of Dixon ; and the 
"Hazlewood'' blufis, on the faim of '"Gov." Axa. Charters, wiiich 
lies west of the ri^er and about two miles north of the cit}-. The 
forests and rocky fastnesses of the region of Rock river have been 
so preserved in their rude native character, as not only to be attract- 
ive to the eyes of men wjio appreciate the charms of nature, but to 
the fowls and wild beasts of former davs. Tiie hunter's rifle occa- 



TOPOGRAPHY OF LEE COUNTY. ,21 

sionally brings down the gray wild-cat, and his hounds bay after the 
retreating wolf which has chanced to wander down from the forests 
of Wisconsin. 

William C. Bryant, the poet, writing a letter after his visit to 
Rock river, in 1841, described his ride throngh Lee county as fol- 
lows : "As we descended into the prairie we were struck with the 
novelty and beauty of the prospect which lay before us. The ground 
sank graduall}^ and gentlj' into a low but immense basin, in the 
midst of which lies the marshy tract called the Winnebago swamp. 
To the northeast the sight was intercepted b}' a forest in the midst 
of the basin but to the northwest the prairies were seen swelling up 
again in the smoothest slopes to their usual height, and stretching 
away to a distance so vast that it seemed boldness in the eye to fol- 
low them. We reached the Winnebago swamps, a tract covered 
with tall and luxuriant water-grass, which we crossed on a causeway 
built by a settler who keeps a toll-gate, and at the end of the cause- 
way we forded a small stream called Winnebago Inlet. Crossing 
another vast prairie we reached the neighborhood of Dixon, the ap- 
proach of which was denoted by groves, farm-houses, herds of cattle, 
and enclosed corn-fields checkering the broad, green prairie." 

The general slope of this county is, with that of the most of the 
state, to the southwest. The greatest depression in the count}^ is. as 
above given, in the southwest corner, known as the Winnebago 
lands, which are doubtless the bed of an ancient lake, and ere long 
will be valuable lands. The greatest altitude in the county is reached 
on the Rock river heights, in the northwest corner of the county. 

The drainage is generally good through many tributaries to Rock 
river on the north and Inlet creek on the south. The northern third 
of the county is drained by the smaller streams which tlow from the 
dividing ridge, above referred to, which extends from the northeast 
to the southwest, emptying their waters into Rock river. These 
tributaries flow to the northwest, cutting their course through the 
blufl:s to mingle with the latter stream. The central and southern 
part of the county are drained by creeks and brooks which pour their 
waters into Inlet swamp and Green river. The largest of these iS 
Willow creek, which rises in De Kalb county on the east, and cross- 
ing near the middle of the east line of Lee, continues westward until 
lost amid the grass and rushes of Inlet swamp. A few miles south 
of this creek, about the village of Paw Paw, in Wyoming township, 
is an elevated tract of land which becomes the dividing ridge be- 
tween the headwaters of Green river and Kite creek, which rises in 
the southeast corner of Lee county, and running south through Beau- 
reau it empties into the Illinois within the borders of Putnam 



22 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

county. The central-west of the township is drained by the Three 
Mile branch and the Five Mile creek. The former heads in the 
vi('inity of I^achusa, and meandering westward, passing Dixon three 
miles to the south, as its name indicates, it empties into R(jck river 
near the county line. The Five Mile creek rises near Eldena Sta- 
tion, west of the center of the county, and flows westward to the 
county line and pours its waters into the Kock river within the bor- 
ders of Whitesides county. Its waters are shaded much of its way 
by the forest timber that fringe its banks. These streams are of 
much value to the inhabitants through whose tields they flow. 

The township of Palmyra, in the northwestern part of the county, 
is travei-sed by Sugar creek, which crosses the extreme corner of the 
county, passing through the beautiful Sugar grove, which stands 
near the center of the above township, and after emerging from Lee 
county empties into Rock river. 

Hivers and Navigation. — The principal stream in Lee county is 
Rock river, which crosses the northwest corner, separating Palmyra 
and Dixon townships from the other portion of the county. It first 
reaches the county from the nortii, twelve miles east of the western 
boundary, and flows one mile south, then turning to the west it makes a 
detour back to the north, and passes west of the first point one-half to 
three-quarters of a mile. Then making another grand detour to the 
north and west, returns and enters Lee county nine miles east of the 
northwest corner. From this point of entrance it bears to the east 
on its southern course for two or three miles, then sweejjs oft to the 
southwest, cutting its waj- through the rocks and blutts, making a 
gentle curve here and there on its way, as if to add to its attractive- 
ness and beauty, and emerges from the county, crossing the western 
Ifne nine miles south. 

The beauty and attractions of this river are not equaled by any 
other stream in the state. The Rock River valley has been the 
theme of the richest prose and the sweetest poetry. It has awakened 
the poetical genius of a William Cullen Bryant, and a Margaret 
Fuller Ossoli. The former, when on a visit to Rock river in 184rl, 
feasted his eyes on the grand scenery presented to his view, as he 
-stood on Hazlewood looking out on the silvery stream, as it flowed 
majestically through the forest and plains, and murmured at the base 
of the rocks and bluft's. On his return home he wrote, on the 21st 
of June, as follows: "I have just returned from an excursion to 
Rock river, one of the most beautiful of our western streams. It 
flows through high prairies and. not like most streams of the west, 
tliroHgh an alluvial country. The current is rapid, and the pellucid 
waters glide over a bottom of sand and pebbles. Its admirers de- 



TOPOGEAPHY OF LEE COUNTY. 23 

clare that its shores unite the beauties of the Hudson and of the 
Connecticut. The banks on either side are high and bold ; some- 
times they are perpendicular precipices, the bases of which stand in 
running water ; sometimes they are steep, grassy, or rocky bluffs, 
with a space of alluvial land between them and the stream ; some- 
times they rise by a gradual and easy ascent to the general level of 
the region, and sometimes this ascent is interrupted by a broad, 
natural terrace. Majestic trees grow solitary or in clumps on the 
grassy acclivities, or scattered in natural parks along the lower lands 
upon the river, or in thick groves along the edge of the high country. 
Back of the bluffs extend a fine agricultural region, rich prairies with 
an undulating surfoce, interspersed with groves. At the foot of the 
bluffs break forth copious springs of clear water, which hasten in 
the little brooks to the river. In a drive which I took up the left 
bank of the river I saw three of these in the space of as many miles. 
One of these is the spring which supplies the town of Dixon with 
water; this spring is now overflowed by the dam across the river; 
the next is a beautiful fountain rushing out from the rocks in the 
midst of a clump of trees, as merrily and in as great a hurry as a 
boy let out from school ; the third is so remarkable as to have re- 
ceived a name. It is a little rivulet issuing from a cavern six or 
seven feet high, and about twenty from the entrance to the further 
end, at the foot of a perpendicular precipice covered with forest 
trees and fringed with bushes. 

"In the neighborhood of Dixon a class of emigrants have estab- 
lished themselves (in IS-il), more opulent and luxurious in their 
tastes than most of the settlers of the western country. Some of 
these have built elegant homes on the left bank of the river, amidst 
the noble trees which seem to have grown up for that very purpose. 
Indeed, when I looked at them I could hardly persuade myself that 
they had not been planted to overshadow older habitations. From 
the door of one of these dwellings I surveyed a prospect of exceed- 
ing beauty. The windings of the river allowed us a sight of its 
waters and its beautifully diversified banks to a great distance each 
way, and in one direction a high prairie region was seen above the 
woods that fringed the course of the river of a lighter green than 
they, and touched with the golden light of the setting sun. 

"I am told that the character of Rock river is, throughout its 
course, much as has been described in the neighborhood of Dixon ; 
that itSj> banks are high and free from marshes, and its water rapid 
and clear, from its source in Wisconsin to where it enters the Mis- 
sissippi amidst rocky islands.'' 

Many springs empty their pure, cool waters into this stream, 



24 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

which give it a purity which but few waters of its size possess. 
The river being largely fed by inexhaustible fountains, it never falls 
so low as most streams do in the dry summer season, and the waters 
that are ever flowing are cool and refreshing, making it the best 
stock-watering stream in the state. 

Adding much to the charming beauty of the Kock river are her 
numerous islands which divide her waters, and being carpeted with 
green, tender grass, interspersed with beds of wild flowers, are as 
beautiful as a cultivated lawn. Some are shaded with forests, while 
the brows of the precipitous shores are fringed with trees of smaller 
growths, from whicli the plain stretches across the valley to the 
blufi^s, presenting a scene most picturesque. There are not less than 
twenty-five of these islands in the river's course through Lee county. 
One a short distance above the Dixon bridge is set with forest trees, 
and were it not for the occasional overflows it could be made a spot 
of pleasant resort during the hot days of the summer months. At 
this writing, April 20, it is covered with several feet of water, and 
presents the view of a beautiful forest set in a crystal lake. 

But as attractive as Kock river is in her ordinary mood, she is 
not always as serene and gentle as poets have written of her, but at 
times in her fury has challenged the boldness of a Byron rather than 
the gentleness of the classic poetry of a Bryant, who through his 
admiration for the beautiful river eulogized her as not subject to high 
flows as many of her sister streams. She has at times been profligate 
with property and life. 

On March 20, 18i7, a rise of water with floating ice carried away 
the north half of the toll bridge, which had been flnished some time 
during the winter, causing an outla}- of ^2,000 to make repairs. And 
in ,Iune, 1S.51, the river overflowed its banks with two feet of water 
on the public road around the Grand Detour, where on the 18th of 
that month a stage crossing the flow was precipitated into ten feet of 
water, drowning all the horses, and with the almost miraculous 
escape of human life thus imperiled. Referring to this freshet the 
city papers congratulated the citizens of Dixon on the fortunate escape 
of the dam from the fate of most of the dams on the river, in the fol- 
lowing strain : "Tlie dam at this place lias thus far successfully 
withstood tlie tremendous rush of the high-water current, and we 
think it will still do so. Other dams of Rock river we learn have 
been compelled to yield." On February 14, 1857, the water rose to 
the tojis of the bridge-piers which stood below the railroad bridge, 
and lifting up the solid ice which had formed around the piers car- 
ried the entire bridge structure up with it from its resting places, but 
the ice not breaking up it was let down again, but not without dam- 



TOPOGRAPHY OF LEE COUNTY. 27 

age, as it had to be rebuilt. About ten days later the toll bridge at 
the foot of Ottawa street was carried away by the high water and 
floating ice. And on June 3, the following year (1858), the papers 
of Dixon made the following announcement: " Rock river at this 
time is higher than we have ever known it. Both the wagon bridges 
at this place have suffered in consequence of the flood. The free 
bridge, but a small portion of which was carried away, will be re- 
paired immediately. Steps will be taken by our citzens to build a 
new bridge in place of the one swept away at the foot of Galena 
street." In the following February (1859) the breaking up of the 
ice by a heavy freshet carried away the dam and the new toll bridge. 
The editorials of the 20th of the same month said : " The dam be- 
came so clogged with floating ice that the weight caused it to give 
way, descending ice and dam together, against the new bridge 
erected only four months since ; it swept away two bents at one crash, 
and later two more were taken. The bridge will be repaired imme- 
diately in order to have it ready for the next descent, but in the 
meantime the northsiders, by going three miles and paying 25 cents, 
can reach town over the free bridge." Two months later, April 23,, 
two factories and a saw-mill at the north end of the bridge were un- 
der-washed by the rushing waters from the dam, and when the build- 
ings were slowly moving toward the water, which was twenty feet 
deep, the machinery was removed, and tire set to the buildings to 
save the bridge below from the fate of the one that had been swept 
away so recently. 

March 7, 1868, the high waters with floating ice swept away the 
free bridge and battered down one pier of the railroad bridge, pre- 
cipitating two spans into the river. It also washed out 120 feet of 
the south end of the dam. 

At the present writing Rock river is recording another epoch in 
her historic fame. The tide is rushing down like a mighty ocean, 
overflowing her banks at a depth, it is claimed, much greater than 
ever known. The water is fifteen feet above low-water mark, and 
two feet above the highest, with a velocity in the current of six to 
seven miles per hour. 

The Dixon Telegraph says: " The freshet which now rages down 
the Rock river is one of the most remarkable ever known. At the 
present writing (April 20) the water in the river is nearly two feet 
higher than the highest water mark registered by the oldest inhabit- 
ant, and the flood is still swelling, and ' Where will it stop?' is the anx- 
ious inquiry of every one. Water street, below Galena, is covered; 
and Col. Dement was compelled to move his horses from the stable, 
and has since commenced moving out of his residence. On the 
3 



28 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

north side about twenty families were compelled to leave their 
houses; the flats below Bridcje street are completely inundated, and 
people are working in boats to secure barns, sheds, and other out 
buildings from being carried down the river. The water sweeps 
over the street at the nortli end of the bridge over two feet deep." 
Green River. — This stream rises in the Inlet swamp east of the 
center of the county, as has been described, and flowing to the 
southwest througli a beautiful grove in Lee Center township, mean- 
dering on to the south of Amboy city to the great Winnebago 
swamp, emerging from the county at the southwest corner, from 
which point it continues ou through Bureau and Henry counties to 
mingle its waters with those of Rock river a few miles east of the 
city of Rock Island. This stream with its tributaries traverses the 
entire length of the county, through the Winnebago basin, which 
begins in the county eastward and gently recedes to the southwest, 
extending far beyond the boundary of Lee county. 

NATURAL HISTORY. 

Timber. — The emigrants to this county, as in most of northern 
Illinois, had not to contend with a universal primeval forest, as in 
many portions of the west. There were no great forests to hew 
down with the axe, and by patient toil for a generation t(; clear up 
a farm for their sous to inherit ; but they found, interspersed over a 
fertile prairie, groves of timber of almost every variety common to 
this latitude ; soft and sugar maple ; black walnut and butternut; 
yellow and white poplar; oak, of white, black and other varieties; 
of ash we find the white and black varieties; hickory of the princi- 
ple varieties; lin or basswood, gum, ironwood, cherry, crab-apple, 
wild plum, thorn, hazel, etc. 

Flowers and plants of great variet}', embracing the timber and 
prairie flowers of almost every kind and hue found in the latitude, 
decorate the grassy prairie, tlie rocky bluft's and borders of the 
streams. Among the prairie plants may be mentioned one that has 
proved an annoyance to many an unsuspecting traveler, is what 
is commonly known as the "Wild Parsenip." The great poet 
William 0. Bryant says of this plant: "Let me caution all emi- 
grants to Illinois not to handle too familiarh' the "Wild Parsenip,' 
as it is commonl}' called, an umbelliferous plant gri)wing in the moist 
prairies of this region. I have handled it, and have paid dearly for 
it, liaving such a swelled face that I could scarcely see for several 
days." 

Wild Animals. — Of the nobler beasts of the unbroken prairie 
and wild forest was the buffalo, more properly called bison, cover- 



NATURAL HISTORY. 29 

ing the prairies in great herds; while the stately elk, the timid deer, 
and fleet antelope roamed over the plains and through the groves. 
The tender, juicy grass of the plain, the cool shades of the groves, 
and the refreshing waters of the fountains and streams that abound 
in this country, make it a jJaradise for the wild grazing herds. But 
these have retreated before advancing civilization beyond the great 
waters of the Mississippi, while some of their number have left 
their bones to bleach on the prairies and mingle with the soil of Lee 
county, though their kind are now far removed from the reach of the 
hunter's rifle. Of carniverous beasts were the bear, the prairie and 
timber wolf, the wild-cat, the lynx, and the panther. The bear and 
the panther have disappeared from the habitation of the old pioneers 
of the county. In addition to these may be mentioned a variety of 
smaller animals, such as the beaver, the otter, the mink, and the 
muskrat, of the amphibious animals; the woodchuck, the red and 
gray fox, the raccoon, the opossum, the skunk, and the brown and 
white weasel. These are valuable for tlieir fur. The smaller ani- 
mals are the prairie squirrel, gray and sti-iped, Norway rats, moles, 
and the invincible mouse. 

Fowls. — The native fowls of Lee county embrace almost 
every species from the bald-eagle down to the humming bird. 
Among the game fowl may be mentioned the wild swan, goose, 
brant and duck among the water-fowls that throng the rivers, ponds, 
and lakes ; the plover, snipe, woodcock, prairie chicken, pheasant, 
quail, wild pigeon, turtle dove, and meadow lark. To these may be 
added water-fowls that attract but little attention by the epicurean ; 
such as the sand-hill crane, and his smaller neighbors ; the king 
fisher, etc. Of forest l)irds are found the bluejay, the robin, the 
bluebird, the peewee, and many others usually found in this lati- 
tude. The Virginia nightingale, commonly called the "redbird," 
seldom appears in the forests in this vicinity ; and the same may be 
said of many birds of beautiful plumage and sweet song that are 
found in the more southern sections of the state. A variety of ra- 
pacious and vulturous birds are also found ; the bald eagle, the vul- 
ture, the buzzard, the crow, and a number of different kinds of the 
hawk species. The crow has appeared in the more modern years of 
the county's history. It was formerly unknown in this part of the 
country. The plaintive notes of the whip-poor-will are occasionally 
heard at nightfall coming from the shady grove. 

In an early day the water-fowls visited the waters of Lee county 
in great numbers. It was one of these annual visitors that awakened 
the poetical genius of Bryant when he wrote that excellent and clas- 
sic poem : 



30 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

TO A WATERFOWL. 

" Whither, midst falling dew, 
While glow the heavens with the last steps of day. 
Far through their rosy depths dost thou pursue 

Thy solitary way ? 

Vainly the fowler's eye 
Might mark thy distant flight to do thee harm. 
As, darkly limned upon the crimson sky, 

Tlij- figure floats along. 

Seek'st thou the jjlashy brink 
Of weedy lake, or marge of river wide, 
Or wliere the rocking billows rise and sink 

On the chafed ocean side ? 

There is a power whose care 
Teaches thy waj' along that pathless coast — 
The desert and illimitable air — 

Lone wandering, but not lost. 

All (lay thy wings have fanned 
At that far height, the cold, thin atmosphere, 
Yet stoop not weary, to the welcome land, 

Though the dark night is near. 

And soon that toil shall end; 
Soon shalt tliou find a summer home and rest. 
And scream among thy fellows; reeds shall bend 

Soon o'er thy sheltered nest. 

Thou'rt gone, the abyss of heaven 
Hath swallowed up thy form ; yet on my heart 
Deeply hath sunk the lesson thou hast given, 

And shall not soon depart. 

He who from zone to zone 
Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, 
In the long way that I must tread alone 

Will lead my steps aright." 

Pisciculture. — Nature did inucli in stocking the streams of Lee 
county with a variety of fish; and some of choice quality. Among 
the native tribes are found the pike, the pickerel, the several vari- 
eties of perch; of bass, both rock and black; the cat and buffalo; 
of suckers are caught the black, the white and red-horse. From 
the great numbers of these latter which, in an early day, passed up 
the rock river in the spring and returned in the fall, the state has 
received its vulgar name of the Sucker State. The modern im- 
provements on the river, dams, drainage from manufactories, and 
the seine, have reduced their number. 



GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. 31 

GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. 

The geological formations of Lee county are of more than usual 
interest, both to the mechanic and artist. There is found the finest 
building fock, and the purest for manufacturing quicklime ; and 
fossil rock capable of the highest polish, presenting a face variegated 
and beautiful. The scientist may find almost every formation from 
the lower silurian system up to the alluvium forming the basis ol 
the fertile soil of this region of country. 

In the vicinity of Rock river may be found the St. Peter's sand- 
stone which out-crops on the river above Grand Detour. We find 
the Trenton or buff, and blue lime ; Galena limestone, without 
mineral deposits as at Galena ; Cincinnati group ; green and blue 
shales, with surface deposits ; sands, clays, soils, and gravel beds. 

Quarries of the finest building rock are found along the Rock 
river for miles below and above Dixon. Those below are of lime 
and sand, and work easily when just removed from the quarry, but 
harden on exposure to the atmosphere, a quality very desirable in 
building rock. A blue limestone quarry is situated three miles 
north of Dixon, west of the river, on Alex. Charter's farm ; and a 
little below this is Strong's quarry of the same kind of rock. The 
same is quarried on the east side of the river two miles northeast of 
Dixon ; and going twelve miles east of Dixon, along the northern 
border of the county, it crops out at Ashton, where some of the finest 
quality of building stone is quarried. A quarry is also opened on 
the farm of R. M. Peile, Reynold township. Lee Center furnishes 
building stone for the necessarj^ supply of all demands in the central 
part of the county. 

An extensive lime kiln and quarry, known as Dement & De 
Puy's quarry, are located on the south side of the river above the 
water-power, and under the College hill. 

The geology of Lee county is rich with scientific interest, and 
abounds in some localities with fossil deposits. Two or three miles 
northeast of Dixon, and east of Rock river, are quarried the finest 
specimens of fossil rock, composed of shells of various varieties, and 
80 imbedded together as to form a texture as compact as marble, 
and capable of as fine a polish. 

The geological deposit of primary importance is the quarternary 
system, which embraces all the superficial material, including gravel, 
sands, clays, and soils. These are the more recent accumulations, 
which cover the older formations and lay the foundation and give 
origin to the soil from which we derive our agricultural resources. 
"This system may be properly separated into four divisions, to wit: 
post-tertiary, sands, and clays, drift clay and gravel, loess and allu- 



32 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

vium. The post-tertiary sands occupy the lowest portion in the 
series, and consist of beds of stratified yellow saud and blue clay of 
variable thickness, overlaid by a black or chocolate-colored loam soil, 
containing leaves, branches, and trunks of trees in a good state of 
preservation. This is an ancient soil which has been covered by the 
drift deposits, consisting of blue, yellow or brown clays, contain- 
ing gravel and boulders of various sizes," water-worn fragments 
of rocks, which have been carried down from the northern shores 
of the great lakes. Above this we sometimes meet with beds of 
gravel. 

Tlie subsoil over the northern part of the state is predicated upon 
the drift deposits, but it differs from them essentially in its character, 
and probably owes its origin to other and more recent causes than 
the drift agencies. It is generally composed of fine brown clay, 
which differs in its appearance from the clays of the drift. Hence 
we may infer that its origin is due to some cause subsequent in its ac- 
tion to the accumulation of these deposits, and uniform in its effects 
over formations essentially different in their constituent materials. 
In the first volume of the report on the Illinois survey Prof. Les- 
quereux has given the following on the formation of the prairies, 
which explains the origin of the brown clay and the subsoil above it. 
He says : " It is evident that the black soil of tlieir surface (the prai- 
ries), as well as the clayey sub-soil, whatever the thickness of these 
strata may be, have been formed in place by the agency and growth 
of a peculiar vegetation. In stagnant water, whenever water is low 
enough to admit the transmission of light and air of sufficient quan- 
tity to sustain vegetable life, tlie bottom is first invaded by confervae, 
and especially by characese, and a peculiar kind of floating moss (hyp- 
num aduncum). These plants contain in their tissue a great pro- 
portion of lime alumina, silica, and even of oxide of iron, the ele- 
ments of clay. When exposed to atmospheric influence the characeae 
become covered with an efflorescence of scarcely carbonized or jjure 
iron. Moreover, this vegetation of the low, stagnant waters feeds a 
prodigious quantity of small mollusks and infusoria, whose shells 
and detritus greatly add to the deposits. The final result of the de- 
composition of the whole matter is that fine clay of the sub-soil of 
the prairies which is indeed truly impalpable when dried and pul- 
verized and unmixed with sands." 

While it seems entirely satisfactory to recognize the origin of the 
soil of the prairies from the growth and decay of vegetable matter in 
shallow ponds and marshes, with the animal remains that abounded 
in them, there are, however, traces of currents of water and floating 
ice generally from the north, though it is claimed by good authority 



EARLY HISTORY. 33 

that there were counter currents. Boulders are found in different 
parts of the country, distributed over the surface of the ground, which 
have been carried down by the moving ice and deposited as strangers 
on the prairie soil. A good place to study these stones is on the 
bluifs southeast of Rock river, about one mile above Dixon, and on 
the east slope of a ravine that drains into that river opposite the 
island. 

Along the bluffs of Rock river may be found the loess deposit, 
which is described as " a fine mechanical sediment that seems to have 
accumulated in a quiet lake or other body of fresh water. It is com- 
posed of brown, buff or ashen gray marley, sands, and clays, and 
contains numerous land and fresh-water shells of the same species 
with those inhabiting the land and waters of the adjacent region." 

Along the Rock river valley and in the Inlet and Winnebago 
basin we meet with alluvium, as well as along some of the smaller 
streams. This consists of sand, clay, and loam, irregularly stratified 
with greater or less organic matter from the decomposed animal and 
vegetable substances that are imbedded therein. 

The soil of Lee county is fertile, well drained, and adapted to 
agriculture and stock growing. A number of the citizens of the county 
are engaged in the latter, and have many broad acres set in clover 
and blue-grass, which grow most luxuriantly. 

EARLY HISTORY. 

Prior to the Black Hawk war. — For the early history of the 
territory now embraced in Lee county we are called back to the 
early days of Dixon's Ferry. It was the establishment of this en- 
terprise, as the first improvement of the country, that invited to the 
banks of Rock river the early pioneer settlement, that laid the foun- 
dation for the future development of an intelligent and prosperous 
community, and the building of the city of Dixon. The circum- 
stances leading to the discovery of this locality have been noticed in 
their proper relations to the discovery of Lee county. 

Prior to the establishment of the ferry at this place, the broad, 
fertile prairies and the beautiful groves of Lee county were left to 
the wild beasts and wandering tribes of aborigines. The Galena 
mine-- having been opened, there was a rush of emigration to that 
locality from the southern settlements along the Illinois river, by 
the Rock Island route. But a Mr. 0. W. Kellogg taking the more 
direct route from Peoria — then Fort Clark — drove his team across 
the country, in 1827, traversing the wild prairies, fording streams, 
and camping at night without any shelter save the stariy expanse 
above, which seemed like a vast crystal canopy resting down upon 



34 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

the boundless prairie sea wliich surrounded hitn on every side. 
Reaching Rock river he crossed the stream at a point a few miles 
above the present site of the city of Dixon, probably at the head of 
Truman's Island ; passed between what is now known as Polo and 
Mount Morris ; thence west of West Grove, from which point he 
turned north to Galena. This prairie path-finder opened the route 
afterward known as " Kellogg' s Trail." This path was soon occu- 
pied by many fortune seekers, who disregarded the fertile soil over 
which they were passing, and in wliich mines of wealth were stored 
that would be inexhaustible for generations to come. Soon, how- 
ever, it was discovered that this was not the most direct communi- 
cation between the lower settlements and the mines, hence in the 
spring of 1828 John Boles, bearing to the west of Kellogg's Trail, 
crossed Rock river at the present site of Dixon, not far fn^m the 
location of the Galena street bridge, possibly a few rods below 
this point. This path, known as "Bole's Trail," became the com- 
mon route between the above points. 

The crossing of the river prior to the establishment of the ferry 
was attended with difficulties and perils. The method is described 
by John K. Robinson in the following manner: "The method of 
crossing the river with teams before the establishment of a ferry was 
primitive and simple. On arriving at the place of crossing the 
wagons were unloaded and the loads carried over in canoes by the 
Indians. The wagon was then driven with the side to the stream 
and two wheels lifted into a canoe, then shoved a little out into the 
river ; another canoe received the other two wheels, when the 
double boat was paddled or poled to the other side. Tlie horses 
were taken by the bridle and made to swim by the side of the canoe, 
while the cattle swam loose. Then commenced the lifting out of 
the wagon and reloading, after which the journey was renewed, 
and all hands happy that the task of crossing the river was com- 
pleted." 

" Once James P. Dixon, well acquainted with the hardship of 
crossing, arriving on the banks of the river with the mail wagon 
called to the Indians for their assistance, but received no answer. 
Vexed at their delay, and at their arrogance when they did assist, he 
boldly unchecked his horses so as to give them a chance to swim, 
and crossed the river with tiie mail and wagon in safety." 

This incident illustrates some of the inconveniences to which tlie 
early pioneers were subject. The Indians were not reliable as ferry- 
men in the manner as above described, being frequently absent, or 
ill disposed to render immediate assistance ; and it was only when 
the river was low that it ci>uld be forded. To relieve the traveling 



EARLY HISTORY. 35 

public of this annoyance, and to open an avenue of pecuniary gain, 
Mr. J. L. Bogardis, of Peoria, attempted the establishment of a 
ferry at this point some time in 1827, or early in 1828. The enter- 
prise, however, was a failure ; for the reason that the Indians, who 
had been accustomed to pilot the strangers across the river in their 
primitive style, were unwilling that the white man should create a 
competition in the business over which they held a monopoly ; and 
therefore they swooped down upon the two workmen, who had the 
boat for the ferry well on the way, and burning the superstructure they 
ordered the men back to the place from which they came. The 
workmen made a hasty retreat, leaving the red-men in possession of 
the situation, including a shanty 8x10 feet, which they had erected 
on the bank of the river. 

In the spring of 1828 Josep Ogee, a French Indian half-breed 
and interpreter, settled here, erected a cabin on the bank of the river, 
and established the first ferry without molestation from the Indians. 
Ogee's wife was a Pottawatomie woman, and his relations and 
customs were allied with their own people, so that he was permitted 
to abide in peace and conduct his ferry until the spring of 1830, 
when he sold to John Dixon, whose name the city of Dixon bears 
to-day. Mr. Dixon had induced Ogee to build the ferry to accom- 
modate the United States mail, which he was carrying from Peoria 
to Galena. On the 11th of April Mr. Dixon arrived at the ferry 
with his family and took charge of the transportation of the travel- 
ing public across the river. He was regarded by the Indians as the 
"red-man's friend," whom they called "Na-chusa;" which is a con- 
traction of N"adah-churah-sah, and signifies, " head-hair- white ;" 
referring to Mr. Dixon's white, flowing locks, which came prema- 
turely. 

The first tavern opened in this vicinity was in 1829, by Isaac 
Chambers, who built a house for public entertainment in Buffalo 
Grove, through which he had cut a road for the new trail from the 
ferry to Galena, two miles distant from the Bole's Trail, which it in- 
tersected some distance north of the grove. This was the first white 
family in this part of the country. That the reader may have a just 
idea of the hardships of those days, and the primitive style in a 
pioneer tavern, we give an extract below from the pen of John K. 
Pobinson, an eye witness to many of the things of which he writes, 
who came to the county in 1832, and became conversant with the facts 
here related : 

"From 1829 to 1835 the travel crossing Pock river at the pres- 
ent site of Dixon was extensive. In early spring the emigration to 
the lead mines was one perpetual rush — like in character to the gold 



36 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

fever of later years. It swept over Rock liviT iu swarms of from 
five to twenty teams a day through May and June ; then again there 
was a mighty stream southward during September and October. 
Among tlie many passing through we had of ministers : John Sin- 
clair, John T. Mitchell, and Erastus Kent, all honored as faithful 
men and able ministers ; judges : Thomas Ford, afterward governor 
of Illinois, and Young; lawyers: Mills and Sheldon; and black- 
legs whose name is legion. Accommodations were furnished the 
travelers as far as the beds, bedding, and table room of the 
"tavern" would reach. Between the two houses forming the long, 
one-story portion of the building was a ten or twelve foot hall, with 
a doorway at either end, facing the north and south. Entering the 
hall from the south , on the west was the fimily sitting-room, on 
the east was the travelers' and hired help's room, each room 
eighteen feet square. The furniture of the west room consisted of 
two beds, quite a number of chairs, and m table extending clear 
across the room, where the meals were taken in cold weather ; in 
warm weather the meals were taken in the hall. The east room 
contained four beds, one in each corner. When driven to extend 
this bed-room, the "shake-down" was resorted to, which was of 
common occurrence. A buffalo robe or bear skin spread on the soft 
side of the floor, with a blanket or (juilt for covering, made a bed 
good enough for an^'body. The floor was olten covered in both 
rooms, and the hall filled to overflowing, with these hastily and easi- 
ly prepared beds. Floor room was not always of sufficient propor- 
tion to accommodate thu entire party ; the remainder encamped all 
about the premises, there was room enough out doors for all. 
Owing to the base of supplies being so distant — Peoria ninety 
miles, and Galena sixty-five miles — we were often driven to extremi- 
ties. No weather or bad roads satisfied hunger or stayed travel. 
Armies, feeling this gnawing, grow restless and insubordinate. Our 
own family and travelers gave vent to human nature without stint. 
Few could take in the difficulties of having the wlmle of a large 
caravan to feed. The Inlet stream was unbridged and frequently 
swimming, and in that dircctimi our supplies were often crossed un- 
der water before they reached us. Our horses were tauglit swimming 
and became proficients in that calling. I have been employed a lit- 
tle below the present road crossing Inlet creek, swinmiing horses 
and wagons across one way and back the other, for more than two 
hours at a time, and once safely swam a four-horse team attached to 
a wagon loaded with lumber across the stream at the imminent ri^k 
of myself and team. Mail stages were three times submerged and 
ruined in Inlet. Northward, Apple river and both Plumb rivers 



EARLY HTSTOKY. 37 

were alike difficult to cross aiul much more dangerous, as the cross- 
ings were bad aiicTthe current rapid. 

Father Dixon did his trading with the Indians as a matter of 
necessity. He had lived at Peoria and learned the character of the 
average trader and determined to deal more justly with the Indians 
than had been done. He ingratiated himself with them as their ad- 
viser and friend, strongly urging them to a civilized life and habits 
of sobriety, diligence and honesty. The store-room in which he 
traded with the Indians was in the east building (the two-story 
house), where he sold powder, lead, shot, wampum, tobacco, pipes, 
shrouding (a coarse cloth), blankets, guns, beads, needles, awls, 
knives, spears, muskrat and otter traps, calicos, etc., and but one 
thing at a time. Why 'i The Indian is a thief always and every- 
where. In return he had their furs, dressed deer skins, moccasins, 
and fancy articles made by the female portion of his traders. These 
found a ready market in Galena, Peoria, and St. Louis. 

Directly after taking up his permanent home at Dixon's Ferry, 
and while coming down the river from the place of ferrying. Father 
Dixon heard his Indian name excitedly called out. Turning around 
he saw a naked savage within 100 feet of him running toward him 
and gesticulating angrily with a muskrat spear which was made of a 
sharpened 5-8 inch round iron rod, from two to three feet in 
length, fastened to a wooden handle from four to six feet in length, 
making a formidable weapon. To defend himself unarmed was 
impossible ; to flee cowardly. He took in the danger, but his man- 
hood refused to carry him out of danger, as his fleetness would have 
enabled him to do. He boldly faced his adversary, but before the 
Indian had an opportunity to throw his spear his arms were secure- 
ly grasped by some of the Indian spectators, who interfered for 
Dixon's safety. After the drunken debauch was over the Indian 
asked an interview with Father Dixon, which he refused him until 
the band to which the Indian belonged interceded for him. Much 
ceremony suits the Indian ; the talk commenced, when the Indian, 
whose name was Dah-shun-egra, acknowledged his murderous inten- 
tion ; " that bad whisky made bad Indian," and asked forgiveness. 
He asked Father Dixon what he would have done if he had thrown 
the spear and missed his aim. In reply Father Dixon said : "Had 
you thrown the spear and missed me, the spear would have passed 
by me and I should have reached it lirst, and should have killed 
you on the spot with your own spear." His coolness in the hour of 
danger, and this open avowal of a determined man to defend him- 
self and repel force by force, were qualities that the savages could 



38 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

fully understand and appreciate. It established Father Dixon's 
character among the Indians as a White Brave." 

While Mr. Dixon carried the United States mail the streams were 
unbridged, not even '"corduroyed;" swamps undrained ; roads al- 
most impassable ; houses few and far between. Snowstorms were 
more severe and the cold more intense than in later years. In the 
winter of 1830-1 (the winter of the deep snowl the snow averaged 
three feet deep from New Year's Day to the 15th of March. No 
track was kept open from one settlement to another, and it was with 
great difficulty that roads were kept open even in densely settled dis- 
tricts. Fifteen to twenty-seven miles was the usual distance between 
the homes along the route. On one of the longest routes during this 
memorable winter Mr. Dixon and some of the stage passengers were 
so benumbed with the cold as to be unable to get out of the stage 
without assistance. 

In the year 1829 a post-office was established at Ogee's Ferry to 
accommodate the traveling public, and a Mr. Gay was appointed post- 
master. In September, 1830, Mr. Dixon superseded Mr. Gay, by 
government appointment, and in the following year the name of the 
post-office was changed, as the ferry had been, to Dixon's Ferry. The 
few settlers who had located in the vicinity of Rockford came to Dix- 
on's Ferry for their mail matter, and being the only ferry crossing for 
many miles up and down the river, Dixon at this early day was a 
central point of interest for thirty or forty miles north and south, and 
from Chicago, a small frontier post, to the Mississippi ; and in the 
time of the Black Hawk war it became the rendezvous of the United 
States troops. It was the central depot for supplies, and afforded the 
most advantageous point for military mameuvering. 

" At this time," says the " Ilistorj' of Dixon,'' published in 1880, 
" the banks of Rock river at the present site of Dixon were gently 
sloping to the water's edge, covered with grass, not abrupt as at pres- 
ent. Teams were loaded wherever the ferry-boat struck a suitable 
place on the shores. The ferry-boat was propelled by the old-fashioned 
'setting' pole,' attended with any amount of fatigue. It was one of 
the schools of ]>atience in its day. A rope ferry, similar to the one 
now at Grand Detour, succeeded the primitive institution in 1835. 
A rope was stretched across the river from the tops of strong posts 
placed on either bank of the river at Galena street, and with the lee 
board as motive power more rapid and far easier transportation was 
secured." 

We may note at this point that Mrs. John Dixon was the tirst 
white woman who settled in the Rock River valley, in the bounds of 
Lee county. 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 39 

About eighteen or twenty miles south, and not far from the pres- 
ent Lee county line, in the south part of the county, another pioneer 
by the well known name of " Dad Joe " Smith had located at a very 
early day, the date of which we cannot give definitely, but it was, 
however, prior to the Black Hawk war, and of sufficient length of time 
for him to become familiar with the Indians of the country to secure 
his safety during the Black Hawk campaign. Having secured the 
safety of his wife and children he remained at his home at "Dad 
Joe's Grove " and attended and gathered his crops during the entire 
war unmolested. He had fought in the battle of the Thames ; came 
to this county with the first emigrants and " settled in the shadow of 
this grove," and commenced opening a farm. At the time of the 
advance of Atkinson's army he served as a guide. He also served as a 
spy under command of Zachary Taylor. He was an early settler, and 
of such long standing that he was rather looked upon as a kind of patri- 
arch in the countrj', and to distinguish him from other Joe Smiths — 
perhaps a son bearing his father's name — he received the venerable 
appellation of "Dad Joe." Mr. J. K. Robinson said of him: " He 
was one of the good, J0II3' men, who had made their homes along the 
route of the earl3' thoroughfare between Peoria and Galena. 'Dad 
Joe ' had an uncommonly loud voice. It was often remarked in that 
day ' We knew they were all well at Dad Joe's, this morning, for we 
heard him calling his hogs just twenty miles away.' " 

In the spring of 1832, at the settlement at Buffalo Grove, ten 
miles up the Galena road, were located Isaac Chambers, 0. W. Kel- 
logg, Mr. Reed, and a Mr. Bush, and their families. Mr. John K. 
Robinson had joined John Dixon at the ferry where he settled, and 
"Dad Joe" twenty miles south on the I'oad. These were the way 
stations on the great thoroughfare of travel from the southern settle- 
ments to the Galena mines on the north, and were as oases in the 
desert to the pioneer traveler. 

THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

The Black Hawk war broke out in 1832, when Dixon's Ferry, 
where the city of Dixon is now located, became the rendezvous of 
the United States troops and the raw levies that were raised for the 
defense of the frontier, as it proved to be a central position for the 
speedy and successful manoeuvreing of troops and their supplies. 

"A treaty had been made in 1804 with the Sacs and Fox Indians, 
in which those powerful tribes ceded to the United States all their 
lands lying east of the Mississippi, and agreed to remove to lands 
west of that river. Black Hawk and other chiefs not being present 
when the treaty was made, refused to be bound by it." It is but just 



40 HISTORY OF LEE 0O^J^^TY. 

that the noble warrior, Black Hawk, be lieard respecting this treaty, 
and the relation of his people to the origin of the war which fol- 
lowed. In his account given to Antoine Leclair, United States 
interpreter for the Sacs and Foxes, and published in the "Life of 
Black Hawk," by J. B. Patterson, of Rock Island, in 1834, he said : 

" One of our people killed an American and was confined in the 
prison at St. Louis for the offense. We held a council at our village 
to see what could be done for him, which determined that Quiish- 
quii-me, Pa-she-pa-ho, Ou-che-qua-ka, and Hii-she quar-hi-qua should 
go down to St. Louis, see our American father, and do all they could 
to have our friend released by paying for the person killed, thus 
covering the blood and satisfying the relations of the man murdered. 
This was the only means with us of saving a person who had killed 
another, and we then thought it was the same way witli the whites. 
The party started with the good wishes of our whole nation, hoping 
they would accomplish the object of their mission. The relatives of 
the prisoner blacked their faces and fasted, hoping the Great Spirit 
would take pity on them and return the husband and father to his 
wife and children. Quash-qua-me and party remained a long time 
absent. They at length returned, * * * and gave to us the 
following account of their mission : 

"On their arrival at St. Louis they met their American father 
and explained to him their business, and ui'ged the release of their 
friend. The American chief told them he wanted land, and they 
had agreed to give him some on the west side of the Mississippi and 
some on the Illinois' side opposite the Jeffreon. When the business 
was all arranged they expected to have their friend released to come 
home with them, but about the time they were ready to start their 
friend was let out of prison, and he ran a short distance and was 
shot dead. This is all they could recollect of what was said or 
done. They had been drunk the greater part of the time they were 
in St. Louis. 

" This is all myself or nation knew of the treaty of 1804. It has 
been explained to me since. I find, by that treaty, all our country 
east of the Mississippi and south of Jeffreon was ceded to the 
United States for one thousand dollars a year. I will leave it to the 
people of the United States to say whether our nation was properly 
represented in this treaty, or whether we received a fair compensa- 
tion for the extent of country' ceded by those four individuals. I 
could say much about this treaty but will not at this time. It has 
been the origin of all our difficulties." 

After the treaty of peace between the United States and Great 
Britain, Black Hawk and his chiefs went down to St. Louis to con- 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 41 

firm the treaty of peace, and ' ' Here, ' ' says Black Hawk, ' ' for the 
first time I touched the goose quill to the treaty, — not knowing, 
however, that by that act I consented to give away my village. Had 
that been explained to me I should have opposed it and never would 
have signed tlieir treaty. "What do we know about the laws and 
customs of the white people ? They might buy our bodies for dis- 
section and we would touch the goose quill to confirm it without 
knowing what we were doing. This was the case with myself and 
people in touching the goose quill the first time." Black Hawk 
also claimed that they did not cede their village to the government. 
This village was situated on the north side of Rock river, at its mouth, 
on the point of land between this river and the Mississippi. Their 
corn-fields extended up the Mississippi for two miles, where they 
joined the Foxes on the north. Hock Island was the summer resort 
for their young people, tlieir garden which supplied them with 
berries and fruits, and the rapids of Bock river furnished them 
with the finest fish. "A good spirit had care of it, who lived in a 
cave in the rocks immediately under the place where tlie fort now 
stands (1834) and has often been seen by our people. He was white, 
with large wings like a swan's, but ten times larger. We were par- 
ticular not to make much noise in that part of the island which he 
inhabited for fear of disturbing him ; but the noise of the fort lias 
driven hira away and no doubt a had spirit has taken his place." 

It is not to be thought strange that those native tribes would be 
unwilling to leave this beautiful and I'ich country, the home of their 
fathers for more than a hundred years. And besides Black Hawk 
clnimed, as did also Quash-qua-me, who conducted the treaty, that 
their Rock Island village had not been sold, as claimed by the gov- 
ernment. On this they predicated their claims and all their troubles. 

The whites, however, occupied their village, and Black Hawk 
says "they brought whiskj' into our village, and made our people 
drunk, and cheated them out of their horses, guns and traps!" It 
may be noted here that the first temperance crusade in this country 
was headed by Black Hawk, chief of the Sacs. He says : "I visited 
all the whites (in the village) and begged them not to sell whisky to 
my people. One of them continued the practice openly. I took a 
party of my J'oung men, went to his house, and took out his barrel 
and broke in the head and turned out the whisky." He then adds: 
"Bad and cruel as our people were treated by the whites, not one of 
them was hurt or molested by any of my band. I hope this will 
prove that we are a peaceable people, having permitted ten men to 
take possession of our corn-fields, prevent us from planting corn, 
burn and destroy our lodges, ill-treat our women, and heat to death 



42 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

our men without offering resistance to their barbarous cruelties. 
Tlie whites were complaining at the same time that tee were intrud- 
ing upon their rights! They made themselves out the injured 
party, and we the intruders ! and called loirdly to the great war-chief 
to protect their property ! How smooth must be the language of 
the whites when they can make right look like wrong and wrong 
look like right !" 

This brave and proud warrior would not surrender his village 
until the last hour, when the United States soldiers were on the 
ground for the purpose of forcing him to terms. The night before 
the day appointed by Gen. Gaines to remove them, the chief and 
his people crossed the Mississippi and encamped below the mouth of 
Rock river. Black Hawk went to their agent and requested that a 
house be built for him. and a field plowed in the fall, as he desired 
to live retired. This being promised, he went to the trader and ob- 
tained permission to be buried in the graveyard in their old village. 
"I then returned," said Black Hawk, "to my people satisfied." He 
had not remained long in quiet retirement when in 1831 the restless 
chief and his band (known as the Britisii Band of Sac Indians) 
crossed the river to their old homes at the mouth of Rock river, but 
after preparations of war were made for his extermination he nego- 
tiated a treaty and returned to the west side of the Mississij)pi, re- 
ceiving liberal presents of goods and provisions from the govern- 
ment, and promised never to return without the consent of the pres- 
ident of the United States or the governor of Illinois. 

Here he remained quietly until the following year, when discon- 
tent was created by the bad counsel of British officers on the upper 
Mississippi ; aTid on April fi. 1832, he again recrossed the Missis- 
sippi with his entire band and their women and children, and soon 
commenced his march up the river, intending to take possession of 
the Kishwaukoe country on the upper Rock river, claimed to have 
been given him by the Pottawatomies. 

Black Hawk's policy was to ascend the Rock river in peace, until 
he had the expected reinforcements from the Ottawas, Chippewas, 
Pottawatomies, and Winnebagoes, from the upper Rock river and 
lake region, as he had been told. Ascending the river to Prophets- 
town, he received an order from Gen. Atkinson (White Beaver) to 
return or he would pursue him and drive him back. The chief re- 
fused, sending word to the general if he wanted to fight to come 
on, and moved on up river. 

Mr. John Dixon, then proprietor of Dixon's Ferry, was advised 
of the approach of the Black Hawk band of Indians, and would have 
abandoned his home, and sought safety elsewhere, but his faith in 




VxTT^t^M^t-t^ C/L^Vt, L^hr-VK^^jxJ:, //Apv^iA«--t'A//^;;;V\_, 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 45 

humanity was of that kind that " Hopeth all thiiii^s, of all men "— 
even the Indians. A leading Winnebago chief, Pachinka (Crane in 
English), had told liim that the Winnebagoes held possession of the 
lands through which the Sacs would have to move, and that they 
would not dare injure the white friends of his nation. So Father 
Dixon was here when the savage army passed early in May. He so 
arranged his f;imily and hired help as to ascertain the force of the 
hostiles. This he accomplished without exciting their suspicions 
His estimate gave them 600 men. The band encamped at a spring 
a few hundred yards above the ferry, now submerged by reason of 
the dam. 

The war chief had not forgotten the kindness of Mrs. Dixon 
during the preceding winter, when he, a chief from Eock Island, and 
the prophet from Prophetstown, met in council with the Pottawato- 
mies at Dixon's Ferry, when Black Hawk negotiated for the occu- 
pancy of Spotted Arms' Town near the present site of Eockford. 
During their stay the chiefs at the council tire were regularlv invited 
as guests to Mrs. Dixon's table. She served them as waiter, and 
even sat down and ate and drank with them. Black Hawk not only 
reminded her of his appreciation of her kindness, but called the at- 
tention of the other chiefs to her care for them. 

"On May 12 Governor Eeynolds was at Dixon's Ferry, with 
about 900 mounted riflemen, under command of Gen. Whitesides 
awaiting the arrival of Gen. Atkinson's forces of the regular armyi 
coming up the river with army stores, provisions, and the general 
impediments of a moving army. 

"Immediately after the arrival of the forces at Dixon's Ferry Gen 
Whitesides sent a party of four men, a guide and interpreter, under 
command of Capt. John Dement (then state treasurer), to Shabbona's 
Grove, just within the borders of the present county of De Kalb to 
warn the friendly Pottawatomie chief, Shabbona, who lived there 
upon a small reservation with his family and a few followers, not to 
allow Black Hawk to come upon his lands to live." 

Having lost their way they were, toward the close of the second 
day out, approaching a grove to the northwest of Shabbona's Grove 
which they were seeking, when Peter Manard, the interpreter of the 
party, who was familiar with Shabbona and his people, approached 
the grove m advance of the party expecting to meet the friendly Pot- 
tawatomies. Crossing a small stream he entered the grove, where he 
tound an unoccupied lodge. Alighting from his pony, he was trying to 
strike a tire preparatory to an encampment for the night, when Capt. 
Dement, who was approaching the grove at another point, descried 
some Indians in the timber trying to conceal themselves in the 
4 



46 HISTORY OV LEK COUNTY. 

thicket ; leaving his Jiart}' to watch the movements fif the savages, 
he rode down the grove to see what had become of Manard, whom 
he found in possession of his h)dge, happily anticipating a good 
smoke in his efforts to strike a fire ; but at tlie word from tlie captain 
he mounted and joined the party. The Indians soon rushed from 
the grove with yells and menaces of war. The scouting party fear- 
ing the presence of superior numbers galloped away over the 
prairie ; but discovering that only two or three Indians were follow- 
ing them they reined up their horses when the Indians came up, 
laughing and pretending friendship. 

From these Indians they learned that Black Hawk and his band 
were encamped on a stream but two miles away, and that the}' were 
going over to Mud lake to hunt. They invited the captain and his 
party to lodge with them for the night, promising to feast tliem 
on fresh venison. The captain declined their hospitality, preferring 
a long horseback ride in the night, though weary from the long travel 
of the day. He turned toward Shabbona's grove to mislead the 
red-men should they attempt to follow or intercept them, and when 
beyond their view the party headed toward Dixon's Ferry and rode 
all night, reaching Inlet grove in early morning. After halting a 
short time at this point they continued their march to Dixon's Ferry, 
and reported the result of their expedition to the commanding general. 

"Just before Capt. Dement and his party returned to Dixon's Ferry 
from Shabbona's grove Maj. Stillman was permitted to advance up 
the river and spy out the hostile camp. Maj. Stillman was at the 
ferry when Gen. Whitesides arrived ; he had command of a small 
battalion of green volunteers, who, in their ini'xperience, were eager 
to get a shot at an Indian. On the evening of May 15 or 16 
Stillman encamped on a small stream near Kishwaiikee creek, in what 
is now Ogle county, about thirty miles from Dixon. He was about 
five miles distant from Black Hawk's camp on Kishwaukee creek, 
but did not know it." 

Black Hawk says that at about tiiis time " the Pottawatomie ciiiefs 
arrived at ni}- camp. 1 had a dog killed, and made a feast.. When 
it was ready I spread my medicine bags, and the chiefs began to eat. 
When the ceremony was about ending I received news that three or 
four hundred white men on horseback had been seen about eight 
miles off. I immediately started three young men with a white flag 
to meet them, and conduct them to our camp, that we might hold a 
council with them, and descend Rock river again." These three 
men, according to Black Hawk, were captured by the whites and 
taken to their camp. One of them was shot, and the other two 
escaped to their own camp. 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 47 

After Black Hawk had started tlie three, as above, he sent five 
more young men to follow after and see what the result would be 
These proceeded to a monnd about a mile and a half from Still- 
maif s camp where they displayed a flag of truce. " They were dis 
covered by some of the men, who, without reporting to" their com- 
mander, and without orders, hastily mounted and rode toward the 
Indians. These, not understanding this sudden movement, and ap- 
parently suspicious, commenced to retreat toward the camp of their 
chief. The whites dashed after them, fired and killed two of their 
number and captured two more, the otliers escaped, still pursued by 
the reckless volunteers. When Black Hawk and his war chief Ne-o- 
pope,saw them dashing down upon their camp, their flag of truce disre 
garded, they raised the terrible war-whoop and prepared for the fray " 
Black Hawk says, " When they came in with the news I was pre- 
paring my flags to meet the war chief. The alarm was given Nearly 
all my y.ung men were absent, about ten miles oflT. I started with 
what I had left (about forty), and had proceeded but a short distance 
before we saw a part of the army approaching. I immediately placed 
m^y men in front of some bushes, that we might have the first fire 
ihey halted some distance from us, when I gave another yell and 
ordered my braves to charge upon them, expecting that we would all 
be killed. They did charge. Every man rushed and fired, and the 
enemy retreated in the utmost confusion and consternation before 
my little but brave band of warriors. I found it useless to follow 
them, as they rode so fast, and I returned to my encampment with a 
few of my braves, about twenty-five having gone in pursuit of the 
enemy. I lighted my pipe, and sat down to thank the Great Spirit 
lor what he had done for my people." 

Our own historian says of the defeat, when Black Hawk met the 
charging volunteers, "It was now the turn of the volunteers to re- 
treat, which they did with wonderful celerity. Supposing they were 
pursued by a thousand savage warriors, the flying soldiers rushed 
through the camp, spreading terror and consternation amon- their 
comrades. The wildest confusion ensued, there was 'mounring in 
hot haste ; and the efi-orts of the officers to rally the troops were 
without avail. The panic was complete; every man seemed bent 
upon saving his scalp, and fled, never stopping until they reached 
Uixon s Ferry, or some other place of safety. It is said that the 
first man to reach Dixon was a Kentucky lawyer, not unknown to 
tame in Jo Daviess county, who reported that every man in Still- 
man s command had been killed except himself. Nearly every man 
as he came straggling back to the Ferry during the night, had a like 
report to make." 



48 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

The narrative continues: •• It is a well known fact that Stillman's 
men were well supplied with whiskey, and that many of them were 
drunk, which may account for their rash act in firing upon the white 
flag in utter disregard of all rules of warfare recognized, even 
among the Indians. On the approach of day the order was given 
for a forced march to the fatal field, and about eight hundred of the 
volunteers moved out, leaving two hundred men to guard the ferry; 
but the enemy had gone, the main bod}' moving northward, and tlie 
rest scattering in small bands to avenge the death of their people 
upon unofifending settlers. Eleven of Stillman's men were killed. 
Their mutilated remains were gathered and buried, and the place is 
known as '' Stillman's Run " to this day It is supposed that nearly 
all of those who were killed were not in the first melee, as all but 
two or three of the bodies were found on the side of the creek upon 
which Stillmau camped; they were probably unable to get to their 
horses before the savages dashed through their camp. Being out of 
provisions the pui-suing army were obliged to return to Dixon's 
Ferry, to await the arrival of the boats. This defeat was the open- 
ing of hostilities, and justice compels the impartial historian to re- 
cord that the whites were the aggressors." 

Had the counsel of Captain Dement been followed, at tliis time 
a conflict and loss of valuable lives might have been averted. On 
the captain's return with his scouting party to Dixon's Ferry, he 
informed the commanding general of the situation of Black Hawk, 
and the friendly attitude of those of his army they had met. No 
blood having been shed, he thought that the chief could have been 
induced to return peaceably to his home in Iowa; and the account 
afterward given by Black Hawk indicated that the captain was cor- 
rect in his judgment of the situation. 

Said Black Hawk: "Never was I so much surprised in my life 
as I was in this attack. An army of three or four hundred, after 
liaving learned that we were suing for peace, to attempt to kill the 
flag-bearers that had gone, unarmed, to ask for a meeting of the 
war chiefs of the two contending parties to hold a council, that I 
might return to the west side of the Mississippi, to come forward, 
with a full determination to demolish the few braves I had with me, 
to retreat, when they had ten to one, was unacct)untable to me. I 
sent a flag of peace to the American war chief, expecting as a matter 
of right, reason and jiistico, that our flag would be respected." 

The exi)ected provisions having i-cached Dixon's Ferry, the army 
again moveil north, following the Indians to Fox river. 

"The term of enlistment having expired, the volunteers demanded 
to be dismissed. ' They were mustered out May 26 or 27, and a new 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 49 

call issued for volunteers. White.sides and two or three hundred vol- 
unteers remained in arms for the protection of the settlers until the 
new levies could be organized. These, with several companies of 
regulars, made tlieir headquarters at Dixon's Ferry. Ranging com- 
panies were formed to keep up communication between the lead mine 
region and more southern counties. Maj. Riley, of tlie United 
States army, converted the former residence of O. W. Kellogg, at 
Kellogg' s Grove, thirty-seven miles northeast of Dixon, into a small, 
well appointed stockade, and other temporary fortifications were 
raised in dilFerent localities." 

During this time Black Hawk was making the best possible way 
north to the Four Lakes, to find safety for his women and children. 

"The fatal act of Stillman's men precipitated all tlie horrors of In- 
dian border warfare upon tlie white settlements in Jo Daviess coun- 
ty, as it then existed, and in the adjoining portions of Michigan 
Territory. Nor is it certain that all the outrages were perpetrated 
by the "British Band." It is certain that young Pottawatomies 
and Winnebagoes joined Black Hawk, and, after the war suddenly 
closed at Bad Axe, it was ascertained that many of the murders had 
been committed by these Indians. Among the first results of "Still- 
man's defeat " was the descent of about twenty-five Indians upon an 
unprotected settlement at Indian creek, where they massacred fif- 
teen men, women and children, and captured two young women, 
Sylvia and Rachel Hall. These giils, seventeen and fifteen years 
old respectively, were afterward brought in by Winnebagoes to Gra- 
tiot Grove, and were ransomed for S2,(i00 in horses, wampum and 
trinkets. Part of the compensation agreed upon by Gen. Dodge for 
their ransom was paid to "Whirling Tliunder," one of the Winne- 
bago chiefs, at Dixon's Ferry. 

"The atrocities perpetrated by the Indians upon the bodies of 
their \-ictims aroused the vengeance of the settlers and miners, 
many of whom had previously felt that the Indians were not so 
much in fault, and had needlessly been provoked to bloodshed. Un- 
expected and mortifying as the beginning of this war had been, its 
relinquishment was not dreamed of, and every effort was made to en- 
sure future protection. A fair wagon road was made from Dixon's 
Ferry to Rock Island, which was the base of supplies. Another 
road, but more imperfect, was made from Rock Island to Fort Kosli- 
kanong (near Madison, Wisconsin,) and to other temporary fortifica- 
tions. Conforming to the inevitable, a fort was constructed on the 
north side of the river, consisting of two block houses within an in- 
closure made by a breastwork of sod and earth four and a half feet 
high, and abutting on the river a few rods west of the ferry. The 



50 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

nortlieast block house was two stories high, ami was so arranged as 
to command the north and east sides of the fort. Here Captain 
Palmer was stationed with one company of United States infantry 
to guard the ferry, thus atfording a safe and speedy passage to pass- 
ing troops at all times, endearing himself to citizens and soldiers alike 
by his gentlemanly bearing and deportment. 

'■ On Saturday, May 19, Sergeant Fred Stahl (now a respected citi- 
zen of Galena) and four privates, with .Inlm Winters, the mail con- 
tractor, for guide, left Galena to bear dispatches to Gen. Atkinson, 
who had arrived at Dixon's Ferry. On the evening of that day they 
were ambuscaded by Indians just at the edge of Buifalo Grove, now 
in Ogle county. One of the party was instantly killed and the 
others narrowly escaped to Galena. 

"May 23, Felix St. Vrain, agent for the Sacs and Foxes, bearer 
of dispatches, left Gen. Atkinson's headquarters, at Dixon's Ferry, 
accompanied by six men. At J)uffalo Grove they found the body of 
the volunteer that had been killed a few days befire, and buried it. 
The next day (2'±th) they were attacked by a party of thirty Indians, 
near " Kellogg's old place.'" St. Train and tiiree others were 
killed. The remaining tiiree escaped and arrived at Galena on the 
morning (^f the 26th. 

"On the 15th of June the new levies of 3,00U volunteers, in 
camp at Fort Wilburn, near La Salle, were formed into three 
brigades, under command of Gen. Atkinson. The first brigade was 
commanded b}' Gen. Alexander Pose}'; the second by Gen. Milton 
K. Alexander, and the third by Gen. James D. Henry. They moved 
to Dixon's Ferry a few days after. 

" Capt. John Dement was elected major of an independent spy bat- 
talion, consisting of three com])anies of about 140 men, belonging to 
Gen. Posey's brigade. Maj. Dement was sent in advance of the main 
force to report Indian depredations that had been committed in the 
Bureau woods, to Col. Taylor at Dixon's Ferry. After scouring the 
woods he arrived at the river the evening of the second or third da}'. 
He arrived just after two companies of regulars had been driven in 
from an attempt to keep open the load between Galena and Dixon. 
Taylor met Dement as he arrived, and informed him that he had 
come just in time — that he had just the place for him, and directed 
him to swim his horses across the river in the morning and receive 
his orders. In Maj. Dement's command were men who had held 
nearly every office in the state from governor down. His men were 
fatigued from their long ride and expected a short rest when they 
arrived at the river. Dement, although ready to do his duty without 
flinching, was desirous of not appearing anxious to get his men prema- 



THE BLACK IfAWK WAR. 51 

turely into a light, when the regulars could not hold their own, and 
a large force of volunteers were so soon to arrive ; he therefore re- 
quested Col. Taylor, when he should deliver him his orders, to read 
them to liis men, that they might know that he (Dement) was not re- 
sponsible for the movement. As they were ready to start, Taylor 
read the orders, and then addressed the men in a very abrupt man- 
ner, alluding to the unfortunate propensity of the Illinois militia for 
running away, and said that if they wished to sacrifice the reputation 
of the militia, already so poor, they had an opportunity to do so. 

" Maj. Dement replied that the discontent Col. Taylor alluded to 
was greatly exaggerated, and its cause by no means understood, 
and allusion to the courage of the soldiers, unjust and entirely 
uncalled for from men who, with the experience of the regular 
army would entrench themselves behind walls and send to the front 
mill who had never seen service. Then telling his men that none 
need obey his oi-ders to march tluit didn't-wish to go, he moved off, 
and all, save one man, followed, and he came up after the}' had gone 
a .-.liurt distance. By evening of the second day they arrived at the 
stix-lcade at Kellogg's Grove, and encamped. In the morning, learn- 
ing that an Indian trail had been seen four or five miles from the grove 
where they were encamped, the major called for twenty-five volun- 
teers to go and investigate. These were immediately forthcoming, 
and among them were the only captains he had in his command. 
These men started just before sunrise, leaving Maj. Dement giving 
instructions to those who remained, and on reaching the edge of the 
grove they discovered seven Indians a few hundred yards on the 
prairie. The cry of "Indians!" was raised, when the men in the 
grove sprang to their horses in confusion, and by the time Maj. 
Dement had brought them to order and finished his instructions, the 
volunteers were a mile out on the prairie in pursuit. Being splendidly 
mounted Maj. Dement rapidly overtook a number of them, but sev- 
eral were too far in advance ; the Indians making for an(jther grove 
some three miles away, where Dement was convinced a large num- 
ber of Indians lay concealed. Finding it was impossible to overtake 
some five or six who were in advance, on arriving at a ridge some 
40(1 yards from the grove to which the Indians were running, he 
halted the remainder of his men and formed line. As he feared, on 
nearing the grove those in advance were received with a warm fire, 
which killed two and wounded a third, and with hideous yells a large 
body of Indians poured from the grove, extending to the right and 
left, to outflank the little band, and rapidly approached. Tliey were 
all mounted, stripped to the skin, and painted for battle. As the 
Indians reached the bodies of the dead soldiers a large number sur- 



52 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

rounded them, clubbing and striking tlie lifeless remains. A volley 
from the rifles of Maj. Dement' s men killed two or three at this 
point, but by the time two or three men had reached the ridge, the 
Indians were close upon them, and were on both flanks. Then came 
an exciting race tor the grove, Indians 3'elling, bullets flying, and woe 
to the man wiiose horse stumbled or gave out ! 

"Here occurred an unfortunate circumstance: Three men whose 
horses had strayed during the night had, early in the morning, gone 
out in search of them, and were now caught on one of the flanks. The 
Indians swept over them, killing every one. 

"The men in the grove hearing the firing and yelling, instead of 
remaining in ambush as they had been instructed, mounted in hot 
hastp and started to the rescue of their comrades. On discovering 
the superior force of the Indians, they fell back again and reached 
the grove with 970 men, and almost neck and neck with the Indians, 
sprang fn)m their horses and occupied tlie l()g liouse anil barn there 
situated. On the least exposed side of the liouse was a work-bench ; 
over this Dement threw his bridle rein, and most of the horses in- 
stinciively huddled together at this house as if conscious of danger. 
As the Indians swarmed into the grove and covered themselves, an 
ominous stillness for some minutes prevailed, which was soon broken 
by the sharp crack ! crack ! of many rifles. The best marksmen 
and best rifles were placed at the port-holes and a lively fire was 
kept up by the little garrison. The Indians finding they made no 
impression turned their attention to shooting the horses, some twenty- 
five of which they killed. It was unpleasant to the volunteers, 
who rode their own horses, to hear the crack of the rifle and the 
heavy thud of the bullet and see some favorite horse spring as the 
ball struck it. After a sharp contest of an hour or two. tlie Indians 
withdrew, leaving nine dead and losing probably several others killed 
and wounded. Reinforcements were sent for the relief of Dement 
from Dixon's Ferry, but too late to assist him or follow the retreat- 
ing body of Indians. 

"It is a remarkable fact that this was the first instance during this 
war where the Indians were defeated and the position of the volun- 
teers held until reinforcements came up. Previous to this the de- 
tachments of troops were always driven back to the main army by 
the overwhelming numbers of Indians. After this fight the Indians 
would not eoinc to open battle of their own volition with the whites, 
and the only fights that occurred were when the soldiers overtook 
the Indians in their retreat; which style of warfare continued until 
hostilities ceased with Black Hawk's surrender in August." 

Black Hawk described the battle in which he claimed to liave two 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 53 

hundred warriors in the following manner: "We started in a direc- 
tion toward sunrise. After marching a considerable time I discovered 
some white men coming toward us. I told my braves that we would 
get into the woods and kill them when they approached. We con- 
cealed ourselves until they came near enough and then commenced 
yelling and tiring and made a rush upon them. About this time 
their chief, with a party of men, rushed up to rescue the men we had 
fii'ed upon. In a little while they commenced retreating and left their 
chief and a few braves who seemed willing and anxious to fight. They 
acted like braves, but were forced to give way when I rushed upon 
them with my braves. In a short time the chief returned with a 
larger party. He seemed determined to tight and anxious for a 
battle. When he came near enough I raised the yell and firing com- 
menced on both sides. The chief, who seemed to be a small man, 
addressed his warriors in a loud voice, but they soon retreated, leav- 
ing liini and a few braves on the battle-field. A great number of my 
warriors pursued the retreating party and killed a number of their 
horses as they ran. The cliief and his few braves were unwilling to 
leave the field. I ordered my braves to rush upon them, and had 
the mortification of seeing two of my chiefs killed before the enemy 
retreated. Tiiis young chief. Col. Dement, deserves great praise for 
his courage and bravery. During the attack we killed several men and 
about forty horses, and lost two young chiefs and seven warriors." 

Gen. Atkinson commenced his slow and cautious march up the 
river about the 25th of June, and finally reached lake Koshkanong, Wis- 
consin, where he was joined by Gen. Alexander's brigade, and then 
continued his march to White river, or Whitewater, where he was 
joined by Posey's brigade and Maj. Dodge. Gen. Alexander, Gen. 
Henry and Maj. Dodge were sent to Fort Winnebago for supplies. 
Here they heard that Black Hawk was making liis way toward tlie 
Wisconsin river, and, disobeying orders, Henry and Dodge started 
in pursuit (Gen. Alexander and his brigade returned to Gen. Atkin- 
son), struck the broad fresh trail of the Indians, and followed them 
with tireless energ3\ Black Hawk was overtaken at tiie Wisconsin 
river, and his braves offered battle to enable the women and children 
to cross the river. The battle of Wisconsin Heights was fought on 
July 22, 18a2, at which the Indians were badly whipped. Skirmish- 
ing commenced a little after noon, but the heaviest fighting was 
about sunset. About ten o'clock the men bivouacked for rest on 
their arms. 

The next morning not an Indian remained on the east side of the 
Wisconsin. Gen. Heni-y pushed back for supplies, and Gen. Atkin- 
son's forces coming up. tlie pursuit was renewed and the battle of 



54 IIISIORY OF LEK COUNTY. 

Bad Axe was fought August 2, 1832. This terminated the war, and 
Black Hawk's surrender, subsequent visit to Wasliington, and return 
to his people in Iowa, are events familiar to the reader. Black 
Hawk claimed : "In this skirmish with fifty braves I defended and 
accomplished mv passage over the Ouisconsin ("Wisconsin) with a 
loss of only six men, though opposed by a host of mounted militia." 

At the close of the war the United States troops that had not 
previously been discharged were mustered out at Dixon's Ferry. 
The pack hoi'ses from all the territory betweL'n Dixon and the Wis- 
consin river, the mining region and the scene of Black Hawk's de- 
feat were gathered and corraled here, prepju-atory to being driven 
farther south for sale in more densely settled portions of the state. 
The wounded and sick soldiers were brought here and carefully 
nursed aud cared for. 

By the terms of Gen. Scott's treaty at Rock Island the Winne- 
bag<J Indians were to have 40,000 rations of bacon and Hour, as a 
renmneration for the sufterings they had endured during the sum- 
mer by the occupation of their hunting grounds. The rations for 
the Rock river band of that nation were moved here in boats from 
Rock Island, and Father Dixon appointed to distribute it to the 
Indians at his discretion. 

It is an interesting circumstance that at this remote outpost of 
civilization there met a number of men since famous or infamous in 
their country's service : Gen. Scott, Col. Zachary Taylor, subse- 
quently president of the United States ; Gov. Reynolds, and Gen. 
Atkinson ; Lieut. Robert Anderson, the defender of Fort Sumter ; 
l\Iaj. John Dement, now of Dixon ; pri\^ate Abraham Lincoln, after- 
ward president of the United States during the rebellion ; and 
Lieut. Jeff. Davis, afterward the leader of the rebellion. These 
were all here in their country's service. 

When Maj. Anderson visited Washington after the evacuation of 
Fort Sumter, during a conversation the president said: " ^fajor, do 
you remember of ever meeting me before^" "No," replied Ander- 
son, "I have no recollection of ever having that pleasure. "My 
memory is better than yours," said Lincoln, "You mustered me 
into the U. S. service as a high private of the Illinois volunteers at 
Dixon's Ferry in the Black Hawk war." 

During this war, and, in fact, for years after. Father Dixon's log 
house was a "house of call" for the traveler and the wandering 
tribes of red-men. There might have been seen the raw-boned 
Hoosier bound for the lead mines, yellow-breeched Sucker with his 
boat-shaped "prairie schooner," with four, five or six yoke of oxen; 
the tramping hunter, the Pottawatomie, the cunning Winnebago, or 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 55 

the treacherous Sionx ; all these were welcomed under the hospitable 
roof of the white-haired pioneer, whom the Indians called Na-chusa 
— the white-haired — and were made to keep the peace with one an- 
other about the friendly fireside of him whom both the red and the 
white man loved and respected. 

Early in the spring of 1833 the "Winnebago Indians became res- 
tive, and many families again abandoned the homes to which they 
had so recently returned. Father Dixon's old counselor could not 
talk so assuring of his own tribe as in 1832. He frankly admitted 
the trouble that was likely to follow, and faithfully said that the tem- 
per of his people was too uncertain for assured peace. The peaceful 
family in the old log house was broken up, and mother Dixon, with 
the children, went to Peoria county, and remained there until the 
war-cloud passed over. The last of the Indians left in 1836. 

During the Black Hawk war Father Dixon Jiad the contract for 
supplj'ing the army with beef from the time the Wisconsin river 
was crossed until the final battle of the Bad Axe river. His place on 
the march was in the rear of the army, and many times he was left 
so far behind as to be out of supporting distance. It so happened on 
the march, that at one time midnight was passed before he came to 
camp. He was hailed by the sentinel with the snap of the lock of 
the gun in the sentineFs hands and the words: "Who comes 
there?" Father Dixon replied: "' Major of the Steer Battalion.''' 
The soldier gave the order: "Major of the Steer Battalion, march 
in." This sally of wit on both sides was the foundation of Father 
Dixon's military title. Another time he had been off the trail hunt- 
ing one of his beeves, and on again returning to the trail he suddenly 
found himself face to face with two Indians, who were as much as" 
tonished at the meeting as he was. It was no time for ceremon}'. 
All were armed ; Father Dixon lowered his gun and, walking about 
five rods, gave his hand to the nearest savage, saluting him in Win- 
nebago. The Indian replied in Winnebago. Father Dixon and both 
the Indians were alike overjoyed at this unexpected good fortune- 
Father Dixon, that he was permitted to save his scalp for another 
day ; the Indians, that they had found some one understanding their 
own language, under whose influence they could safely be introduced 
to Gen. Atkinson, for whom they had important dispatches. Their 
life was endangered to be seen by a soldier, and they felt their peril 
and were in serious embarrassment about how to approach the army. 

The Black Hawk C>moe. — On the surrender of Black Hawk at 
the battle of Bad Axe his canoe was captured and afterward broken 
into pieces and carried off as relics. One fragment of black walnut 
timber fell into the hands of Mr. .Geo. J. An^lerson, of Dixon, who 



56 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

worked it into three walking-sticks, and on the occasion ot an old 
settlers" reunion at Dixon, one, which had been mounted with a 
golden head, was publicly presented to Col. John Dement as a 
memento of his conflict in battle with the brave warrior during the 
Black Hawk war. The presentation was made by Dr. Oliver Everett, 
of Dixon. It was a complete surprise to Col. Dement, and awakened 
emotions through vivid recollections of the scenes of early military 
life. Mr. Anderson holds in possession one of the three canes, for 
which he has refused the liberal sum of ten dollars, although it is 
unfinished and unmounted with gold or silver. 

AFTER THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

Peace and quiet were soon restored at Dixon's Ferry, and there 
were signs of returning travel and consequent prosperity. 

The first notion store was opened in 1S33, in the block-house 
which stood on the north side of the river, bj' a Mr. Martin, 
"where," says a pioneer writer, "the prime necessaries of life were 
sold ; such as pipes, tobacco, tea, coffee and sugar were sold to 
meet the wants of advancing civilization. Life's luxuries, — shoes, 
boots and clothes, — were not yet so imperative." 

In the winter of 1833 and 1S34 a school was opened in the house 
partly built by Ogee and finished by Mr. Dixon. This was the first 
house erected at the Ferry, and this the first school opened in the 
bounds of Lee county. The pioneer writer, in the History of Dixon, 
says of this school : " Unpretentiously it was the pioneer of the more 
costly school edifices of our town. Its teacher and only one of its 
scholars survive to live in memory of its feeble infancy. There are 
structures where better facilities can be had for a sound education, 
but none are found where a more genuine good will prevails than 
existed in that old log bouse." 

Mr. John Dixon having secured under the preemption laws the 
northeast quarter of section 5, township 21, range 9 east, of 4th prin- 
cipal meridian, he laid out the first plat of the present city of Dixon 
as early as 1834 or 1835; a Mr. Bennett, from Galena, making the 
survey. The second house built at Dixon's Ferry was on the south 
side of the river, and was built by James Dixon, back of where the 
Exchange building now stands. It was a log cabin about sixteen fe t 
square, with a small "lean-to" built against the east side of the 
house used as the village post office, where Mr. Jolin Dixon disti'ib- 
uted the mail to his neighbors. It is stated by old citizens that 
this house and the old block-liouse on the north side of the river 
disappeared about 1855. The foundation of the latter lias jnst been 
exposed by the rushing of high waters in tlie Rock river at tliis 



AFTER THE BLACK HAWK WAE. 57 

writing, April 1881. After the close of the war the Indians lingered 
in the vicinity of Lee county until 1836, when the last wandering 
tribes of the red-men disappeared. 

John K. Robinson, who came to Dixon's Feriy in May 1832, 
and made his home with Mr. J. Dixon, and who now resides at Men- 
dota, this state, writes: "In 1833, the last week of December, 
Zachariah Malugin, with myself as his only assistant, built the first 
house ill Lee county, outside of Dixon, at the grove that still bears 
his name. There was no other settlement made in Lee county that 
year. A few months later the families of Gilmore and Christance 
came to Malugin's Grove in the spring of 1835. 

In 1833 and 1834 a settlement began in the southern part of the 
county, in what is now known as East Grove township. Of this 
neighborhood were Joseph Smith, H. W. Bogardus, Charles Falvey, 
and F. Anderson, who settled in that early day, built their cabins, 
and commenced opening up farms for their future homes. 

About this time improvements were opened at Sugar Grove, now 
in Palmyra township, in the northwest part of the county, where, in 
April 1834, Isaac Morgan and his sons, Harvey and John, com- 
menced the first improvements in that part of the county, and they 
were joined by a number of families the autumn of the same year, 
among whom may be mentioned Mr. Wright, Mr. Tomlin, Capt. 
Oliver Hubbard, and John H. Page. In 1834 Stephen Fellows, with 
a family of eight, Michael, Simon, Samuel, William, Alfred, George, 
Albion, and Steplien. Absalom Fender, with a large family, came 
in 1835, and also W. W. Bethea. To these were soon added C. 
B. Anthana, Anson Thummel, Geo. L. Herrick, Jack Keplinger, 
Enoch and Noah Thomas with tlieir father, Nathan Morehouse, two 
brothers, Sandy and Elkanah Bush, and Martin Richardson. These 
families, with others who are worthy of note, but whose names will 
ajipear in the chapter on Palmyra, soon attracted attention to the 
fertile lands and beautiful groves of the northwest neighborhood, 
and others followed soon to swell the number of the new settlement. 

In Ma^', 1834, Adolphus Bliss commenced a settlement at Inlet 
Grove, to which was added that summer or autumn Ozra Wright 
and two or three others. About this time Paw Paw Grove at- 
tracted the attention of Charles Morgan, J. Alcott and David A. 
Town, first settlers in AVyoming township. Mr. Harris, the 
father of Benjamin Harris, who came with his father and brother 
and a large train of relatives, settled at this grove. These were 
followed by a Mr. Gillett and Levi Kelso, Esq., who settled at 
the north side of the grove. During this time, when settlements 
were springing up like magic in different parts of the count}', the 



58 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

settlement at Dixon's Ferry was by no means neglected, but it 
being the center of attraction of a large scope of country, because 
of the United States mail and store supplies reached at this place, 
there were additions made to the community. In the summer of 
1834 a Mr. Bush, brother-in-law of Judge Logan, lately deceased in 
Chicago, opened a fiirm below Di.xon on the north side of the river, 
now owned by J. T. Lawrence. The same summer John K. Robin- 
son, now of Mendota, opened a farm on the north side of the river 
two miles below Di.xon, and was joined afterward by two sons <>i 
John Dixon. Tiiis farm has been since known as the Graham farm. 

Probabl}' the third house erected on the south side of the river 
in Dixon was by Judge Wilkinson, on the corner of Water and Ga- 
lena streets, and was built near the time James P. Dixon erected his 
house, mentioned above. Judge Wilkinson purchased the Kirk- 
patrick place. 

Li Dixon, as in all places of central interest, the spirit of compe- 
tition was early manifested. The future of the locality seemed to be 
impressed upon the minds of some of the most enterprising citizens, 
and they began to cast about to best establish themselves for the in- 
coming tide. Mr. Bush, below Dixon, established a ferry across t'le 
river opposite his farm. A Mr. Kirkpatrick. who settled one and 
a quai'ter miles below Dixon, attempted to start a town on his prem- 
ises called Burlington, but stakes and a euphonious name will not 
build a city any more than an act of congress, recognizing the Rock 
river as a navigable stream, will send the great steamers uj) her chan- 
nel without legislating a greater supply of water to float the craft 
with her cargo ; so the enterprise, laudable as it may have been, 
failed, as did also the ferries above mentioned. 

"In the autumn of 1834,'' says Mr. J. K. Robinson, "Mr. IIoll- 
ingshead made an angements for the erection of a log house south- 
east of Grand Detour, which was built in January 1835." Mr. HoU- 
ingshead, not finding the country congenial to his tastes, returned to 
Kentucky. Cyrus Chamberlin, Esq.. who came to this vicinity in 
1835, purchased this farm, on which he lived, occupying the position 
of county commissioner for a number of years until his death, which 
he met in a ripe old age. 

In the winter of 1834 Grand Detour was taken by Leonard Andruss 
and W. A. House, where for many years the former ran a plow factory 
in connection with Mr. Deere, now of Moline. 

In 1835 Judge Wikinson built a saw-mill at the foot of Peoria 
street. Mr. Talmage, and other mechanics from Buffalo, Xew York, 
came to Dixon to perform the work. It seems that this mill, how- 
ever, was run but a short time by Messrs. Huff & Thompson, and 



AFTKi; TIIK liL.VrK HAWK WAI!. 59 

converted into a distillery and vinegar factory. This was the first 
saw-inill in the bounds of Lee county, au.l it is to be regi'etted that 
it so soon met a sad fate. In the same year Smith Gilbraith also 
bought in Dixon, and figured largely in the public affairs of the 
town until his death. 

In the spring of this year, 1835, Mr. Joseph Crawford arrived in 
Dixon, where he still resides, having served as first surveyor in Ogle 
county, which then embraced Lee, and afterward was first surveyor 
in Lee county. Mr. Crawford cultivated a farm near the Grand De- 
tour. The Messrs. Cutshaws arrived in Dixon the same year, and 
were Dixon's first carpenters. During the previous year, 1834, the 
township of Dixon was surveyed by the government, although the 
citizens were not prepai-ed to eflfect an organization for some years 
later. About this time, as before stated, Dixon's Ferry was surveyed 
and platted for the first time, and will be more particularly noted in 
the chapter on the city of Dixon. In prospect of the growing town, 
and for the accommodation of the traveling public, the first house 
built by Ogee and Mr. Dixon was converted into a tavern in 1835, 
and in the early part of 1836 Messrs. Chapman and Hamilton opened 
a store in the "block" part of this building. Dixon could now 
boast of a post-oflice, store, and a house of public entertainment. 
It was about this time that Mr. John Dixon removed to his farm, \\ Inch 
was situated a little southeast of where the Northwestern depot now 
stands. During 1835 Mr. Hamilton, above mentioned, erected the first 
frame house built in the town. This residence stood opposite the 
house of James P. Dixon. 

" Other improvements in the vicinity of Dixon were made as early 
as 1835. Dr. Forest, from Kentucky, opened the Woodford farm. 
George A. Martin commenced improvements on the Truman farm. 
Mr. E. W. Covell was building up on the north side of the river, and 
Caleb Talmage was improving a farm about one mile south of Dixon. 
Dr. Forest had erected a log house on the corner of AVater and Ottawa 
streets, and John Wilson had erected a blacksmith shop on Main 
street. On September 3, 1836, Dr. Oliver Everett came to Dixon, 
where he still resides as one of the oldest citizens of the city." 

About this time Mr. Badger, then an aged gentleman, located 
with several sons near the present city of Amboy, and was soon fol- 
lowed by Benjamin Wasson, L. C. Sawyer, Asa Searls, Joseph Doane, 
and John Dexter. The same year Mr. Wily settled in Franklin Grove, 
and became one of the contestants of an early claim trouble, which 
was adjusted by ai-bitration, Mr. John Dixon and two others serving 
as arbitrators in the case. 

Other families were being added to the little settlements begun in 



60 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

other parts of the county. John Gilmore settled in Brooklyn town- 
ship, and R. Town, B. Harris, and J. Alcott in Wj'oniiug. 

In the autumn of 1836 the village then c insisted of the ''old 
mansion," the original home of Mr. Joim Dixon; James P. Dixon's 
house before described ; a small frame building opposite Mr. James 
Dixon'.s, built b}' Mr. Hamilton the previous year; also on the 
opposite side of the street from this, aiid a little east, stood a 
small building which had been erected and occupied by John Wil- 
son, an old bachelor, who occupied a small addition to the smith 
shop as his residence. In 1837 the latter was finished above, tloor 
laid, and walls plastered, after which it was occupied as a court- 
house. Tlie first court of Ogle county, which at that time embraced 
Lee, was held in this building. It was afterward occupied by the 
engineer corps of internal improvements. 

In the winter of 1830 and ls37 Peter McKiuney and H. Thomp- 
son opened a new hotel, called the Western Hotel, which is now 
the northern part of the Huntley House. These gentlemen had 
charge at the same time of the ''Tavern" in Dixon's original log 
house. 

In the month of December of this year the original county of 
Ogle was organized, then including the present territory of Lee 
county. Referring to the poll list, there were but two hundred votes 
cast, altliough it was claimed to be a hotly contested election; and 
all legal voters of six months residence were entitled to a vote. * 

Up to 1836 the wandering tribes of Indians still lingered in the 
vicinity of Lee c<junty, but during this year they bid adieu to their 
former hunting grounds and the graves of their fathers, and turning 
westward they sought a retreat from the advancing civilization of 
the white man, beyond the surging waters of the Mississippi. Their 
removal gave assurance of safety to the homes and families of the 
pioneers. Tiiis change was the signal for the advance of the pio- 
neer corps from Iventuckj- and Tennesee, who laid off claims by 
driving stakes, tui-ning a furrow, or beginning a cabin house. By 
the autumn of 1837 the claims covered all the prairie lands skirting 
the timber. The holders of tliis land secured their title to the same 
from the government under the preimption laws. These claims had 
to be respected, as the pioneer settlements were a "law unto them- 
selves," iu mutually protecting each others' interests. The writer has 
been told of a stranger coming forward to bid in lands that had been 
covered with a previous claim, when a number of pioneers tied him 
to a tree and leveled their rifles at him, when he recalled his bid, 
and <)n being released he withdrew, leaving the claimants to secure 
their lands from the government without further competition. 



■% 



?em 




--«# 




H^foX . ^c 



C^z^^^-^ 



AFTER THE BLACK HAWK WAK. 63 

In 1837 a claim association was formed for the protection of 
members in tlieir "reasonable claims made according to the customs 
of the country." The following list of names shows the citizens who 
became original members in 1837 and 1838: Samuel C. McClure, 
Hugh Moor, Samuel Anthony, John H. Champlin, James Moor, 

A. Menten, S. JST. Anthony, Henry Mt)on, Cyrus Chamberlin, "Will- 
iam Gr. Elder, Josiah H. Moores, J. D. Pratt, Ribert Murry, Ed- 
win Hine, I. S. Boardman, jr., J. B. Dills, Alonso Dickerman, 
John Richards, Caleb Tallmage, Charles Franks, Smith Gilbraith, 
Oliver Everett, Joseph Crawford, Timothy L. Miurr, Samuel M. 
B<nvman, -lames Kent, Moses Crumby, Major Chamberlin, Daniel 
Koons, Nehemiah Hutton, James M. Santee, William P. Burroughs, 
Thomas S. Bunner, Charles F. Hubbard, John Carr (by C. F. Hub- 
bard), William Graham (by C. F. Hubbar.l), Edward Brandon, G. 
Metzlar, J. Caldwell, J. Young, James P. Dixf)n, John Dixon, 
J. Murphy, James Evans (by John Dixon his agent), James W. 
Stephenson (by S. Gilbraith), John W. Dixon, Joseph Courtright, 

B. B. Brown, Samuel Johnston, Jessee Bowman, James Hawley, 
Thomas McCabe, W. C. Bostwick (b}' his agent John Dixon), John 
Wilson, John Brandon, .1. W. Hamilton, Ward Rathbone, Daniel 
O'Brien, Stej^hen Fuller, and Jessee P. Baily. 

As soon as settlements were established along the main thorough- 
fares stage lines were opened and coaches were run regularly on the 
more important routes. A main line was established between this 
point and Galena. There were other lines centering at Dixon and 
connecting with the main line to the Galena mines, as follows: The 
Naperville and Chicago line ; the Troy Grove and Ottawa, and the 
Windsor, Princeton and Peoria line. Dixon was the great transfer 
station on the stage lines that traversed the country then as the 
railroads do now. In the early settlement of the country "every 
dwelling house," says a writer, "was a place of entertainment, and 
the hospitable dwellers of the then hastily erected houses, most of 
which were of logs, were always ready to furnish the weary traveler 
with the best that the country afforded." But as the travel through 
this country increased it became necessary that Dixon should be 
provided with more extensive accommodations than private dwell- 
ings could give ; and in the latter part of 1836 and the first of 1837 
the Western Hotel was built, and during the same year the Rock 
River House was erected by Messrs. Crowell and Wilson. This 
was afterward known as the Phoenix. 

In this year, 1837, S. M. Bowman and Isaac S. Boardman opened 
the first dry-goods store in Dixon, on the corner of River and Galena 
streets. Others had conducted a general notion trade before this, 
5 



64 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

which we have before mentioned in their proper places ; but of a 
general dry-goods stock this tirm was the pioneer of Lee county. 

In 1837 the number of families had increased in the different 
settlements of Lee county. There were thirteen additions in Dixon, 
besides others in the vicinity. Li Wyoming, Charles Morgan, J. D. 
Ivogers, and others ; in Amboy, A. B. Searls and L. D. Wason in- 
creased the number in their several neighborhoods. 

About this time, or in 1836, William Guthrie made claim on sec- 
tion 35 in Viola township ; and Evens Adrian, of Ireland, followed 
in the same township, and now owns a farm of eleven hundred acres 
of land. 

Attention was now being given to education in the older settle- 
ments. Dixon built the first school-house in 1837, and a school 
opened in the following year. This building was a small one-story 
fi-anie structure, erected at the expense of the friends of the cause, 
detailed in the chapter on educational matters. This was the only 
public building in the town until 1840, and served tlie purpose of 
court-house, meeting-house, town-hall, and scliool-house. 

The first death recorded in Dixon was in tlie iiutumn of 1836. A 
man by the name of Lafferty died in the building on the corner of 
Water and Galena streets, and was the first interment in the ceme- 
tery. 

The following extract from an old day-book used by Mr. John 
Dixon during his dealings with the Indians may be of interest to the 
reader, showing the manner of trartic with those people : 



Chief Cra/ie, — Pacliwika. 




Grey Head Pottowatamie. 




Two shirts, 


6 


Gun worm, 


1 


Tobacco, 


1 


Steel on axe, 


2 


Two combs. 


2 


Making spear out of file. 


2 


Paint, 


2 


Busliing gun. 


1 


Corn, 


2 


Mending hoe, 


1 


Powder, . 


3 


Blanket, 


25 


Salt, 


i 


Squaw axe, 


2 


Spear, 


6 


Shirt, 


4 


New axe for old one. 


2 


Looking glass, 


2 


Mending axe. 


1 


Flints, 


1 


One pair red leggins. 


5 


Two knives. 


3 



It is interesting to glance over the curious names and descriptions 
of some of the Indians trading with Father Dixon a half-century 
ago. Among his customers were : " Old Blue Coat," " Squirrel 
Cheeks," " Yellow Man," tlie old "blind man's son," " Sour Head 
Ox," "Doctor's Husband," "Raw Bone Black Face," "Limpy," 



THE ORGANIZATION OF LEE COUNTY. 65 

"Consimiption," "Blinky," " Daddy Walker," "Man that has a 
sick wife," "Old Grey Head's fat "son," "Canoe Thief," "Old 
White Head Pottawatomie's son." 

THE ORGANIZATION OF LEE COUNTY. 

Pi'evious to 1836 Jo Daviess county embraced all the northwest 
part of the state, including the present territory of Lee, which was 
embraced in what was called the Rock River precinct of Jo Daviess 
count}^ and in the fall of 1836 the polls were opened for the presi- 
dential election in that precinct in Dixon. 

In December, 1836, Ogle county was organized ; and the first 
court convened in the county was held in Di.xon, September 1837. 
Judge Stone was on the bench, and Thomas Furd, who was after- 
ward chosen by the people governor of the state, acted as district 
attorney by appointment of the judge. 

On the 27th of February, 1839, the act of the general assembly 
creating Lee county was approved by the official authority of the 
governor of Illinois, and it became a law recognizing Lee as one of 
the counties of the commonwealth. Messrs. D. G. Salisbury, E. H. 
Nichols and L. G. Butler were appointed commissioners to locate the 
county-seat, and in the prosecution of the duties imposed to their 
trust these gentlemen, on the 31st of May 1839, selected Dixon as 
the capital of the new county. 

The following piece of ingenuity, called in an early day " sharp 
practice," may be of interest: In 1839, when the state legislature 
was in session in Vandalia, then the capital of the state, Mr. F. R. 
Dutcher, now of Amlioy, but then i-esiding in Dixon, and Mr. Smith 
Gilbraith visited Vandalia to present a petition to the general assem- 
bly praying for the creation of the county of Lee, the name being sug- 
gested by Mr. Dutcher in honor of Gen. Lee, who in after years be- 
came notorious as the defender of the Confederate cause and surren- 
dered to Gen. U. S. Grant at the close of the rebellion. On arriving 
at Vandalia Messrs. Dutcher and Gilbraith found a Mr. Boague in 
advance of them with a remonstrance from Buffalo Grove and Grand 
Detour. The latter gentleman, however, had not his complete list 
of names to his remonstrance, and was anxiously looking for other 
papers from home that would give him a large majority of remon- 
strators over the Dixon petitioners. The Dixon gentlemen knew if 
Mr. Boague got in the full list of signatures to his remonstrance that 
their cause would be defeated ; and to forestall this Mr. Gilbraith 
perpetrated a very shrewd piece of business, by presenting himself 
at the post-ofBee on the arrival of the mail from the north and in- 
quiring of the postman, "anything for Boague?" A package was 



66 PriSTORT OF LEE COUNTY. 

handed over, whicli went down into the great-coat pocket, and Mr. 
Boague anxiously looked for the desired document in vain. And 
what made the situation more serious was that there was not sufficient 
time to send back to his constituents for a duplicate list of remon- 
strators before the adjournment of the legislature. Messrs. Dutcher 
and Gilbraith were not satisfied with this piece of irregularity to secure 
their purpose, but knowing Mr. Boague to be an abolitionist orator, 
they encouraged the projectof that gentleman to deliver an abolition 
speech on a certain evening, to which the members of the legi>lature 
were invited. The effect was, as designed, to alienate the sympa 
thies of the members of the general assembly from the orator and 
his cause. This gave the situation to the petitionei's, who obtained 
the object for which they prayed. 

Mi-. Dutcher was not only one of the prime movers in securing 
the creation of the county of Lee. but suggested the name which it 
bears. He came to Dixon on May 9, 1838, armed with a letter of 
introduction from Judge Massej', of New York, to Stephen A. Doug- 
las, of Illinois, and on reaching Vandalia he inquired for Mr. Doug- 
las. Douglas was pointed out to him, who was in the playful act of 
trying, though a very small man, to climb a very tall Kentuckian 
who was standing in the hall of the state house. Mr. Dutcher was 
appointed postmaster in Dixon in 1839, and in the same year was 
elected magistrate, in which otfice he served until 1846. In 1840 he 
rode over the entire county of Lee on horseback and took the census 
for that year, which enumeration amounted to 2035. 

The tirst election of county officers was held on the tirst Monday 
in August of the same year, which resulted in the election of the fol- 
lowing persons: county commissioners, Charles F. Ingals, Nathan 
R. Whitney, and James P. Dixon ; Isaac Boardman, clerk of com- 
missioners' court; Aaron Wakely, sheriff; Joseph Crawford, county 
surveyor ; H. Morgan, probate justice ; G. W. Chase, recorder. 
The commissioners' court conducted the affairs of the county, in- 
cluding that which is now done by the townships. The county com- 
missioners held their iirst session in the Dixon school-house on Sep- 
tember 13, 1839, for the purpose of organizing said county, and were 
duly qualified by administering the proper oath of ofBce to each 
other; after which Isaac S. Boardman, jr., gave approved bonds and 
took the oath of office as required by law. The court proceeded to 
determine the terms of their respective offices by lot, which resulted 
in three years' service to Charles F. Ingles and one year's term to 
Nathan Whitney. There being but two niembei-s elect present, the 
court adjoui'iied to meet on the following Monday, at which time 
James P. Dixon presented his certificate of election and took the 



THE ORGANIZATION OF LEE COUNTY. 67 

oath of office as a member of the court. His term of office was de- 
termined to be two years. They having provided that the term ot 
commissioners should be for three years, it was determined as above 
that two should vacate the office before the expiration of the legal 
term, that thereafter one might be elected annually. 

At this session the court divided the county into six election pre- 
cincts, and appointed judges of elections for the several divisions : 
Gap Grove precinct, west of the river in the northwest corner of the 
county ; election to be held at the house of AVilliam Martin ; judges 
of election were Thomas J. Harris, William Morelin, and William 
J. Johnson. Dixon precinct, embracing the present townships of 
Dixon and Nelson, with a portion of South Dixon, and northeast 
Nachusa. The place of elections was the Dixon school-house ; 
judges of election were James Sairtu, Samuel M. Brown and Thomas 
McCabe. Franklin precinct, which embraced what is now four town- 
ships — Nachusa, China, Ashton, and Bradford — held elections at 
the house of Jeremiah Whipple ; judges of election being Cyrus 
Chambers, Jeremiah Whipple, and Daniel Cooper. The Winnebago 
precinct embraced the territory of six present townships, Hamilton, 
East Grove, May, Harmon, Marion, and the south half of South 
Dixon ; the election to be held at the house of David Welty ; judges 
of election, David Welty, Henry W. Bogardner, and Nathan Brooks. 
Inlet precinct embraced the three townships of Amboy, Lee Centre, 
and Sublette ; elections to be held at the house of Benjamin Whita- 
ker ; judges of election were Daniel M. Dewey, Daniel Frost, and 
Asa B. Searls. Winnebago precinct embraced all of Lee county east 
of the third meridian, including six present townships. Elections 
held at Malugin's school-house; judges of elections were David A. 
Town, Zachariah Malugin and J. K. Robinson. 

The clerk of the commissioners' court was instructed to procure 
a seat for the court as soon as convenient for him to coraplv with said 
order. The court issued treasury certificates for the first time in 
favor of the several members of the court. 

The commissioners' court met in special session, October 2, 
1839 ; at which time a county election was ordered, to be held in the 
several precincts of the county, for the purpose of electing two jus- 
tices of the peace, and two constables in each precinct respectively. 
At the same session the court ordered that the clerk give public 
notice that sealed proposals would be accepted at the December 
term of the court for the building of a stone court-house on the pub- 
'ic square in Dixon. The court subsequently received proposals for 
building the court-house in brick, and also for the building of a county 
jail. The court awarded the building of the court-house, per bid, to 



68 lUSTOHY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Samuel M. Bowman, and the building of the jail was awarded to 
Zeiios Apliiigton and G. G. Holbrook. The court-house was to be 
built fur the consideration of $6,800, in accordance witli the bid sub- 
mitted ; the commissioners contracting to pay an additional sum 
for work not before specified. Tlie jail was to be built for >; 1,495. 

On Marcli 7, 1840, John Morse was appointed tii-st assessor for 
the county, and at tiie same term of tlie court tlie couuty was di- 
vided into sixteen road districts, and the following gentlemen were 
appointed road supervisors in their respective districts : District 
No. 1, John Morse ; No. 2, William W. Bethea ; No. 3, S. A. Ma- 
son ; No. 4, Lewis Davis; No. 5, Solomon Shelhammer ; No. 6, 
William Seward; No. 7, James Hawley ; No. 8, — Scott; No. 9, 
Otis Timothy ; No. 10, Charles S. Badger ; No. 11. Charles Stark ; 
No. 12, Johnathan Peterson ; No. 13, Curtis T. Bridgman ; No. 14, 
Henry W. Cliocland ; No. 15. Abraham Y. Christiance ; No. 16, 
John Sims. 

The following list gives the names of the first county officers : 
county commissioners, C. F. Ingals, Nathan Whitney, and J. P. 
Dixo7i, elected in 1830 ; county judge, H. Morgan, elected in same 
year ; county clerk and recorder, G. W. Chase, in 1839 ; county 
recorder. M. Fellows ; county treasurer, John Morse ; sheriff. A. 
Wakely ; superintendent of schools, E. R. Mason ; county surveyor, 
Joseph Crawford, from 1839 to 1844 ; coroner, Samuel Johnson, 
from 1839 to 1841 ; circuit judge, Daniel Stone, in 1840. 

The first term of the circuit court convened in the Dixon school- 
house on the third Monday in April, 1840. Judge Stone, of Ga- 
lena, presided. The members of the first grand jury had been sum- 
moned on the third of the month to appear at the opening of the 
court, as above, and consisted of the following citizens : AVilliam 
Martin, Noah Beede, Reuben Eastwood, John H. Page, Oscar F. 
Ayres, Elijah Bowman. Jolni Brown. Thomas McCabe, Cyrus 
Ciiamberlii'i. Cyrus R. Miner. Erastus Do Wolt; David H. Birdsall, 
George E. Haskell, Daniel M. Dewey, David Baird, James Bain, 
Josepli F. Abbott. Peter T. Scott, Nathan B. Meek, John Willson, 
Zachariah Malugin, John K. Robinson, and Jacob Kiplinger. 

At the same time and for the same session of the circuit court a 
petit jury was paneled, consisting of the following ]x'rsons : Oliver 
Hubbard, Simon Fellows, James M. Johnson, Benjamin H. Steward, 
William F. Bradshaw, Hiram Parks, Jeremiah Murphy, Josiah 
Mooer, Charles Edson, Joseph Crawford, Samuel !McClure. John 
Chamberlain, lidward Morgan, Amos Ilussey, Daniel Frost, John 
Done, Richard F. Adams, Sylvenus Peterson, Asa B. Searls, R. B. 
Alben, William Guthrie, John Gilmore, jr., David Welty, and 



THE ORGANIZATION OF LEE COUNTY. 69 

James S. Ball. The above lists may liave been changed some from 
the above footing bj relieving some and substituting others. We 
may notice in this connection that there has never been a district 
court organized in this county up to the present writing (1881), the 
circuit court holding jurisdiction over the criminal code. 

The legal officers present at the organization given above were 
as follows: The Hon. Dan Stone, judge; Aaron Waklee, sheriff; 
Slielton L. Hall, circuit attorney, and George W. Chase, clerk. 
After considering the bonds and securities of the constable, sheriff, 
and coroner, the court proceeded with regular business. 

The first appeal case tried in the circuit court was at its first 
sitting in 1840, involving rights of property. Smith Gilbraith vy. 
Bnekner J. Morris. The first case of appeal from the justice court 
was ill a case of fine for an assault and battery. The fine, however, 
being reduced from s27 to 820, it was paid without further litigation. 

In March, 1840, the boundaries of the road districts were 
changed, and their number increased to forty-two. 

The first collector for Lee county was David Tripp, who received 
his appointment in June, 1840 ; and at that time Richard F. Adams 
was appointed to take the first census of the county. 

In the year of 1840 the court-house was built according to tiie 
contracts noted above, at the cost of $7,610, and 80 aci'es of laud ; 
the former donated by the citizens of Dixon and the latter by the 
founder of the city, John Dixon. The jail was also completed tliisyear. 

( )n the 16th of June the commissioners appointed Joseph Saw- 
yer the first overseer of the poor, and David Tripp the first collect- 
or fill- the county of Lee. 

Hearing tlie ?ame date (April 16, 1840) the first license to sell 
intoxicating liquors in Lee county was issued to Rodney Burnett for 
a term of two years, for which Rodney paid the sum of 25 cents. 
And the first indictment by the grand jury for selling spirituous 
liquors without license was at the first term of the circuit court in 
1840. 

In the autumn of 1840 the land office was removed from Galena 
to Dixon. Mr. John Dixon visited Washington in this year, with 
application for the removal of the land office to this city. Gen. 
Scott being a personal friend of Mr. Dixon, and having been at 
Dixon during the Black Hawk war and learned the topography of 
the country, he rendered valuable aid to him in introducing him to 
the president of the United States, Mr. Van Buren, who issued the 
order for its removal. Col. John Dement was appointed receiver, 
and Major llackelton register. Tiiese gentlemen were succeeded 
by D. G. Garnsey, receiver, and John Hogan, register. 



70 HISTORY OF LEK COUNTY. 

Township Organizations. — The original organization remained, 
with rcguhir cliaiige of officers, until 1850, when by virtue of an act 
of the legislature, approved by the chief executive of the eomnion- 
wealtli February 12, 1849, providing for the organization of coun- 
ties and townships when a majority of the legal voters of a county 
at any general election should so determine, by vesture of power in 
three commissioners, organized and established boundary lines by 
which the county of Lee was divided into ten civil townships. 

Paw Paw Township, embracing the three eastern political town- 
ships, Nos. 37, 38, and 39 N., R. 2 E., of third meridian. 

BrooMijii Township, embracing the three political townships east 
of the tliird principal meridian, Nos. 37, 38, and 39 N., R. 1 E., of 
third principal meridian. 

Hanno Township embraced No. 19 N., R. II E.. of the fourth 
principal meridian. 

Lee Center Toivnship, embracing No. 20 N., R. 11 E., of the 
fourth meridian. 

Bradford Tow/ishi/>, embracing No. 21 N., R. 11 E., and the 
S. i of No. 22 N., R. 11 E., of the fourth principal meridian. 

Hamilton Township., embracing No. 19 N., R. 10, 9, S E., of the 
fourth principal meridian, and No. 20 N., R. 8 E.. and the S. ^of No. 
20 N., R. 9 E., of the fourtli principal meridian. 

Amboy Township, embracing No. 20 N., R. 10 E., and the X. \ 
of No. 20 N., R. 9 E., of the fourtli i)rincipal meridian. 

Tremont Township, embracing No. 21 N., R. 10 E.. and tlie S. 
part of No. 22 N., R. 10 E., of the fourth principal meridian, in Lee 
county. 

Dixon Toicnship, embracing No. 21 N., R. 9 E.. and that part 
of No. 22 N., R. 9 E., of the principal meridian, wliich is sitinitcd 
and lying in Lee county. 

P(d>/u/ra Township, e nbraciiig tiiat part <>f No. 22 N.. R. 8 E., 
that is in Lee county : also that part of No. 21 N.. R. 8 E., that is 
S. of Rock river. 

Palmyra Towinship, embracing that part of No. 22 N., R. 8 E., 
that is in Lee count}' ; also tliat part of No. 21 N., R. 8 E., that is N. 
of Rock river. 

Prior to July 2 of the same year the name Wyoming was substi- 
tuted for Paw Paw, and China was substituted for Tremont. 

During 1855 the ff)llowing townships were organized and added 
to the original list, making in all tiiirteen townships, namely, May, 
Willow Creek, and Clarion. In 1857 Hanno was discontinued, being 
superseded by Sublette. Tlie same year Harmon was organized, 
which was followed in 1859 by the creation of a new township called 



THE ORGANIZATION OF LEE COI'NTY. 71 

Reynolds, after an early settler of that township. One township was 
added in 1860, known as Nelson, and in 1861 the board of snper- 
visors created three new civil townships, Alto, Ogle, and township 
38, political survey, which received in 1862 the name of Viola. Since 
that date Ogle has been eliminated from the list and two added. Ash- 
ton and South Dixon. 

In February, 1871, the town of China was divided, and a new 
township called Nachusa was created out of the territory composing 
the W. ^ of T. 21, R. lO'; and also extending north on the same line 
through T. 22, R. 10 E., of the fourth principal meridian to the 
Ogle county line, being the W. ^ of the present township of China. 

In February, 1872, the town of Dixon was divided and a portion 
thereof was added to the town of Xachusa, commencing at or near 
the center of Rock river, at or near the center of Sec. 10, T. 22, R. 
9 E., of the fourth principal meridian, at the point where the line 
dividing the E. ^ and the W. ^ of said Sec. 10 strikes the center of 
said Rock river ; thence south on the half section line to the center 
of Sec. 34 ; thence east to the center of Sec. 35 in the town and range 
aforesaid ; thence south to the center of Sec. 2, T. 21, R. 9E., of the 
fourth principal meridian ; thence west 80 rods ; thence south to the 
north line of South Dixon. Effort has been made to have a portion 
of Naehusa thrown back to Dixon township, but the committee to 
whom it was referred reported adversely and asked to be released 
from Mny further consideration of the niatter. This leaves the county 
of Lee, at this writings with twenty-two civil townships, fifteen of 
which are divided according to the political survey-, while seven in 
the N.W. -J- of the county were created irrespective of the political 
townships. 

County Officers. — Below we give a list of all county officers from 
the organization of the county to the present time : 

County Commissioners. At the first election in 1839 three com- 
missioners were elected ; after this one commissioner was elected 
and one went out of office each year. C. F. Ingals, Nathan Whit- 
ney and J. P. Dixon were elected in 1839, A. E. Haskell in 1840, 
Joseph Crawford in 1841, O. F. Ayres in 1842, J. C. Morgan in 1843, 
D. Baird in 1844, D. H. Birdsall in 1845, James Goble in 1846, N. 
Whitne}' in 1846 (to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of D. 
Baird), W. Badger in 1847, Stephen Fuller in 1848, John Gilmore 
in 1848 to fill vacancy. 

County Judges. H. Morgan from 1839 to 1843, O. A. Eddy to 
'47, Lorenzo Wood to '54, David Welty to '62, W. W. DeWolf to '69, 
John D. Crabtree to '76, Jas. B. Charters present judge. 

County Clerks. I. S. Boardman from 1839 to 1843, Chas. T. 



72 IIISTOKY OF LEK COUNTY. 

Chase to '49, J. B. Gregory to '53, Thos. W. Eustace to '61, Jas. 
A. Hawlej present clerk. 

Circuit Clerks and Recorders. G. W. Chase from 1839 to 1841, 
C. T. Chase to '51, N. F. Porter in '51, I. S. Boardman to '57, G. 
E. Haskell to '59, I. S. Boardman in '59, B. F. Sliaw to '6S. J. N. 
Hyde to '76, R. Warriner present Clerk. 

Recorders. M. Fellows from 1839 to 1844, E. W. Iline to '50. 
Since wliicli time the circuit clerk has served as ex-officio recorder. 

Treasurers. John Morse 1840 to 1843, N. Morehouse to '46, S. 
Parker in '46, W. W. Bethea to 50, E. B. Stiles to '57, T. B. Little 
to '59, E. B. Stiles to '63, J. T. Little to '71, Josiah Little to '76, F. 
A. Truman to '79, Josiah Little present treasurt^r. 

Sheriffs. A. Wakelee from 1839 to 1841, A. L. Porter to '42, 
Jas. Campbell to '48, Jas. Goble to '51, A. L. Porter to '53, O. 
Wheeler in '53, Wm. Butler to '56, O. Wheeler to '58, Lester Hard- 
ing to '60, A. L. Porter to '62, Chas. F. Lynn to '64, R. P. Tj-ead- 
well to '66, T. L. Pratt to '68, G. M. Berkley to '76, J. N. Hills 
to '78, Walter Little present slieriff. 

Superintendents of Schools. E. R. Mason to 1840. J. T. Little 
to '43, D. B. McKenney to '46, Lorenzo Wood to '50, J. V. Eus- 
tace to '53, John Stevens to '55, S. Wright to '57, J. A. Hawley to 
'59, John Monroe to '61, W. H. Gardner to '63, B. F. Atherton to 
'65, J. 11. Pieston to '73, Daniel Carey to '76, J. H. Preston present 
superintendent. 

Surveyors. Joseph (,'rawford from 1839 to 1S44, S. H. Whit- 
m.ire to '46, S. Parker in '46, C. Camp to '49, J. Crawford to '55, 
A. W. Tinkliam to '57, M. Santee to '61, K. F. Booth to '63, W. B. 
Andrus to '65, C. R. Hall to '67. Wm. McMalian to '80. 

Coroners. Sam'l Johnson tVoiu 1S39 to 1841, John Lord to '48, 
Sol. Parker to '50, Jas. Goble to '54. D. B. McKenney to '56, H. O. 
Kelsey to '64, J. Hatch, jr., to '6i!, H. P.arroll to '70, A. E. Wilcox 
to '78, J. E. Church present coroner. 

State's Attorneys. Wm. E. Ives from 1872 to 1876, A. C. Bard- 
well to '80, Charles B. Morrison present incumbent. 

The Circuit .ludges have been Daniel Stone two terms of 1840, 
Thos. C. Browne to '48, B. R. Sheldon to '51, L O. Wilkinson to '56, 
J. W. Dnirey in '56, J. V. Eustace to '61. W. W. lleaton to '78, 
J. \'. Eustace present judge. 

March 7, John Morse was appointed first assessor for the county. 

The present county officers are as follows : 

County Clerk — James A. Hawley. 

Circuit Clerk — Remington AVarriner. 

Conntv Treasurer — Josiah Little. 



PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEE COUNTY. 73 

County Recorder — Remington Wan-iner. 
County Judge — James B. Charters. 
County Sheriff— Walter Little. 
County School Superintendent — Jas. H. Preston. 
County Coroner — John C' Church. 
State's Attorney — Chas. B. Morrison. 

Judges 13th Judicial District — Hon. AVm. Brown, Hon. John V. 
Eustace, Hon. J. M. Bailey. 

PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEE COUNTY. 

Two or three years after the Black Hawk war the Indians were 
removed from the northern part of the state, leaving the country 
open for the white man to. occupy. Settlers began to fill up the 
country, and in a few years all the prairie land adjoining the groves 
of timber was taken up. Dixon advanced from four families in 
1836 to thirty-five or forty in 183S. In 1836, when Lee county was 
embraced in Ogle, at a closely contested election growing out of a 
rivalry between Dixon and Oregon, less than 200 votes were cast al- 
together in the county, and that under the old state constitution, pro- 
viding that all white inhabitants of six months' residence in the state 
should be legal voters. One writer says : *' As early as 1838 several 
wealthy families from INTew Yoi-k and other parts of the country, at- 
tracted by the beautiful scenery and fertile lands along the Rock 
river, settled in the vicinity of Dixon. Among them were Capt. 
Hugh Graham, an old gentleman of fine presence and courtly man- 
ners, and Mr. Alexander Charters, familiarly called "the governor," 
whose genial, and characteristic hospitality, and whose picturesque 
and finely kept place, two miles above the town, have been to thou- 
sands the most attractive feature of a visit to Dixon." 

In 1839 the general assembly having created Lee county, which 
was approved February 27, 1839, the citizens of Dixon had the oppor- 
tunity to retrieve their losses in their defeat for the court-house in 
1836. On the location of the county seat at this place, with the or- 
ganization of a new county and the erecting of the necessary public 
buildings gave an impulse to the improvement and development of 
the county. The removal of the United States Land Office from 
Galena to Dixon in the autumn of 1840, and the establishment of 
the office of the engineer of the "Internal Improvement System " 
at Dixon, gave the new county a prominence that but few have been 
favored with. 

It was reported for Lee county, in 18-10, a population of 2,035. 
Dixon precinct had a population of 725 ; 125 persons were employed 
in agriculture, 17 in commerce, 55 at manuficture and trades, 12 in 



74 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

the learned professions and engineering. There was one school and 
30 scholars. 

For a few years succeeding 1840 the county was of slow develop- 
ment. " The state suffered from the great indebtedness and loss of 
credit occasioned by the visionary and disastrous internal improve- 
ment system of 1837, and increased in population very slowly from 
1840 to 1850. The fear of taxation diverted emigration, and agri- 
cultural interests languished for want of inter-communication. Tiiere 
was no market for the products of the country nearer than Chicago, 
and the expense of transportation of them was often equal to the 
value of the products when sold. The cash trade of the interior 
towns was meager, and a credit system, ruinous to the merchant and 
demoralizing to the customer, prevailed." 

The county, however, steadily advanced in population ; lands 
were taken up and farms were being improved, so that by 184:5 the 
county had a population of 3,282, an increase of 1,247 since the cen- 
sus of 1840 ; the village of Dixon had, at this time, a population of 
400. There were in the county at this time 2 grist-mills, 5 saw-mills. 1 
carding machine sind 1 iron foundry. The assessed value of ])roperty 
in the county was $28,000; horses, 900 ; cattle, 3,222 ; sheep, 2, 197, 
and hogs, 3.905. 

In 1850, as noticed previously, there was a reorganization of the 
county, at which time it was divided into towns, each being repre- 
sented by a supervisor in the transaction of the county business, 
which had been done by the board of commissioners. The board of 
supervisors held their first session on May 13, 1850. At this time 
the population of Lee county was 5,289, being an increase of 2,007 
since 1845 ; Dixon township's population was 1,073. The value of 
real estate was $215,360, and of personal property §168.341. There 
were twelve corporations or individuals in the county, pi-oducing ar- 
ticles to the value of $5,000 annually. One was engaged in the man- 
ufacture of harvesting maciiiiies ; one manufacturing plows; one 
producing lime ; tvvo in lumber, and two in the milling business ; 
the capital invested was $24,300; the average number of hands em- 
ployed was twenty-throe. The county had one academy, with two 
teachers and forty pupils ; public schools, with forty-six teachers and 
1,51s jiupils. The average monthly wages for farm hands was $12, 
and that paid to day laborers was 63 cents per day with board, and 

75 cents per day without board; carpenters, $1.50 per day; female 
domestics, $1.25 per week. Board for laborers could be obtained at 
$1.50 per week. 

Within the next decade the county nuide wonderful progress, 
being less embarrassed by threatening taxation, while the Illinois 



PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEE COUNTY. 



75 



Central railroad was opened through it in 1855, which contributed 
largely to the development of the country. We find the population, 
as given by the census of 1S60, for Lee county to be 18,854, an in- 
crease from 1850 of 13,604, or a little over 1,300 annually. This 
was the great decade of the popular increase of Lee county. Emi- 
gration flowed iu like a tide. The material wealth of the county 
greatly increased. The decade of 1860 and 1870 increased 8,012 
over the preceding ; so that the census of 1870 gave a total popula- 
tion for the county of 26,866 ; this period embraced the years of the 
great struggle during the rebellion. Emigration was greatly re- 
tarded, and many of the brave sons of Lee county went to the front 
at their country's call and never retui*ned. During the period from 
1870 to 1880 the population of Lee county increased 3,037 over 1870. 
While there has been a great falling off in the increase of population 
within the last census period, it arises from the fact that the lands 
had been generally occupied ; that there was not the inducement to 
land seekers as had formerly been. Some lands, however, were to 
be improved, whicli brought in the faithful yeomanry from the east, 
and manufacturing interests offered inducements to the mechanic, so 
that in 1880 Lee county had a population of 30.186. 



COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP CENSUS FROM 1850 TO 1880. 



TOWNsmPS. 


1850 


1860 


1870 


1880 


Alto 


504 

158 
354 

687 

1,072 

315 

475 

393 

587 

808 


. 301 
3,507 

1,253 
1,324 
1,713 

3,408 

•355 

148 
763 

1,007 
688 
362 

1,055 
388 

1,123 

729 
1,237 


832 
4,104 
1,007 
1,086 
1,335 
3,351 

757 
4,687 

765 

186 

542 

1,028 

397 

747 

600 

1,109 

743 

905 

1,300 

639 

1,0 !9 

1,380 




Amboy 


4,699 
1,009 

848 


Bradford 




1,396 

1,411 

730 


Cliina ■. 


Dixon 


4,341 
797 


East Grove 




437 






Harmon 


1 254 


Lee Center 


1,229 
903 

848 


Marion 

May 


Nelson 


3,313 

1,118 

743 

978 


Palmyra 


Reynolds 

South Dixon 


Sublett 


1,384 
685 


Viola 


Willow Creek 

Wyoming 


1,348 
1,931 




County 


5,253 


18,359 


27,138 


30,186 



<(> llISl'OltY »»l" I.KK COUNTY. 

/nfr'niii/ /inj)roi<t>witifs. — N'orv carlv in tlu' liistorv of Loo (joun- 
tv a systoiii of iiitonml imiirovoinoiits wiis imuii;iii'iito(l in tlio state, 
tor whii-li tax was laid upon tlio poopli- tlnit bocaiuo a burdon, oni- 
liarrassoil tlio sottloniont and jjnnvth of tlio stuto, and from whicli Loe 
county sufi'oiod groatly. Railroads were contemplated as well as 
the improvomont of Hoi-k rivor by a system of slack-water iuivii;a- 
tion. Those works wore bojjun and carried forward as loiiic as the 
state c\ciK'i|Uor was flush, but it was at'ti'rwani abandonetl tor want 
of moans to carry torward tlio project. This bciniiiii \S'M\ and 1^37, 
before tlu' county was di'volopcd. the embarrassment entorced u]>i>n 
the new state di't'crrcd the building of railroads tor near twenty 
years, when the Illinois Central ran her tirst train across the Kock 
river bridge at Dixon in lsr>5. This event was of tirst importanco 
to Leo county, causing not only the rapid growtli of Dixon but the 
founding of Aniboy car works, which gave rise to the growth of that 
young city. This road was tollowed by the Chicago iV: Northwestern 
road, the Chicago <.V: Kock River, and the C. D. i\: M. road. 

I'/if I)i.ron Air Lint^ liallrouil was built by the Galena & Chi- 
cago Tnion Kailroad Company from the junction, thirty miles west 
of l^liicago. in iS;")4 and IS;"*;"). The original design seems to have boon 
to make this a branch to operate as a feeder to the nniin lino, tapping 
the Kock rivor valley at this point. The subsoijnont rapid develop- 
ment of tlu' country and the constant increase of business inducetl its 
oxtt'iision wostwaitl. striking the •• l'"atlier of Waters"' at a point 
opi>osite Clinton in Iowa. Soon alter the tialona i^' Chicago I'nion, 
with its branches, and the Northwestern ^^CMiicago iV (Troon l>ay~) were 
consolidated under the general name of the ^sorthwestern, a railroad 
bi-idgo erossing the Mississippi at Clinton was completed, and the 
" Dixon Air Line" became one of the leading trunk linos between 
Chicago and the I'aeiiic coast. Mr. Charles Chase was appointed 
agent at Dixon. The tirst business done in the reeeii)t and shipment 
of freights at this point was about February It', 1S.^,5, tive days before 
that branch of business was comnioncod at the Illinois Central dejH>t. 
A[r. Chase was succeeded as agent by Mr. .1. K. Stewart, Mr. Charles 
Murray t\>llowing, then Mr. George Kogors. who was succoodod by 
the ]>rosent agent. Mr. II. E. Hand. 



lUSlNKSS HONK liV rilK N. W. K. K. Al 


DIXo.N DlCI'Or 


KOI 


{ CKKVlors YK.VK. 


KIIKIOIIT FORWAKUKn. 


FHK1G11T 


HK<KIVKl>. 


1 

Toniiiiiro. I'lipaid. 


Tonnug*. 


Unpnid. 


lS.,')ii5 $4? 248.66- 


10,813 




181.4051.63 



l'ltO(i|{KSH AND DKVKLOl'MKN'r OF MCK COIJNTy. 



77 



HAI.K OK T/CKKTH. 



Local Tickets. 


Coupon Ticket*. 


Extra Baggage. 




$1,728.42 


1008,9.5 ' 


$2r,r, 


For 1S80. 


COAL KKCKIVKD AND FORWARDED. 


Hiifl <o:il via. Ill, f'criliiil iin'l 'IJHlribuled 
iit iJixDii lor the coiiiiiaiiy. 


Hard coal receivijd and delivered at 
I>ixon. 


Weight. 


ai'g'BpuiiiI.(lK.K. 


Weiglit. 


Unpaid, 


4»,200,700 


$tO,404.2O 


1,882,717 


$2,076,41 




OBAIN BHIPMEN 


T8 TO CHIOAOO. 





Wiicat. 



8,9.')4 



Corn. 



197,889 



Oats. 



87,481 



Barley. 



8,181 



Hyc. 



8,054 



Till- Illinois (Central was also built in 1S54 and 1855. Its beauti- 
ful iron liridf^e at this point was completed January 1, 1855 ; the last 
r;iil was laifi ii[)Oi) it in tlio midst 'if a furious rKirtliwcst sn'iwstorm 
oil tliat day. KectiiptH and sliipnuMits of freight commenced on Feb- 
ruary 15, under Mr. Addison Chase as agent; Mr. Chase was suc- 
ceeded by Mr. S. Y. T^ierce, then Mr. A. E. Mason, wlio wa.s fol- 
lowed by Mr. W. ('. Woolcy. TIk; latter was apjjoiiited September 
15, 1858. 

In the summer of 187*! a project was formed for building tiie Rock 
liiver Valley railroad, connecting the Itock Island iSc St. Louis with 
the (Chicago & Pacific, thus forming another trunk line between 
Chicago and St. Louis and the great west and south. A company 
was formed, with Mr. James A. Ilawley, of Dixon, as president, sur- 
veys aii<l location made, grading commenced along th(; line of Water 
street in this city, when the Chicago, Hurlington A Quincy ab- 
sorbed the stock of the south(!rn portion of the road, thereby crush- 
ing the Vall(!y road, together with all the fine schemes of the inhab- 
itants, for tlir; present, for the further development of .the water 
power and manufacturing interest of the valley. Some consolati'm, 
however, for the loss of these prospective commercial advantages 
lies in the fact that had the road been completed on the line as lo- 



78 IIISTOUY OF LKE COUNTY. 

cated, the iron horse, with its trains of living freight and commerce, 
woukl have marred some of the most beautiful natural seener^to be 
found on the continent. 

The Illinois Central enters the county on the south, crossing the 
line twelve miles west of the southeast corner of the county, and 
running due northwest passes Amboy to Dixon, where it crosses the 
Rock river, following that valley two or three miles north, then bear- 
ing west it passes out of the county five miles east of the northwest 
corner of the county. The track oi' this road is laid through Dixon 
on a high grade and system of arches over the principal streets, aid 
across the rivei by a magnificent iron bridge resting on huge stone 
abutments and piers. 

The Chicago & Northwestern enters the county on the north, 
eleven miles west of the northeast corner, passing south of the city 
of Dixon, where it crosses the Illinois Central, and passing down the 
Rock river valley it emerges from the county on the west, one mile 
north of the river. 

The Chicago & Iowa, known as the Chicago, Dubuque & Minne- 
sota road, crosses the northeast corner of the county dividing Alto 
township, diagonally, into two equal parts. 

The Chicago & Rock River road enters the county on the east, 
at Paw Paw, four miles north of the southeast corner of the county, 
and bearing north of west to Amboy, and from thence to the Rock 
river, passing out of the county on the west two miles south of Rock 
river. 

Navigation. — But little can be said respecting navigation in Lee 
county. Although congress recognized Rock river as a navigable 
stream, they neglected to legislate ?utficient water in the channel, in 
consequence of whicli the commercial world failed to utilize what 
water already fiowed between its banks. There are times, however, 
that were it not for tlie bridges and dams that now obstruct the river 
the heaviest Mississippi boats could safely pass up to Dixon. In an 
early day the Mississippi river steamboats occasionally made trips up 
Rock river. In April, 1838, the steamer Gipsey went up the river 
as far as Oregon ; she had on board a load of bacon bought in St. 
Louis by Mr. Phelps, of Oregon. There was some dissatisfaction 
in regard to the contract and Air. Phelps would not take the meat; 
Smith tTilbraith was aboard the boat and told the captain to turn 
around and unload the bacon at Dixon. It was unloaded at the foot 
of Peoria street. In July, 18ii, the Lighter ascended the river as 
far as Janesville, Wisconsin. Perhaps this is the time that Col. John- 
son wanted the " boys" to " fire oflp the stump " in honor of her arrival, 
which some of the earlv settlers recall with so much amusement. 



/ 




^ 




'4) do. .1^1^ 



COUNTY BUILDINGS. 81 

It had been announced that a boat would be up the river on a 
certain day, and preparations were made to receive her, and Col. 
Johnson was selected to make the address of welcome to the captain 
and crew. Being in primitive days there was no navj' howitzer or 
military field-piece with which to fire the salute. The colonel, how- 
ever, was equal to the emergency, and ordered a stump, which stood 
on the bank of the river, to be bored with a large auger, and loaded 
with powder and tow, to be in readiness to fire off^ on the approach 
of the expected steamer. An adjacent saloon was chosen as the base 
of observation. Here they would plan the reception, and anon appear 
on the bank looking for the " smoke way down the river," which 
was slow to appear. The day was far spent, and the sun was fast 
sinking behind the western hills, and they were weary of waiting 
and watching for the great water-witch, when the cry was i-aised, 
"the steamboat is coming.'' Headed by the colonel the anxious 
committee emerged from the saloon to hail the great steamer. It 
was, however, but a small hull, but being blinded by weary watch- 
ing the orator mistook the stranger for the long expected, and lifting 
his hat he delivered his address of " welcome, welcome to our shores," 
and, turning to the artillerymen, the order was given, "Boys, shoot 
off the stump;" and as the reverberations of the shooting stump 
were dying away beyond the Rock river hills the little cruiser 
rounded into port, and, safely mooring, received the honors which 
were designed for one that did not come. The old citizens believe 
until this day that the address of welcome and the cannonading in- 
junction were appropriate to the occasion. 

A small steamer is now plying between Dixon and Grand De- 
tour, a run of nine miles up the river. In this distance there is a 
fall ot nine and a half feet, and the flow of the current of Rock river 
at low-water mark is 7,355 cubic feet of water per minute, which is 
suflicient for good water-power, but requiring slack water for naviga- 
tion. This is met by the dam across the river at Dixon, which is 
seven feet in height. In an early day the commissioners of Lee 
county granted the right to build a dam across the river at Dixon. 
Now the river is spanned by bridges and obstructed by dams, an in- 
dication that tiie idea of the profitable navigation of Rock river has 
been abandoned. 

COUNTY BUILDINGS. 

Location. — The undersigned commissioners appointed by the act 
creating the county of Lee "Approved February 27, 1839," having 
been duly sworn and after examination, having due regard to the set- 
tlements and convenience of the present and future population of said 
county of Lee, do hereby locate the seat of justice for the aforesaid 
6 



82 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

county of Lee at the town of Dixon ; aiul liave stuck the stake for the 
place or point at which the public buildings shall be erected on the 
quarter section composed of the west half of the northwest quar- 
ter of the section four, township number twentj'-one, range nine 
east, of the 4th principal meridian, and the east half of the 
northeast quarter of section number live, same township and 
range aforesaid. And we further report that the proprietors and 
owners of lots in the aforesaid town of Dixon have executed cer- 
tain bonds guaranteeing the pa^'ment of six thousand four hundred and 
sixty dollars, which is exclusive of one thousand and fifty dollars 
signed by Messrs. Gilbraith, Wilkinson & Dement, which is embraced 
and included in a bond of three thousand dollars, and included above; 
also one bond for a deed of eighty acres of land adjoining said town 
of Dixon : all of which is respectfully submitted to the county com- 
missioners' court of Lee county. Given under our hands and seals this 
21st day of May, A. D. 1839. D. G. Salisbury. [seal]. 

Ethan H. Nichols, [seal]. • 
L. G. BoTLER. [seal]. 

On the 27th of December, 1839, thecourt of commissioners received 
plans and specifications which were submitted by the clerk for the 
building of the court-house of stone or brick, and put the same on file. 
At the same time the clerk submitted plans and specifications for build- 
ing a j-iil of stone and timber, which was also accepted and placed on 
file. The clerk was further ordered to advertise for sealed proposals, 
which would be received np to the 6th of Januiry, 184:0, for building 
said court-house and jail ; and on the 7tli of January the court awarded 
thie building of the jail to Messrs. Aplington & Holbrook for the sum 
of fourteen hundred and ninety-five dollars; and the building of the 
court-house was awarded to Samuel M. Bowman, which was to be of 
brick and was to cost the sum of six thousand and eight hundred dol- 
lars, in accordance with his bid. 

The court-house was erected according to the contract during the 
year 1840 ; and as it was accepted of the comn)issioners from the hands 
of the builders, it is just to presume that it was located on the parcel 
of ground that was pinned by the stake which was driven by the com- 
missioners on the selection of the site for the seat of justice. That was 
a great day for the county of Lee, which saw the stake driven that has 
held the seat of justice on the beautiful eminence for more than forty 
years. 

The commissioners were fortunate in the selection of a location 
" 60 beautiful for situation." The plat of ground on which it stands 
extends from Second to Third street, north and south, and from Ottawa 
street on the east to Galena street on the west. It is inclosed and the 



COUNTY BUILDINGS. 83 

yard has been cultivated into a beautiful lawn and shady grove in the 
midst of which the court-house stands. From the court-house the 
ground recedes with a gentle slope so that the people emphatically "go 
up to the house of justice," The court-room is on the second floor, 
and over the judge's stand hangs upon the wall a life-size portrait of 
Mr. John Dixon, the founder of the city and the first white settler in 
Lee county. From the observatory may be seen the clear waters of 
Rock river as they flow out from between the hills far away to the 
north and come meandering down the beautiful valley and flow away 
to be lost behind the forest-covered bluflfs to the southward. 

The jail was built of hewed logs erected on a stone foundation and 
was located on the south side of Third street opposite the court-house. 
It was erected during 1840 ; but a brick building for the county 
sherifl''s mansion being erected on the southeast corner of Ottawa and 
Second streets in 1846, the jail was removed to that location and re- 
erected back of said building some time in 1847. Tliis wooden structure 
served the county for the incarceration of her criminals until 1872. 
Although it had been set on fire at different times it was able to hold 
those committed to its keeping. In 1868 or 1869 a prisoner attempted 
to burn his way out of his confinement with a hot poker, and would 
doubtless have succeeded had not some small boys been' playing near 
by and discovered the burning of the jail. In the February term of 
the court, 1872, the supervisors provided for the building of the present 
jail by making an appropriation of eighteen thousand dollars for the 
purpose. Tiiere were also plans provided for the sale of the old jail 
property and the purchase of new lots for the jail and sheriflT's house. 
This was prosecuted and the buildings erected where they now stand, 
on lots Nos. two and three on the southeast corner of Tiiird and Hen- 
nepin streets. The contract was let to Messrs. Jobst & Price, of Peoria, 
this state. 

The sheriff's house is built of brick ornamented with dressed stone, 
making it a very attractive edifice. The jail which connects it on the 
rear is built of dressed stone, and is very secure. The buildings are 
not only an addition to the good appearance of that part of the citj', 
but are a credit to the county. 

The Government Zand Office. — ^In 1840, when the government 
land office was removed from Galena to Dixon, the mode of convey- 
ance, as well as the means of communication, was in a primitive state. 
The office, with its iron safe, papers and maps, was loaded upon a 
" prairie schooner," under the command of Col. John Dement, receiver, 
and Mayor Hackelton, register. Left in charge of a driver, and pro- 
pelled by half a dozen yokes of oxen, this conveyance was many days 
on the road, traveling a distance of sixtj'-five miles. It arrived in the 



84 HISTORY OF LEE COUJSTTY. 

fall of that year, in the midst of the presidential campaign which re- 
sulted in the election of Gen. Harrison. It was tirst opened in the 
Van Arnam building, on Ottawa street. At that time but a small 
portion of the lands in the district had been brought into market, and 
the subsequent heavy sales brought people from all parts of the coun- 
try loaded with specie with which to make their entries. The specie 
was subsequently shipped to the sub-treasury at St. Louis. 

Tiie small stone building occupied by the land office department, 
is still standing on the northwest corner of Ottawa and Second streets. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY. 

The first Methodist sermon preached in the region of country be- 
tween Rock Island and Galena, was by the Rev. Mr. Sugg, in the 
house of John Ankany. Tiie Illinois conference recognized this as 
missionary territory in 1S35, and appointed Rev. James McKean in 
charge of what was called the Henderson Mission. Rev. Henry Sum- 
mers was presiding elder of the district. The headquarters of the 
mission was Elkliorn Grove. Early in 1836 Rev. McKean passed 
Dixon's Ferry ; and after crossing the river he returned and announced 
to the few people who were standing on the bank of the river, " I 
will preach in this place four weeks from to-day," and rode away, leav- 
ing his auditors to conjecture as to who and what manner of man he 
was. On the appointed da}' the mysterious stranger appeared with 
saddle-bags, hymn-book and Bible, and found the neighbors assembled 
to hear what message he might bring to them. He continued his 
visits to the ferry, preaching in their cabins or in the grove, until some 
time in 1837, when he organized the first Methodist class in Dixon and 
Lee county. The following persons were received as the original 
members of this class: S. M. Bowman, and Mrs. E. A. Bowman; 
John Richards, and Ann Richards; Caleb Tallmage, and Amanda 
Tall mage, and Maria McClure. The society worshiped in a room over 
Messrs. Bowman lV Boardman's store, corner of Galena and Water 
streets. In the following fall (1837) Revs. Robert Delap and Barton 
Cartwright were sent as circuit preachers, by the authority of Bishop 
Roberts; Alfred Branson being presiding elder. The preaching place 
this year was in a frame school-house, 2ox30 feet. This house was 
used as a court-house and all public gatherings as well as a place for 
worship. Rev. Delap's health failing, he retired from the work in 
May, leaving his colleague in full charge until the close of the year. 
He was known as the " Prairie Breaker," which honor he received as an 
expressed appreciation of Christian and earnest work as a missionary 
on the great prairies of Illinois. The circuit being large, the 
society received a visit from their minister once in six weeks. Not un- 



RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY. 85 

frequently the pioneer preacher would be absent from his home for a 
number of weeks successively without so much as hearing from home 
and loved ones who were anxiously' waiting and longing for his return. 
In the autumn of 1838 Isaac Pool and Riley Hill were appointed to 
this mission by Bishop Soul. Rev. Hill was esteemed as a young man 
of fine talents, but his work was short, having fallen in his Master's 
work early in the next year at the inlet, now called Lee Center. His 
place was filled b}' Rev. Luke Hichcock, who was reappointed in the 
fall of 1839, by Bishop Roberts. Bartholomew Weed was appointed 
presiding elder of the district. 

There had been received in the society, in addition to the original 
members, up to August 1839, T. D. Boardman, Mr. and Mrs. Perry, 
and Mr. and Mrs. McCabe, and in the following October the society 
was greatly strengthened by the addition of O. F. Ayres and wife. In 
the fall of 1840 Richard A. Blanchard was appointed to the Dixon 
circuit, by Bishop Waugh. During this conference year the Rock 
■ River conference was organized (in May, 1S41), and held its first ses- 
sion at Mount Morris; John Clark being presiding elder of the dis- 
trict, known as the Mount Morris district ; and at this session of the 
conference Pliilo Judson was appointed to Dixon circuit, and S. S. 
Stocking, presiding elder. 

At a quarterly conference that convened at Daysville, June 8, 1842, 
the first steps were taken toward the building of a house of worship, 
by appointing T. Judson, S. G. Holbrook, L. G. Winkoop, and J. 
Dixon a committee to estimate the probable expense of erecting a 
church edifice in Dixon. They reported at a subsequent meeting, 
which lead to the beginning of the building which was completed the 
following year, and dedicated by the Rev. John T. Mitchel, at that 
time presiding elder of the district. It was a brick structure, and was 
completed at a cost of $4,000. It was located on Second street, near 
Ottawa. The board of trustees consisted of J. P. Dixon, C. Edson, O. F. 
Ayres, W. G. Winkoop, Thomas McCabe, J. Brierton and S. M. Bowman. 

At the session of Rock River conference held in Chicago, August 3, 
1842, Bishop Roberts presiding, the Dixon circuit which then embraced 
Washington Grove, Lighthouse Point, Jefferson Grove, Daysville, 
and Paynes Point, was extended so as to include Palestine Grove, 
Malugin's Grove, and Inlet Grove, now Lee Center. Philo Judson 
and W. H. Cooley were appointed circuit preachers. This work was 
divided, soon after, by the presiding elder Mitchel setting oif all the 
territory north of Franklin Grove to W. H. Cooley, and the southern 
division was left under the pastoral care of P. Judson. This order, 
however, was revoked at the following quarterly conference held 
November 12, 1842, placing it back to its former arrangement. 



86 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Sabbath-schools were now organized. — the first at Dixon soon after 
the dedication of the chapel ; and at the quarterly conference held July 
15, 1843, tlie following was reported: "There are two schools in the 
lower division of the circuit ; and one at Dixon with eight teachers, 
sixty scholars, and a library of ninety volumes." The superintendent 
was O. F. Ayres; the secretary, T. D. Boardman, and John W. Clute 
was librarian. This was a union school up to 18i5, when it became a 
Methodist denominational school. O. F. A^'res continued superin- 
tendent for ten years, when the demand upon his time and talents for 
the pulpit was so great that he was compelled to resign his office, to 
the regret of himself and the school. 

Washington Wilcox was appointed to the circuit in 1843, and was 
succeeded by the appointment of David Brooks in the autumn of 1844, 
and Steplien P. Keys in 1845, under whose la!:)ors a great temperance 
work was done, closing up all places wliere strong drink had been sold. 
The number in church membership was increased one third during the 
year. In the fail of 1846 his place was tilled by the appointment of 
Milton Henry and R. W. H. Brent to the charge. 

At the session of Rock River Coiiference in the autumn of 1847 
the Dixon circuit was embraced in the Rock Island district, under the 
presiding eldership of John Sinclair. R. P. Lawton was appointed 
preacher in charge of tlie circuit, and in tiie following year under the 
labors of Rev. William Palmer, appointed by Bishop Morris, the church 
enjoyed the visitation of a special revival, under which many were 
converted and added to the church. The Sabbath schools were pros- 
pering. In the Dixon school were eiglit teachers, fifty scholars, and 
twenty dollars' worth of new library books. During the pastorate of 
Mr. Palmer, the basement of the cliapel was finished, and a bell pur- 
chased for the tower. He was succeeded by Tiiomas North in 1850, 
under whose labors a noted revival occurred. 

Soon after Rev. McKean visited the neighborhood of Dixon's 
Ferry, the Rev. Thomas Powel, of the Baptist church, came to Bufi'alo 
Grove as the forerunner of that denomination ; and as early as 1838 
organized the first Baptist church of the vicinity at Buffalo Grove, 
which was the parent society of the First Baptist church of Dixon. 
The original society was divided into the Buffalo church and tiie 
Dixon church. The former, however, was subsequently discontinued. 

Rev. Tliomas Powel was an earnest pioneer missionary, and lives 
in the inemory of the church revered as tiie founder of the Baptist 
denomination of the christian churcii. 

In connection with these pioneer ministers may be mentioned also 
tiie Rev. L. Hitchcock, Bishop Chase, of the Episcopal church, and 
Rev. James De Pui, who experienced with them the privations of 



RELIGIOUS PROfiRESS IN THE COUNTY. 87 

the early days of Lee county. The life of the itinerant in those days 
was one of sacrifice not only to the fiiithful minister, but to his family. 
Exposed to perils in floods and storms, as well as long tedious rides 
across the unbroken prairie, fording streams, sometimes by swimming 
his faithful and orthodox horse ; startled by the scream of the wild-cat 
or howl of the wolf from the evening shades of a neighboring grove; 
lodging in the pioneer cabin, whose clapboard roof but illy turned the 
falling rain or drifting snow. 

On July 5, 1843, a Congregational society was organized at the resi- 
dence of Moses Crorabie, and was called the " Congregational Church 
of Palestine Grove." The congregation worshiped in a school-house 
about a mile from the present site of the city of Amboy. They were 
ministered to by Rev. John Merrill, Rev. Ingersoll, father of the notorious 
Robert Ingersoll of the present day, Rev. Joseph Gardner and Rev. 
Mr. Pierson. The last two divided their labors with Grand Detour 
and Palestine Grove. This society was formed before there was a 
house erected where Amboy now stands. The organization was after- 
ward removed to Lee Center, in 1849. In 1854 the Amboy Congrega- 
tional church was organized. But as these local societies will be noticed 
in connection with the township in which they are located, we will not 
give a detailed account in this connection. 

At an early day a Rev. Mr. Warriner, of the Baptist faith, com- 
menced preaching at Paw Paw Grove, in the southeast corner of the 
township, and afterward became the pastor of the present Baptist society 
in that place. 

The religions societies have exerted a salutary influence on the 
moral development of the county. 

Sahhatlt Schools. — The first Sabbath school was organized as a 
union school, in the new Methodist Episcopal church soon after its 
dedication, and on July 15, 1843, there were reported eight teachers, 
sixty scholars, and a library of ninety volumes. O. F. Ayers was super- 
intendent, T. D. Boardman, secretary, and J. W. Clute, librarian. This 
school afterward became the denominational school of the Methodist 
church. Other schools were organized as the several denomitiations 
organized societies. Sabbath schools are, at present, connected with all 
the churches in Lee county, and special reference will be made to them 
in connection with the history of each society. The total number of 
members of the several schools in Dixon aggregate about 800, the 
total number of volumes in library in the several schools is about 2,025. 

At an early day, and about the time of the organization of the 
union school in Dixon, referred to above, there were schools organized 
in other parts of tlie county, — Inlet Grove, Malugin's Grove, and prob- 
ably at Palestine Grove. 



88 HISTOKY OF LEE COINTY. 

Tlie metliod of conducting Sabbath schools at tliis early day was 
quite primitive. Tliere were but few conveniences compared with 
what are regarded as essentials in a well regulated modern Sunday 
school. There was no literature provided specially for the young, no 
Sabbath-sciiool songs as now. The old hymn or psalm book was in 
constant use. It would seem odd, in these days of advancement and 
improvement, to require the infant class to repeat their A B C, or 
rehearse a spelling lesson, after opening the school b}' singing "Am I 
a Soldier of the Cross ?" and before singing the closing hymn " How 
Tedious and Tasteless the Hours!" ; and yet such was the custom of the 
gone-by days. But these primitive schools were not failures, bnt served 
to impart moral sentiments and cultivate religious tendencies that have 
developed some of the best men of the country. At the present time 
the Sabbath schools of Lee county are fully abreast of the times. 

Heresy. — Lee count}- has been visited by religious heresy and 
fanaticism under the banner of Mormonism. After the murder of the 
great Mormon high priest, Joe Smith, his brother, William Smith, with 
a small band of followers, took up their residence in Lee county, about 
twelve miles south of Dixon, where they kept up their organization 
and meetings for some time. 

At the April term of circuit court in 1853, on the trial of the appli- 
cation of William Smith for a divorce, the jury found a verdict for the 
lady. 

The following is part of a letter showing tlie " mind of the Lord " 
as revealed to his servant William Smith : 

" Behold, verily, this is the mind of the Lord concerning those 
females who have received the priesthood by being sealed to my ser- 
vants William Smith and Joseph Wood [for many years a lawyer at 
Paw Paw, this county], and have been washed, anointed and ordained 
under their hands, having been received into the priestess' lodge — 
having taken the covenant tiiereof; if thej', or either of them, shall 
fall, or turn altogether therefrom, she or they shall be excluded there- 
from and from my church also, and shall not come forth in the resur- 
rection of the just. * * * 

" Therefore, L Jesus Christ, who am your Father and God. say unto 
you, if your wives be treacherous and sin against you and repent not, 
I will reveal it unto you. Therefore confide in me, and I will be your 
God and you shall be my servants. Amen. 
" Yours trulv, 

" William Smith." 

The First Scliool-houne. — Dr. O. Everett, in the " History of Dixon 
and Palmyra," published in 1880, says: 

"In looking over some old papers recently, I came across the sub- 



KELIGI0U8 PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY. 



89 



scription paper for building the first school-house in Dixon, and have 
thought that it would not be without interest to man}' ofj'our readers. 
This paper was got up in January 1837, and contains many names 
familiar to the old settlers. The subscription paper reads as follows: 

'" We, the subscribers, agree to pay the sums severally attached to 
our names, for the purpose of erecting a school-house in the town of 
Dixon. Said school-house shall be for the teaching of primary schools, 
and shall be open for religious meetings of all denominations when not 
occupied by the schools. 

" ' Said house shall be one story high, and at least forty feet by 
twenty on the ground, and shall contain two rooms, which shall be 
connected by a door or doors, as may be thought proper. 

" ' The subscribers shall meet on Monday, the 20th day of February 
next, at six o'clock p.m., and choose three trustees to superintend the 
building of said house. The trustees shall have power to collect the 
money subscribed, contract for and purchase materials for said house, 
and employ workmen to build the same. The}' shall see that it is done 
in a plain, workmanlike manner, so far as the funds shall warrant. 



NAMES. 




NAMES. 




Jas. P. Dixon, 


$25 00 


Geo. L. Chapman, 


. $5 00 


Oliver Everett, 


25 00 


W. H. Rowe, . 


10 00 


John Wilson, 


. 25 00 


J. W. Dixon, . 


. 10 00 


Caleb Talmage, 


20 00 


E. W. Covin, 


. 25 00 


J. B. Barr, 


. 10 00 


E. A. Statia, 


. 5 00 


Samuel Leonard, 


5 00 


S. W. Johnson, 


10 00 


Jacob Rue, 


. 5 00 


Robert Murray, 


. 10 00 


B. B. Brown, . . 


5 00 


Sam'l C. McClure. 


15 00 


Samuel Gatten, . 


. 5 00 


Mrs. E. N. Hamilton, 


. 15 00 


Edwin Hine, . 


5 00 


Horace Thompson, 


5 00 


Elijah Dixon, 


. 15 00 


Mrs. R. Dixon, . 


. 30 00 


Hiram P. Parks, 


10 00 


L. D. Butler, . 


5 00 


John Q. Adams (expunged), 00 10 


M. L. Dixon, 


. 5 00 


Seth D. Brittain, 


. 20 00 


Mrs. A. Talmage, . 


5 00 


(If he settles here.) 




Mrs. M. H. Barr, 


. 10 00 


Lemuel Huff, 


. 15 00 


J. Murphy, 


10 00 


Alanson Dickerman, 


5 00 


N. W. Brown, . 


. 5 00 


John Snider, 


. 5 00 


S. M. Bowman, 


10 00 


H. Martin, 


5 00 


John Richards, . 


. 10 00 


W. P. Burroughs, 


. 15 00 


C. F. Hubbard, . 


5 00 


John Dixon, . 


20 00 


W. W. Graham, 


. 5 00 


I. S. Boardman, 


. 10 00 


T. L. Hubbard, . 


5 00 


A friend. 


5 00 


John Carr, . 


. 5 00 


M. McCabe, 


. 10 00 


George Kip, . 


5 00 


Allen Wiley, . 


10 00 


Wm. Graham, 


. 5 00 


J. W. Hamilton, 


. 5 00 






" It will be noticed 


that man 


y of the subscribers we 


re persons 


living some distance in 


the count 


ry, and of those who ca 


me to the 



90 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

county during the next season. The reason that Father Dixon's name 
was not at or near the head of tlie list is that he was away that winter 
to Vandalia, tiien tlie capital of the state. It may also be noticed tiiat 
the matter dragged somewhat, as such enterprises often do, and the 
ladies took it up, Mrs. Dixon giving the largest subscription on the 
list and Mrs. Hamilton a generous amount. Again it may be noticed 
that one John Q. Adams, not our present John Q. Adams, but an un- 
worthy bearer of a great name, in subscribing put two 00 where the 
dollars ought to have been, making his subscription but 10 cents. 
When his attention was called to it he said it was just as he intended 
to have it. His name was dealt with as was fashionable at that time; 
it was expunged. 

" The old school-house was built during the summer of 1837, of the 
size and form specified in the subscription paper, about twenty rods 
west of tlie cemetery, on or near lot one, block sixty-nine, now occupied 
by Harry Smith. It was built perfectly plain, without a cornice, and 
inclosed with undressed oak siding and a hardwood shingle roof. The 
inside consisted of two rooms, one six feet by twenty, extending across 
the end of the building, serving as an entrance-way or vestibule to the 
main room, which was twenty by thirty-four feet, with three windows 
on either side and one at the end of the room opposite the entrance. 
It was plastered on the inside with a single coat of coarse brown mor- 
tar, and was warmed during winter with a wood tire in a large box 
stove. In 1839 it was moved down to tiie north end of lot five, 
block seventeen, on the east side of Ottawa street, just south of the resi- 
dence of Dr. Nash, now occupied by Daniel McKenney, fronting to 
the north upon the alley. There it remained for several years, and was 
used for school-house, meeting-house and court-house (the first three 
terms of the circuit court of Lee county- were held in it). Elections 
and political meetings and conventions were held in it, and it was 
always used for whatever other purpose the people might congregate. 

" The old school-house was ver}- plain, rough and uninviting to look 
upon, but there are many recollections associated with it which are 
always dwelt upon by the early settlers with great interest, and should 
make the memory of it dear to the people of Dixon. It was within 
its rough brown ivalls that the venerable and revered Bishop Chase, 
then senior bishop of the American Episcopal church, first preached 
to the scattered members of his fold as were hereabout, and broke to 
them the bread of the sacrament, and where Rev. James De Pui, a man 
of rare culture and gentle and genial social qualities, preached for more 
than twelve month?. It was there that the Methodist and Baptist 
churches of this j)lace were formed and nurtured in their infancy. 

"The Rev. Dr. Hitchcock and the Rev. Philo Judson, who for 



RELIGIOUS PROGBESS IN THE COUNTY. 91 

nearly half a century have been among the foremost laborers in the 
great and beneficent organization to which they belong, then in the 
vigor of early manhood, each preached his two years there. The Rev. 
Thomas Powell, a devoted missionary of the Baptist denomination, 
well known among the earl^' settlers of no inconsiderable portion of the 
state for his indefatigable and faithful service in the religious interest 
of the people, then often living remote from each other, and either des- 
titute or but poorly supplied with competent religious teachers, often 
held services in the old school-house, and officiated at the formation of 
the Baptist church of Dixon. Also the Rev. Burton Carpenter, the 
remembrance of whose labors here is cherished by many of the old set- 
tlers, and who in the high standing he afterward attained in the 
denomination to which he belongs, and in a life of great usefulness in 
another part of the state, he has not disappointed the expectations of his 
early friends, commenced his labors in the ministry and preached about 
three years in this same old school-house. During nearly the whole 
time religious services were held in the old school-house the Methodist 
and Baptist congregations occupied it alternate Sundays, — the Meth- 
odist clergyman preaching at Inlet Grove or Sugar Grove, and Mr. 
Carpenter at Bufl'alo Grove the intervening Sabbaths. 

" In the spring of 1840 tiiere was a convention of the whig party of 
the Jo Daviess representative district, which embraced the whole north- 
western part of the state, held at the school-house, and Thomas Drum- 
mond, known in this generation as Judge Drummoiid, of tiie United 
States court at Chicago, then a young lawyer of Galena, was nom- 
inated as a candidate for member of the house of representatives in 
the state legislature. Here presented an extent of territory now con- 
stituting nearly two congressional districts. Among the teachers in 
the old school-house was the late lamented W. W. Heaton, whom 
the citizens of Dixon have seen rise by his industry and legal acquire- 
ments from the schoolmaster's chair to the bench. 

" In the beginning of the year 1843 the Methodist church was 
finished and dedicated, and the court-house was so far completed that 
the courts were held in it, and was used for religious and political 
meetings, and the old school-house fell into comparative disuse. 

"Some time during the year 1844 it began to be noised about that 
John Van Arnam claimed the old school-house as his property, as he 
had purchased the lot upon which it stood. One day the people were 
notified that upon a tap on their windows the night following they 
might know that they were wanted at the school-house, and the less said 
about it the better. Upon arriving there we found it surrounded by a 
great crowd busy at work. Some were raising the building with crow- 
bars and levers, others adjusting planks and rollers under the sills. 



92 HISTORY OF LEE COUXTY. 

Tiiere was that prince of movers of old buildings, N. G. H. Morrill, as 
usual, directing operations, not giving authoritative orders to others, 
but by taking hold and showing them how by doing the major part of 
the work himself. The industrious crowd tugged away in silence or 
talking in wliispers or suppressed tones, now moving the heavy oak 
building an inch or two, and again making a more fortunate move and 
getting ahead several inches or one or two feet, until it was thought 
the building was entirely over the edge of the lot, l)ut by }>aeing from 
the street and making observations in the dark it was tiionght best to 
give it just another little shove to make the thing sure. So all took 
hold with a will, and the old school-house began to move again upon 
the rollers and made a lunge of twelve or tifteen feet, creaking and 
groaning as it went, as if conscious of the ignoble uses of trade to which 
it was destined, for the time came (my pen grows shaky as I write it) 
when it was,used for liquor selling. Upon this last move of the old 
school-house ever}- tongue seemed loosened, and all gave vent to their 
satisfaction in a wild shout or cheer, which rang through the darkness, 
and by its heartiness (so I was informed) quieted the fears of some of 
the ladies whose husbands had at the tap on the window so mysteriously 
bounced out of bed and left them without saying a word. About this 
time Mr. Morrill, upon a vote of two freeholders at an election held for 
the jjurpose of voting upon the question of building a new school-house, 
was building the stone structure for that purpose back of the Na- 
chusa house, so the old building was sold and moved down on the 
corner of Main and Hennepin streets, and was used for various pur- 
poses of trade, and finally burned in the great fire on Main street in 

1859." 

CRIME. 

It is by no means a pleasant duty to the historian to chronicle the 
wicked deeds of men, or bring to ligiit the dark phase of humanity to 
cast a shadow upon the fair fame of a civil and cultured community; 
but there are obligations which the science of history imposes upon 
every hand that wields a historic pen, that cannot be disregarded and 
claim the honor of an impartial historian ; though gladly would we 
draw the veil of oblivion over the faults of erring humanity were they 
not so intimately associated with the welfare and peace of a community. 

As every page of human history seems to be stained with blood 
and bedewed with tears, the fair pages of the history of Lee county are 
not unsullied by the dark spots of crime. These rolling prairies and 
beautiful groves have been the theater of bloodshed and crime. The 
following anecdote written by an early citizen of Palmyra, Lee county, 
will be in place here to illustrate the mixed state of society in the early 
days of the history of Lee county. He says : 



CRIME. 93 

" We had a weekh' eastern mail, carried from Chicago in the Frink 
& Walker coaches, on Saturday. On tiiat daj' all those who had rea- 
son to expect letters met in Dixon to get their mail and exchange 
drinks at a little building near the terry, called "The Hole in the 
Wall." Here we also met many of those curious waifs and strays of 
society, of which Dixon, like all frontier towns, had her full share. 
Among them was a man by the name of Truett, who had shot an ed- 
itor of a paper in cold blood, but had escaped the rope. An old gentle- 
man had been introduced to him ; without hearing his name distinctly, 
after some conversation with him, said to his introducer, " Who is that 
fellow, Billy, you introduced to met" " Oh, that," said he, " is Truett 
— Truett who murdered Dr. Early." His horror on hearing this was 
most ludicrous. "Shaken hands with a murderer!" lie exclaimed. 
" Good God !" shaken hands with a murderer ! Bring me some water." 
And he continued to turn his hands over and over and vociferate for 
water until a basinful was brought and he was enabled to wash out 
the spot." 

Lee county was infested with members of the great " Banditti of 
the Prairies," that was exposed and published by Edward Bonney as 
early as 1844. This author says: "The valley of the Mississippi river 
from its earliest settlement has been more infested with reckless and 
blood-stained men than an}' other part of the country, being more con- 
genial to their habits and offering the greatest inducements to follow 
their nefarious and dangerous trade. Situated as it is, of great com- 
mercial importance, together with its tributaries stretching four thou- 
sand miles north from the Gulf of Mexico, and draining all tliecountr}' 
south and west of the great chain of lakes, and between the Alleghany 
and Rocky mountains, it has afforded them an unequaled chance to 
escape detection and pursuit, and thus wooed, as it were, countless vil- 
lains and blood-stained, law-doomed ones to screen themselves in its 
bosom. 

" Organized bands, trampling upon right and defying all law human 
and divine, have so annoj'ed the peaceful and quiet citizens of this 
great valley, that in the absence of a sufficient judicial power the aid of 
" Judge Lynch " has been but too frequently called in and a neighbor- 
ing tree proved a gallows, and 'a short shrift and strong cord' been 
the doom of those who have ever plead vainly for mercy at its bar." 

The same author adds: "So great, indeed, was the terror that the 
banditti had caused that the good, quiet, and orderly citizens, before 
retiring to rest at night, made all preparations for resistance that were 
in their power, and armed to the teeth, with doors and windows se- 
curely barred and bolted, laid down in fear and trembling to wish for 
the return of morning again." 



94 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

A plan had long been on foot to rob the Dixon land office, b}' in- 
tercepting the stage conveying the deposits to Chicago. Large sales of 
public lands had been made and the money deposited in the Dixon 
land office. "One of the gang, in order to ascertain the particulars 
and the precise time of its removal, took occasion to ask the receiver 
when he intended to go to Chicago. The receiver, however, being 
upoii his guard, and a prudent man, set the time one week later than 
he intended to start, and thereby baffled tiie preconcerted schemes of 
the robbers." 

At the time designated by the receiver for making tiie deposit the 
stage-coach belonging to Frink, Walker & Co., which was supposed 
to be carrying the money, was stopped near Rockford, and a trunk 
taken out by the robbers, which contained, however, only clothing. 
Every etf'ort to apprehend the perpetrators of the theft was fruitless. 

William Cnllen Bryant wrote in June 21, 18il, "When I arrived 
in Dixon I was told that the da}' before, a man named Bridge, living 
at Washington Grove, Ogle county, came to town and complained that 
he had received notice from a certain association that he must leave 
the county before the 17tli day of the month, or that he would be 
looked upon as a popular subject for lynch law. He asked for assist- 
ance to defend himself and dwelling against lawless violence of these 
men. The people of Dixon came together and passed a resolution to 
the effect that they approved fully of what the inhabitants of Ogle 
county had done, and that they allowed Mr. Bridge the term of four 
hours to depart from the town of Dixon. He went away immediate!}' 
and in great trepidation. This Bridge is a notorious confederate and 
harborer of horse thieves and counterfeiters. The thinly settled popu- 
lations of Illinois were much exposed to the depredations of horse 
thieves, who have a kind of center of operations in Ogle county, where 
it is said that they have a justice of the peace and constable among 
their own associates, and where they contrive to secure a friend on the 
jury whenever any one of their number is tried. Trial after trial liad 
been held, and it was impossible to obtain conviction on the clearest 
evidence, until April 1841, when two horse thieves being on trial, 
eleven of the jury threatened the twelfth with a taste of the cowskin 
imless he would bring in a verdict of guilty. He did so, and the men 
were condemned. Before they were removed to the state prison the 
court-house burned down and the jail was in flames, but luckily they 
were extinguished without the liberation of the prisoners." The man 
Bridge, who was compelled to flee from Dixon, and to whom reference 
was made above, had his family removed and house demolished on the 
27th of the same month by the "Regulators." 

Horse thieves infested this country at this time, and extended their 



CRIME. 95 

operations from Wisconsin to St. Louis and from tlie Wabash to the 
Mississippi. Bryant wrote: "In Ogle count}' tiiey seenaed to have 
been bolder than elsewhere, and more successful, notwithstanding the 
notoriet}' of their crimes, in avoiding punishment. The impossibility 
of punishing them, the burning of the court-house at Oregon citj' last 
April, and the threats of deadly vengeance thrown out by them against 
such as should attempt to bring them to justice, led to the formation 
of a company of citizens — "Regulators" they called themselves- — who 
determined to take the law in their own hands and drive the felons 
from the neighborhood. This extended over Ogle, De Kalb and Win- 
nebago. The resistance to these desperadoes resulted in the death of 
.some of their number who had been dealt with summarily and some 
good citizens were assassinated by a band of thieves." 

In the early days of the county a great number of horses were bred 
and herded on the prairies. Every "full-grown mare" would have a 
colt running by her side. Most of the thefts were committed in the 
spring or autumn. In the former season the horses ^vere turned to 
feed upon the green grass that grew lu.xnriantly, and in autumn they 
would be in the finest condition, when they were fed on corn. The 
best of the drove were usually taken and passed from one station to 
another until they were sold in some distant market. 

Tragedy of Inlet Creek. — It is a trite saying, and not unfrequently 
true, that " truth is stranger than fiction." And it is seldom that we 
are called upon to chronicle a combination of more thrilling events 
and bloody deeds than the following, which we are required to record, 
however painful may be the task. 

There resided on the old stage road at the crossing over Inlet creek, 
a few miles below the present site of the city of Amboy, a family by 
the name of Croft. They owned the toll-gate which stood at the north 
end of the corduroy bridge across the above creek and adjacent swamp. 
In the spring of 1818 a jew peddler passing through the country en- 
gaged to Mr. Croft as a farm laborer for half a month. After the expi- 
ration of the time, which occurred on tlie 39th of Ma}', the stranger was 
never seen or heard of by the neighbors. On the 3d of June, five days 
after the disappearance of the peddler, Mr. Croft visited the land office 
and entered a tract of land. Tliese circumstances may have been suf- 
ficient to cause a just suspicion in the neighborhood. There being 
no traces of a possible tragedy, the matter was soon lost sight of until 
the following summer, when other circumstances awakened unpleasant 
reflections in the minds of the neighbors. A j'oung woman who had 
been living with the Croft family for some time, including the stay of 
the peddler above mentioned, was left by Mrs. Croft in the care of the 
household affairs while the latter was absent on a visit. It was in the 



96 HISTOKY UK LKE COUNTY. 

time of liay gathering, and Mr. Croft was assisted by four of Ills neigh- 
bors, among whom was one man commonly known by the name of 
" Sam Patch." The young woman was cooking for the harvest hands. 
On a certain day she suddenly disappeared. Mr. Croft walked about 
the premises calling for the missing one, feigning great an.xiety and 
surprise. After a few days, there being no tidings of the whereabouts 
of the yonng woman, a search was made by the neighbors, lasting three 
da^'s, when the body was found in a pond in the neighborhood in the 
presence of hundreds of citizens of the county who had participated in 
the search. Mr. James Goble, then sheriff of Lee county, being present, 
at once arrested Mr. Croft and lodged him in the county jail at Dixou. 
On tlie approach of tlie next session of court an officer visited the home 
of the said " Sam Patch " to cause him to appear before the court to 
give testimony in the above case. Seeing the officer approaching his 
house, he fled with gun in hand to the corn-field, where he shot himself 
and soon expired. Mrs. Croft having returned home was a frequent 
visitor to the jail in which her husband was incarcerated, having 
secured most of the money he had about him, with a gold watch and 
chain. Becoming despondent, the culprit cut his throat with his razor, 
which he had in his cell, and paid the terrible penalty of his crime. 
Soon after this one of the neighbors who was assisting Mr. Croft on the 
day of the murder of the young woman, as he was returning home 
from Dixon stopped at the liouse of Mr. Meeks to quench his thirst 
and was suddenly taken ill and expired. One of the two surviving 
members of that party soon afterward died in La Salle, leaving but 
one of the six, including the unfortunate girl, who composed that har- 
vesting party. The first fell by the hand of the murderer: two by 
their own hand, to evade the just retribution of the law ; and one died 
probably from poison. The cause of the death of the fifth is not known 
to the writer. 

Tragedy at Franklin Grove. — In 1848 or 1849 a Norwegian living 
at Franklin Grove was visited by a friend of the same nationality who 
purposed spending the night with him. They occupied the same bed, 
and after falling asleep an assassin entered the room and with an ax 
dispatched both men in their bed, where they were afterward found 
horribly mutilated and bathed in their own blood. The murder was 
supposed to have been committed for the purpose of robbery, as the 
man residing there was reputed to have had money in his possession, 
whom the robber doubtless expected to find alone. The perpetrator of 
the bloody deed was never detected, but was believed to be connected 
with the " Banditti of the Prairie." to which reference is made above. 

In the winter of 1844-5 it was " communicated to the gang," says 
Bonny, " that a Mr. Mulford, in Ogle county, had in his possession a 



^' 




^->^. 




CRIME. 99 

large amount of money that he had recently received from the State 
of New York. This was cominnnicated by the friends of the gang at 
Washington Grove. The amount of money in possession of Mr. Mul- 
ford was believed to be $1,400, a prize which the gang made prepara- 
tions to secure. One of their number visited the home of Mr. Mul- 
ford under the assumed name of Harris, assuming to be a laborer seek- 
ing employment. After making some observations about the house he 
retired, on promise that he would return again. A few nights follow- 
ing three men entered Mr. Mulford's house armed with pistols and 
knives. On entering the house, one seized a loaded rifle which stood 
in one corner of the room, and aiming at Mr. Mulford threatened him 
and his wife, who lay at his side, if they should attempt to rise or give 
an alarm, and demanded of Mr. Mulford his money. 

After seizing about $400, which Mr. Mulford surrendered to them, 
they demanded more, with threats of death if denied. He having 
repeatedly assured them that he had no more, they placed one at the 
door and one at the bedside as guards, while the third one, whom Mrs. 
Mulford recognized as Harris, made search for the desired treasure. 
Going to a bureau in the room, he commenced shaking out the linen 
which had been carefully folded away. Mrs. Mulford being greatly 
disturbed by the careless manner in which her linen was handled, 
though placed in the greatest peril, could not remain quiet, but ad- 
dressed the robber: 'Mr. Harris, you conduct yourself very differently 
from what you did the other day when you wished to obtain employ- 
ment.' " 

"The unveiled robber sprang to his feet with a loud oath, surprised 
at the daring of the defenseless and heroic woman, and with eyes flash- 
ing with rage he sprang for the bedside, and drawing his bowie-knife 
waved it above her head with threats of immediate death if she would 
utter another word while they were in the house. Then turning to 
his comrades he said: 'Boys, I must be missing. I'm known, and this 
is no place for me; a minute more and I am off!' Hastily closing the 
search, and warning Mr. Mulford not to follow them, the unwelcome 
visitors were off", and nothing could be learned of them since, though 
diligent search was made. In the following year, 1845, one "West, of 
Lee county, on being arrested, turned state's evidence, which led to the 
arrest and conviction of Bridge and Oliver as accessory to this rob- 
bery." 

In the fall of 1844 a peddler by the name of Miller was robbed of 
a large amount of goods at Troy Grove, for which the man West, re- 
ferred to above, was arrested, which led to an exposure of the gang 
and their operations, implicating parties in Lee and Ogle counties. He 
gave particulars of the robbery of the stage near Rockford, before 
7 



100 HISTORY OK LEE COUNTY. 

mentioned, and of the intended lobbery of tiie land office at Dixon. 
He accused one Fox, alias Sutton, and John Baker of having coniinit- 
ted the robbery at Troy Grove, and that the goods had been secreted 
at Inlet Grove, and afterward tal^en to Iowa. He also claimed that 
Fox and Birch, alias Blecker alias Harris, committed the robbery at 
Inlet Grove whicii had caused so much trouble to some of the citizens, 
whom the robbers had imitated so perfectly as to disguise their own 
identity. 

Prior to this, Esquire Hascal, a merchant at Inlet Grove, had been 
robbed of money deposited in a small trunk which he kept under liis 
bed at night. This trunk was extracted from its accustomed place one 
dark, stormy niglit; the robber entering the house on his hands and 
knees, then lying fiat upon the floor, he cautiously, and serpent-like, 
made his way to the bedside, where Mr. and Mrs. Hascal lay engaged 
in conversation while the thundei-stonn was raging without. He 
would laj- quietly until a clap of tliunder would come, when he would 
push himself forward unheard until he grasped the trunk and crawfish 
his way out carrying the prize with him. This robbery West also set 
to the credit of Fox. This man was a noted member of the gang, and 
extended his operations from the Alleghanies to the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and was one of the shrewdest of the clan, and one whom Mr. 
Bonney found the most difficult to capture. 

In 1862 the board of supervisors, at the September term, passed 
the following resolution : 

Resolved, That it is the bounden duty of every good and law- 
abiding citizen in tiiis county to aid, all that lies in his power, in the 
suppression of crime and theft ; and any person or persons rendering 
good and valuable service to the county by informing the sheriff, or 
any other officer of the law, of the whereabouts of stolen property, or 
information that will bring to justice criminals in this or adjoining 
counties, should and will be suitably rewarded by this county." 

On the22d of June, 1863, a "Vigilance Society" was organized for 
the purpose of detecting and bringing to justice thieves, and to reclaim 
and restore stolen proi)erty. 

In March, 1852, the village of Dixon was thrown into considerable 
excitement over the continued brutality of a fellow named Hamill, 
upon a young girl living at his house near Dixon. Several citizens 
visited his house and took the girl from him and brought her to town 
where the circuit court was in session, and her story listened to. Tiie 
next day the fellow had the " cheek " to come to town, and it produced 
such indignation in the conmiunity that he was treated to a liberal 
supply of tar and feathers. 

At the May term, 1877, of the circuit court of Lee county, the 



THE CITY OF DIXON. 101 

grand jury fonnd a bill of indictment against Saninel H. McGhee, of 
said county, for the murder of Samantha H. McGhee, his wife. The 
court ordered tlie arrest of said McGhee under capias, returnable forth- 
with, and that he be held without liail. Tiie bill was found upon the 
testimony of thirty-four witnesses who were supivnaed for the trial. 

When the case was called, May 29, for hearing before the court, 
the ordinary course of pleading was deviated from in favor of the 
defendant, who by his counsel moved the court to quash said indict- 
ment, which motion, after being argued, was overruled by the court. 
The prisoner was remanded to the county jail to await trial, which 
was again called May 31, 1877. The trial lasted twelve days, and on 
June 13 the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and fi.xed his penalty at 
fourteen years in the State Penitentiary. On the following day a 
motion was made for a new trial, which was refused by the court. 
The defendant, by his counsel, moved the court to arrest judgment 
upon said judgment, which the court refused, to whicli refusal the 
defendant excepted, and on his motion was given thirty days to file 
his bill of exceptions. He was duly delivered into the custody of the 
warden of the State Penitentiary at Joliet, to serve his time of impris- 
onment. 

In the following July term of the board of supervisors for the 
county of Lee they appropriated five hundred dollars to the payment 
of William Barge, Esq., for prosecuting the above case to a successful 
issue. 

THE CITY OF DIXON. 

In sketching a historical picture of the city of Dixon as the county 
seat of Lee county, we must refer the reader to the chapter on the 
early history of the county for the first settlements of what is now 
embraced in Lee county. 

We begin the history of the city at the first survey of the original 
village, in thp latter part of 1834: or in the early part of 1835. The 
evidence in this matter is not sufficiently definite at this recent date 
to warrant a positive assertion as to the exact time of the laying out 
of the first plat. This was done by Mr. John Dixon, who secured the 
services of surveyor Bennett, of Galena, to make the survey. At this 
time there were not the rudiments of a town ; but the acute eye of 
Mr. John Dixon caught a glimpse of the possibilities of the future, 
and took the initiatory steps toward the building of homes on his 
ground at the ferry. 

The original plat " included a tract of forty acres of land extend- 
ing from the river to half a block south of Third street, and from a 
half block east of Ottawa to a half block west of Peoria streets." 



102 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

In the spring of 1836 the first store is said to have been opened by 
Messrs. Chapman & Hamilton in the addition Mr. John Di.xon built 
to the Ogee house. It is due the writer and just to history to state 
just here that statements are contradictory as to the first store, as there 
are two or three claimants for the honor; this is one of the many vexa- 
tions that meet the historian. This conflict of statement may arise 
from the class of goods opened to tlie public, and the statement is 
aceopted as given upon the supposition that it was a grocer\^ and 
notion stock. 

In the same year occurred the first death and the preaching of the 
first sermon in the embryo cit3% The first sermon was preached in 
the spring of this year, by Rev. James McKean, a Methodist preacher; 
and the death above mentioned was that of a Mr. Lefferty, which 
occurred in the autumn of the same season, and was the first interment 
ill the cemetery. According to Mr. John K. Robinson's statement, 
the first sermon was preached two years previous by a Methodist mis- 
sionary named Segg. 

On September 3, 1836, Dr. Oliver Everett arrived in Dixon, 
wiiere he still resides, and found a village of five dwellings, a black- 
smith shop, and a jiost-office. The dwellings consisted of four cabins 
and one frame, the latter having been built by a Mr. Hamilton during 
the preceding year (1835). The blacksmith shop was occupied by 
a lone gentleman, whose bachelorship occupied a lean-to at one end of 
his shop as a dwelling. Though originally it was a one-story build- 
ing, after the grading of the streets a basement was put under it, giving 
it the imposing a])peMrance of a two-story superstructure. Father 
Dixon's house stood "two or three rods north of Main street and on 
the west of what is now Peoria street. Dr. Forrest's log cabin was 
on the corner of Water and Ottawa streets; and one block farther west 
was Col. Johnson's boarding house, a log building. " These, with sev- 
eral uncovered frames in difl"eretit parts of the place, constituted the 
entire town of Dixon in the fall of 1836." The inhabitants of the town 
at that time were James P. Dixon, Peter McKenney, Samuel Johnson, 
Jude W. Hamilton, James B. Barr, and E. W. Hines, and their fami- 
lies. Those without families were Dr. Oliver Everett, Smith Gil- 
braith, John Wilson, and Daniel B. McKenney. At one time in 1836 
there were but four families in Dixon, two of the previous six having 
left. 

There was a log house on the corner of Galena and Water streets, 
where the first death occurred as before stated. In 1837 James Wil- 
son's smith-shop was converted into a public building for which the 
walls were plastered and a floor laid. In this building the first Ogle 
county court was held, which county then embraced the county of Lee; 



THE CITY OF DIXON. 103 

and after this the engineer of the " internal improvement" corps occu- 
pied it. At this time Dixon was an important station on the stage 
route from Peoria to Galena. Other lines centered here fi'om 
different parts of the state connecting with the main line to Ga- 
lena, — the Chicago, the Ottawa, and the Peoria lines. This gave 
Dixon a prominence in connection with the traveling public, and 
to meet the public demand two hotels were erected in 1836 

and 1837. The first was the Western Hotel, which was foi- 
ls 

lowed by the Rock River House by Messrs. Crowell & Wilson. 
The travel was so great at that time to and from the mines, old cit- 
izens tell us, that frequently it was almost impossible to find room in the 
hotels, while many would be compelled to take a "shake-down " on the 
floor. Not unfrequently provisions would be at short rations, as it was 
frequently quite diflScult to obtain supplies, which had to be conveyed 
from a great distance and they were liable to be destroj-ed by storm 
and flood. The Winnebago waters were most dreaded, as its bed was 
swampy and treacherous, while it was subject to high freshets. Teams 
had to swim the swollen waters, when the cargo would become soaked 
with the muddy waters and greatly damaged for culinary purposes. 

In 1837 Messrs. Boardman & Bowen opened the first dry-goods 
store in Dixon on the corner of River and Galena streets. In the same 
year a petition was presented asking the commissioners to refuse to 
grant license to keep groceries (saloons) in the town of Dixon. The 
following entry was made : 

Ordered, That the clerk shall not grant to any person or persons 
license to keep grocery in the town of Dixon. 

In the same year the first school building was erected by the fund 
contributed by individuals. This was a stnall frame structure, and in 
it a school was opened in the following year, 1838. This building was 
the public hall for town, court and school purposes until 1840. 

On May 31, 1839, Messrs. D. G. Salisbury, E. H. Nichols and L. 
G. Butter, who were appointed commissioners to locate the county seat, 
met in Dixon to discharge the duties submitted to their trust. After 
a careful consideration of the location of Dixon, its advantages, and 
the pledges of its citizens to contribute to the building of the county 
court-house and jail, the stakes were driven for the location of the 
county seat where the court-house now stands. 

In 1840 the court-house was built at an expense of $7,000, donated 
by the citizens, "Father" Dixon donating eight}' acres of land which 
has since become a part of the town plat. The United States land 
office was transferred from Galena to Dixon this year, Col. John De- 
ment, receiver. On the third Mondaj'in April, 1840, first circuit court 
opened, Judge Stone of Galena, presiding. On October 28, 1840, 



104 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Joseph Crawford extended the original survey of the plat of the town 
of Dixon. 

In 184:1 Mr. J. T. Little erected the building on Water street, now 
occupied by D. W. McKinney & Co., as a livery stable, and occupied 
it as a dry-goods store, under the firm of Messrs. Little & Brooks, for 
a number of years, when they were succeeded by Messrs. Webb, 
Rogers <k Woodruft'. Water street was then known as River street, 
and was formerly the leading business street of the town. 

In the same 3'ear the land-office building was Erected on the corner 
of Second and Ottawa streets. The building is of stone, and is still 
standing. Dixon was spoken of at that time as a village of some im- 
portance, and contained many "neat dwellings." 

In 18i3 the village gave 40 votes for incorporation. During the 
same year the first church edifice was erected in the village, and the 
Methodist church on Second street, now known as the " Old High 
School building." At this time, one writer speaking of Dixon said, 
"There was a town here only in name; there were as yet but few at- 
tractions in the place that would of themselves create a town. The 
great drawback was the wild and unsettled condition of the country. 
There was as yet no milling advantages ; the settlers in and around the 
embryo city were compelled to go long distances for flonr, and Chicago 
was the nearest market, and many times, a week would be consumed 
in transporting one wagon load of grain, and oftentimes the expense of 
this transportation would consume the entire amount received for the 
products sold. But it was the "county seat," and with a firm belief 
in tlie future proud destiny of the place, people located here." 

In 1845 the village reached a population of 400, and had four re- 
ligious denominations: Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, and Congrega- 
tional ; a select and one district school, with an attendance of seventy- 
five pupils in the two schools. There were at this time twenty-seven 
establishments doing business in the usual lines represented in a coun- 
try town. 

In the autumn of 1846 the erection of the first brick building was 
commenced. This was on Main street, and is now the first building 
west of the Lee County National Bank. The west half was built by 
Horace and James Benjamin, and the east half by A. F. Murphy. 
The next brick building in Dixon was the one owned by D. B. McKin- 
ney, on the south side of Main street, and was built two or three years 
later. 

" Up to 1850 Dixon improved but slowly, as did also the county, 
or indeed throughout the northern part of the state. The common- 
wealth was embarrassed with i^idebtedne.-^s and had but little credit, 
occasioned by the vast appropriations made for the internal impiove- 



THE CITY OF DIXON. 105 

ments of the state. Heavy taxation, suspension of immigration, and 
the iangiiisliing state of commerce and agriculture, arrested the growth 
of the town." 

In the year 1850, however, Dixon received an impetus from the be- 
ginning of the hydraulic works. The dam was erected across the river, 
and the prospect of a manufacturing town infused new life to all 
classes of business. 

A saw-mill was placed on the north side of the river the same year, 
and in 1851 the erection of a large flouring mill was commenced on 
the south side. These were soon followed by other mills, foundry and 
machine shops. A writer made mention of Dixon at this time in the 
following happy manner : 

" There is, moreover, a dam across the river at this place, furnish- 
ing one of the best water-powers in all the state. A saw-mill is 
already in operation on one bank and a large flouring-mill is about to 
be erected on the other. Measures are also being taken to construct a 
bridge over the river at this point, which is now crossed bj' a good rope 
ferry-boat, which is in operation night and day. These considerations, 
together with the fact that several stores and dwellings are now in pro- 
gress of erection, that stages meet here from almost every direction, 
and that a branch of the Central road is soon to pass through this town 
to Galena, conspire to render Dixon one of the most desirable places 
of residence in the western country. Capitalists and others, we think, 
would And it to their interests to make us a visit, with a view to in- 
vestment and location." 

"In May, 1851, the population of Dixon was estimated at 700 or 
800. There was then in the thriving village a printing oflice, eight or 
ten stores, " and several professional men and mechanics in all depart- 
ments of trade ;" two church buildings, three hotels, a livery stable and 
a market. From this time until the war Dixon improved with great 
rapidity. The subject of the prospective Central railroad was already 
being agitated by the newspaper, and the town and its prospects be- 
came more widely known. Those who were here at that day will 
remember the great thrill of excitement that electrified the village 
when they beheld the engineers approaching, and the many wonderful 
predictions that were made of the future progress of Dixon. With 
great suspense did the people watch the progress of this road, fearful 
at every delay that it might fall through and ruin the fair prospects of 
the promising town, but, by a degree of patience commendable in the 
extreme, they waited long, until at last they were gladdened by the 
news that track-laying had been commenced, with the assurance that 
it would be pushed forward with all possible diligence." 

During the period extending from 1850 to 1860 or '(U, the town 



106 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

of Dixon improved with great rapidity, until the breaking out of the 
war arrested the tide of immigration to the county, and retarded the 
growth of the town. 

In 1852 the flouring-mill of Messrs. Brooks, Dement & Daie^' 
commenced grinding corn, and by April I they were running four run 
of stone ; two for custom and two for merchant work. This mill cost 
$15,000. In the following year (1853) the Nachusa House was 
erected, adding greatly to the improvement of the town. 

On July 31, 1852, it was written of Dixon: "Our town is improv- 
ing with great rapidity ; there are over thirty dwellings in course of 
erection ; and would be many more if there were mechanics here to put 
them up. A large stone hotel is being rapidly completed, and a large 
number are employed on the grist-mill being built on the south side 
of the river." 

On the first Tuesday of March, 1853, the tirst board of trustees 
consisted of John Dixon, A. L. Porter, P. M. Ale.xander, L. Wood, 
and L. Wynkoop. 

Beofinnino; the following year, 185-1, there were manv indications 
of decided prosperity. During this year the Washington hotel was built 
on the corner of Ottawa and Main streets. 

To give to the reader an idea of the true patriotism of the citizens 
of Dixon, we insert the following description of a Fourth of July cele- 
bration : " July 4, 1854. Never did we see this day pass off witii 
more becoming style than did the Fourth of July in 185-1 in our town. 
At eleven o'clock a procession was formed and marched to the beauti- 
ful grove in the court-house square, where, after listening to prayer by 
Rev. Mr. Baume, reading of the declaration of independence by J. K. 
Rodgers, they were treated to an oration delivered by Prof. Pinckney, 
of Mount Morris. Much credit is due to the ladies and gentlemen of 
the choir and to the musicians for the part they played. And partic\i- 
larly the trio of young men who sang Yankee Doodle " without the 
variations." Then came the sumptuous dinner at the Nachusa house. 
After this we supposed the day's performance at an end ; but no, dear 
reader, every moment of that day, the pride of the American people, 
was to be celebrated. For our part we were surprised when we heard 
the soul-cheering rattle of the drums, and the patriotic scream of tjie 
fife. How those martial strains did swell the alread}' full hearts of all. 
With what pride and joy that column swept down the streets, ever 
and anon their deafening cheers seemed to swell to the very heavens. 

" Night came on, and brought a large concourse of people to the 
public square to witness the fireworks. For an hour the air was filled 
with the fiery missiles, and the shouts of the immense mass of j>eople. 



THE CITY OF DIXON. 107 

" Exchange Hall being lighted up, the young and gay there con- 
gregated, and had as pleasant party as could be got up in any country." 

The month of July had not passed, however, before the rejoicing of 
Independence day was shrouded in tlie deepest lamentation for those who 
had fallen victims to the cholera scourge of that year of sad memory. 
A writer of July 27, 1854, referring to this epidemic, said, " Death in 
its most frightful form swept through our heretofore healthy town like 
an avalanche, carrying away within twenty-four hours eighteen souls. 
It is a sad duty we are called upon to perform, — that of recording the 
death of some of our best citizens, wiio biit a few days ago were among 
us sharing the pleasures and vicissitudes of this world. Ah, how true 
it is that 'in the midst of life we are in death.' But we all have 
reason to thank our Eternal Creator that in the midst of death we have 
life." 

There had been a few deaths from cholera previous to this, among 
them Mrs. Alanson Smith, and two or tiiree railroad hands, but it made 
its appearance as an epidemic July 21. On Saturday the 22d tiie 
cholera broke out in full force, and during Saturday night large num- 
bers of the inhabitants left town to go into the country. The next day 
fourteen persons lay dead in the town. Not a sound, on that mournful 
Sabbath day, save that made by the undertaker's hammer, disturbed 
the quiet of the death-like village. 

Here is a list of the deaths during this epidemic, made out by Drs. 
Everett and Abbott : Mrs. Patrick Dntfee and child, Michael Har- 
ris, Mrs. Jacob Graver, Wm. Lahee, Daniel Brookner and wife and 

Daniel Brookner, jr., John Finley, Joseph Cleaver (postmaster), 

Cleaver (cousin to Joseph), John Keenan, Mrs. Cooley, Marsh, 

Mrs. Owen's child, John Connels, John Barnes, Elijah Dixon, Wm. 
Patrick, Benj. Vann, Mrs. Scheer, Cyrus Kimball and wife, Israel 
Evans, Mrs. Catharine Dailey, Mr. Peck, Edward Hamlin, Roderick 
McKenzie and wife, Mrs. Huff, Mr. Jones, Mrs. C. Johnson, Owen 
Gallinger, and E. Boswick; making in all thirty-four deaths between 
July 20 and August 7. 

By the coming autumn, however, the Dixon "Telegraph," under 
date of September 7, said : ''So rapidly is the march of progress in our 
town that we are hardly able to keep our readers advised of all the im- 
provements that are going on in our midst. There are the three-story 
brick buildings on Water street. Col. Dement's machine shop, the race, 
etc. There are now in course of construction three fine churches, Meth- 
odist (the one occupied now), Roman Catholic, and Lutheran. P. M. 
Alexander and J. B. Brooks are also erecting a couple of fine brick 
buildings on Galena street." 

On October 19, same fall, the Dixon " Transcript " made its appear- 



108 • HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



ance, under the editorship of Charles Allen, and continued until Jan- 
uary 1857, and then disappeared. 

On April 9, 1855, Messrs. Jerome Hellenbeck and J. H. Cropsey 
commenced the erection of a sash, door and blind factory on Third 
street between Peoria and Market streets. The main building (now 
occupied by Vann ct Means) was four stories high, 32X(14 feet, with 
an engine house 25 X 32 feet. 

In August, 1855, a business directory printed in the " Daily Whis- 
per," August 13, contains the following list of business men and 
the departments they were engaged in. Counsellors-at-law — F. R. 
Danna, J. V. Eustace, Ileatou ik Atherton, J. D. Mackay, S. G. Pat- 
rick, F. A. Soule, Edward Southwiek, and John Stevens. Physicians 
and Surgeons— N. W. Abbott, Oliver Everett, G. W. Holdridge, G. 
W. Piiilips, C. D. Pratt, C. S. Younglove ; C. J. Reynolds, dentist. 
Bankers and Brokers — S. & H. T. Noble, Robertson, Eells & Co., E. B. 
Stiles; real estate, Cyrus Aldrich, Steadman & Williams. Druggists 
— J. B. Nash, Townsend & Slieffield. Books and Stationary — J. C. 
Mead. Notaries public — E. W. Hine, F. A. Soule. Daguenean art- 
ists — Beardsley & Co., J. B. Waxham ; Ferris Finch, portrait painter. 
Sash, door and blind factories — Christopher Brookner, Cropsey, Hol- 
lenbeck & Williams. Boots and shoes — Joseph Smalley, William 
Vann. Carpenters and builders, such as kept shops — Henry Brook- 
ner, B. F. Cram, Crawford & Shellhamer, J. M. Graham, Herrick & 
Hanson, A. S. Maxwell, Wynkoop & Warner; not located, about 
twenty. Cabinet ware — G. W. Baker, Noah tt John Brooks. Black- 
smiths — J. M. Cropsey, Isaac Dubois, Albert Martin, Wertman & 
Carter; H. Logan, gunsmith. Wagon and Carriage makers — J. Q. 
Adams, J. H. Richardson, Henry Schutts. Jewelers — B. H. Bacon, 
Josiah Heath. Marble yard — Parker & Porter. Mills — Brooks & 
Bailey (flour), N. G. H. Morrill (lessee of saw-mill). Bakers — Ciiarles 
Hatch, Charles Reynolds. Livery stables — Frederick McKenney, 
Henry McKenney, Aaron L. Porter. Harness and leather — James 
& Andrew Benjamin, H. O. Kelsey, George B. Stiles. Foundry and 
machine shops — Dement & Farrell (erecting). Barbers — Anthony 
Jnlien, Z. Demory. Tailors — W. J. Carpenter, D. L. Evans, F. De- 
camp, S. T. Hotchkiss. General merchandise — Oscar F. Ayres, B. F. 
Burr, James L. Camp, Geo. R. McKenney, John P. Smith, VanEpps 
& Ashley, Varney & Gilman, Henry A: Orlando Wortendyke. Cloth- 
ing — Ely & Rice, Fuller & Rosenfeld, A. T. Murphy, J. Peizer, E. 
Petersberger. Groceries — Isaac Appier. Nathan it James Barnes, 
Andrew Brison, Bronson & Dresser, Andrew Brubaker, James Davis 
& Bro., Robert Dyke, William Johnson, J. L. Jones & Co., Henry 



THE CITY OF DIXON. 109 

Leavitt, James McKenney, B. H. Stewart, Richard Woodyat. Hard- 
ware — Alexander, Howell & Co., John Farrell, George L. Herrick, 
Jonas Johnson. Hats and Caps — Jason C. Ayres. Millinery — Miss 
M. J. Bartlett, Mrs. Cornish, Mrs. Dickson. Lumber, sash, doors, 
cement, etc. — Flint & Loomis, Gallup & Judd, Haldane & Co., Isaac 
Means, Smith & Chipman, S. K. Upham & Co. Forwarding and com- 
mission — Champion Fuller, Murphy & Woodruff, Smith & Chipman. 
Hotels — Mansion, A. Smith ; Nachusa House, Jerome Porter ; 
Warshington, Henry Remmers. 

In 1855 the eyes of the people of Dixon beheld, in reality, the loco- 
motive and heard its welcome scream upon two roads instead of one, as 
the " Dixon Air Line " had reached Di.xon about the same time. With 
tiie approach of the railroads came many strangers from near and far. 
It stimulated trade, and had a reviving influence everywhere. The 
prosperity of the town was no longer a matter of conjecture, but an 
established fact. In August of this year there were one hundred and 
twenty-eight places of business occupying stores, offices, shops, etc., 
among them two printing offices, four hotels, two planing-mills, a saw- 
mill, foundry and machine shop, and a flouring mill in Dixon. Before 
the close of 1855 the population of the town had increased to 3,000. 
Another feature worthy of note is the relative character of the build- 
ings erected before and after the i-ailways reached here. The ideas of 
the people became enlarged, and with that growth came pride — pride 
in the appearance of their dwellings and places of business. The spirit 
of rivalry between towns and villages, too, was high, and as the result 
of this rivalry stimulated into life by the railways we point with par- 
donable pride to our public buildings, business blocks and elegant resi- 
dences. 

All this growth and improvement was not the work of ill-advised 
speculation, nor the result of unwarranted ambition by our citizens, but 
the needs of the place called for it for the accommodation of the new 
comers that were constantly arriving and for the increased trade that 
naturally found its way to our city. There were one hundred and 
thirty buildings erected in Dixon during the year 1855. 

September 30 of this year the Evangelical Lutheran church was 
dedicated. This building was torn down in 1880 ; it stood near James 
A. Hawley's residence. 

November 5 a school opened in the new union school-house on 
Peoria street. This building cost $6,000, and was a two-story brick, 
33x45 feet. It stood on the ground now occupied by J. C. Ayres' 
residence. The old wooden desks were discarded at this time and the 
flrst patent school furniture introduced into our schools. 

During September of the same autumn a three-story brick build- 



110 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

inj; uii Galena stix-et was built by H. Webb, and Davis & Bro's 
building on the corner of Hennepin and Main streets; Nash and 
Noble's four-story brick (Union Hall), and Ely & Rice's three-story 
brick on Main street, and nearly a score of other buildings were built. 

On January 16, 1856, a building owned by Mrs. Patrick, on the 
corner of Ottawa and Main streets, burned down at midnight, destroy- 
ing about .$3,(I0() worth of law books and papers for S. G. Patrick. 
Herrick's block, now owned by J. C. Ayres, was erected in the same 
year. The beginning of this year (January 3, 1856) was noted for 
the organization of an Anti-Nebraska Association ; the object of 
which was to promote the settlement of Kansas by assisting bona-fide 
emigrants to that territory; and at a public meeting and bj' private 
solicitation $1,000 was subscribed by the citizens for this purpose. 

Tlie improvements of Dixon during 1857 were anticipated by the 
appearance of a new satellite in the literary political world called the 
"Dixon Republican," edited and published by Beckwith & Legget ; it 
appeared about January 15, 1857. It was soon absorbed, however, by 
the " Telegraph," and disappeared. In the spring of this year a joint 
stock company was formed with a capital of S20,000, for the erection 
of a starch factory. The building was erected in West Dixon, on the 
bank of the river; but it was never entirely finished. It was a stone 
structure, the main building 100 X 62 feet, and two stories high. In 
July of the same year the corner stone of the Union Eagle Works, 
was laid under the inspiring influence of music and oratorical elo- 
quence. These works were established between the Central and 
Northwestern depots. April 2, 1857, the machine shops of Robinson 
A: Randall opposite the Dixon Mills commenced business. 

1858 was noted for the defeat of the proposed city charter. The 
first ballot was cast by the citizens on the proposed document in Feb- 
ruary, when it was rejected b}' 96 for with 279 against. Again on 
April 18 it was defeated by a vote of 219 for with 231 against. The 
instrument being offensive to the people, they refused to accept it. 
The " Telegraph," in its comments on the document, said : " It has cre- 
ated a greater sensation among our citizens than did the great magna 
charta among the Britons at the time of John of charter fame. The 
obnoxious provisions will have to be removed before our people will 
consent to its adoption." Th(; question of license to sell ardent spirits 
was agitating the public mind, and it seems that the proposed docu- 
ment was radically changed, as on December 4 it was adopted at a 
special election. 

Dixon had become a central point for the grain and produce market, 
and in the autumn of 1858 the stone warehouse of Joseph Gates, 
which stood near the Central depot burst out one end with the pressure 



THE CITY OF DIXON. Ill 

of grain, causing great loss to the proprietors of both building and 
stock. In the summer of this year (1858) Mr. W. C. VanOsdel 
erected a three-story sash and blind factory in tlie west end of Dement 
Town. In 1860 it was converted into a sorghum mill, which run 
about a 3'ear wlien it was abandoned and the building removed. 

Citi/ Organization. — The year 1859 is memorable to the citizens 
of Dixon as the time of her transition from a town to the dignity of 
a dry. A writer on Dixon history says: " From 1853 to 1859 Dixon 
hixuriated in the name of 'town.' The ambition of our citizens was 
aroused to such a pitch that the name of town was too insignificant, 
and consequently a charter was obtained from the state legislature, 
and the city was organized by the election of city officers, March 7, 
1859. And now a new order of things was inaugurated. More 
attention was paid to laying and repairing sidewalks, and keeping tiie 
streets in good condition, and initial steps were taken toward a more 
Complete s^'stem ot public schools than the place liad before enjoyed. 
" The incorporation of Dixon was certainly a step in the right direc- 
tion. It was a logical conclusion destined to follow a wise forethought 
and careful management. Perhaps none could take more pride in the 
consummation of this wise step than Father Dixon, who had lived to 
see advancement stamped upon each succeeding year, until the seal of 
'success' was placed upon the enterprise commenced thirty-nine years 
before." 

" The shrieking locomotive tininders over the bluff where once the 
buffalo paused to look down upon the humble home of the pioneer; 
the red deer made his lair under the shade of giant oaks where now 
are busy streets; and where a rude but brave soldiery once pitched 
their tents in the Indian war is now the silent citj' of the dead, in 
whose narrow habitations rest the voiceless forms of those whose once 
busy hands and willing hearts reared for us the homes and secured for 
us the privileges which we now enjo}'. The buffalo, the red man, the 
pioneer, the children of the white-liaired, and tinally Nachusa him- 
self, have passed away as a dream ; the busy life throbs on, but they are 
among the things of the past." 

March 7, 1859, the city was organized b}' the election of city offi- 
cers. The aldermen elected were W. H. Van Epps and Joseph Craw- 
ford for the first ward ; H. E. Williams and K. H. Robinson for the 
second ward; William Barge and A. A. Benjamin for the third ward; 
W. A. Hoisington and William Peacock for the fourth ward. A. P. 
Curry was elected city marshal, and C. V. Tenney police justice. 
Col. John Dement, the mayor elect, failing to qualify, Joseph Craw- 
ford was appointed acting mayor by the council and an election was 
ordered for April 4. when A. C. Steadman was chosen to the vacancy 



112 HISTORY OF LKE COUNTY. 

of that office. The result upon the license question stood 297 against 
and 171 for license. A. C. Steadinan was elected mayor in 1860. 
Those following were G. L. Herriek in 1861, James B. Charters in 
1862, Oliver Everett in 1863, James K. Edsall in 1861:, Person Cheney, 
jr., in 1865 and 1866, Andrew MePherran in 1867 and 1868, Joiin 
Dement from 1869 to 1872 inclusive, Joseph Crawford in 1873, 1874 
and 1875, James A. Hawley in 1876 and 1877, John Dement in 1878 
and 1879. and J. V. Thomas in 1880. 

During this year the city was visited by the first great conflagra- 
tion of its history, in which there were seventeen buildings destroj'ed 
in the business part of the city, sweeping np both sides of Main street 
for more than half a block, causing a loss of over $30,000. During 
this year Col. John Dement made some change in iiis plow factory, 
and removed it to the water-power. In the autumn of 1859 the two 
factories and a Mr. Brookner's saw-mill, which stood on the north 
side of the river near the dam, were under-washed by the current 
at the river's brink; and while the buildings were slowly moving 
toward the river, where the water was twenty feet deep, the machinery 
and everything movable were taken out and the buildings set on fire 
to save the two bridges below, which it was thought would be dam- 
aged by the descent of the timbers against them. 

In August of this year Messrs. Cheney & Co. vacated tlieir steam 
flouring-mill on Third street, and started a mill in the new building 
which they purchased of Messrs. Godfrey, Jerome & Co. for $28,000. 

It was chronicled on January 17, 1861: "Business in town wears 
a better appearance since the completion of the free bridge. The 
mills of "William Uhl and Beckers & Underwood are doing a splendid 
business; the plow factory of Col. Dement is turning out plows rap- 
idly ; the foundry is in successful blast. Merchants and clerks are 
busy and everything wears a cheerful aspect, notwithstanding the 
gloomy forebodings of some who fear fatal consequences to the busi- 
ness of the country from the southern civil commotions." 

During the period of the war manufacturing interests made but 
little advancement in this city. In 1S64 Messrs. Fargo, Pratt & Co. 
commenced the manufacture of platform scale.s. Other manufactories 
were successfully worked during the dark days of the rebellion ; but 
the absorbing interest of the country, the scarcity of laborers, the small 
demand for certain products of the industry of the country, afl^ected 
Di.\on as every other inland town in the country. But no sooner had 
the war closed and the country had returned to the employment of peace 
than the spirit of enterprise was again manifest in Dixon. 

On the 9th of August, 1866, the Bucklin File Manufacturing 
Company was incorporated with a capital of $100,000. A large stone 



THE CITY OF DIXOW. 113 

building 40 X liO feet was erected, and in May, 1867, the company com- 
menced operations in tlieir new building, but tlie business failed in less 
than a year from defects in the Bucklin patent. In the following Jan- 
nary (1868) John Stanley and Joseph Ogle bought some of the tools. 
and comm«nced the manufacture of hand-cut files. In the autumn of 
1867 Messrs. Severance & Cheney commenced the manufacture of 
platform scales, which factory changed hands in July 1869 ; John T. 
Cheney and John P. Hutchinson became the mannfaetnrers of the 
scales which has since been known as the "Victor." In the same 
year (1867) the Masonic block, Eiley & "Weigle's building, S. W. 
Jones' building on the corner of Main and Hennepin streets, and Van- 
Epps' brick block adjoining the Exchange block on the east, were 
erected. 

In October, 1868, Theron Cumins and H. T. Noble commenced the 
repairs of the old factory buildings between the depots, preparatory to 
removing the plow works from Grand Detour to this location. The 
buildings were enlarged and operations commenced the following 
spring. 

In December, 1870, the Northwestern Windmill Works of Thomas 
C. Little & Co., on the north side of the river, began work. 

In this year (1870) the census of Dixon was 4,054, and of Lee county 
27,252. In this year was commenced the city-hall building for the use 
of the tire department, and was completed in January of the next year. 

In September, 1871, the Dixon National Bank was organized by 
the election of officers : H. B. Jenks was elected president, John 
Dement vice-president, and H. S. Lucas cashier. The following year 
(1872) the new jail was built, an account of which may be found in the 
following pages. 

In March, 1873, the Knitting Mills were burned, being an entire 
loss of $25,000. This was a calamity to Dixon and of great lo.ss to 
the proprietors. Damage was also done to Messrs. Becker & Under- 
wood's flouring-mills by fire in December of the same year. 

During this year the Dixon Opera House was erected by Messrs. H. 
H. Stevens, F. A. Truman, J. D. Crabtree, and W. G. Stevens. It 
was opened on the 30th of November by the Payson English Opera 
Company. 

In the following year (December 22, 1874) the Western Excelsior 
Gas Company began the manufacturing of gas for the lighting of the 
city. The charter of this conipany was repealed, and on May 10, 
1879, the city council granted J. D. Patton the right to establish gas- 
works in Dixon. 

On the 26th of December of this year is recorded the death of 
Judge W. H. Heaton, who died in Chicago, aged sixty-three years. He 



114 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

came to Dixon about 1840 and had been a resident there ever since. 
A few months before his death he was promoted from the office of 
judge of the circuit court to the position of cliief justice of the appel- 
- late court of Ciiicago district. 

On April 8, 1880, occurred the most disastrous tire i^corded in 
Dixon, sweeping away the mills at the water-power, for a description 
of which we refer the reader to the fire record in this volume. In the 
following year large flouring-mills were erected near the ruins of the 
forniiM'. 

Dlstinguislied Visitors. — Dixon has been favored at various times 
by distinguished men and women of the country. Beginning with the 
eiiriicst da3'S of the country now occupied b}^ Dixon, we meet with the 
naiuus of Lincoln, Anderson, Taylor, the notorious Davis, and a score 
of men who visited the present site of Dixon, as described in connec- 
tion with the Black Hawk war in this book. Since the improvement 
of the country, and the growth ol' Dixon to city proportions, she has 
been visited by many of the most distinguished literary characters of 
the country. John B. Gough, the popular temperance lecturer, enter- 
tained the citizens of Dixon on the evening of January fi, 1857; Horace 
Greeley, on the IStli of the next month, and John G. Saxe, the poet, 
on December 30, gave a popular reading in Dixon. In the next year 
came Mrs. Macready with her literary entertainments ; in February-, 
1859, Fred Douglas; in January, 1867, Schuyler Colfax; and in De- 
cember, ISfiy, Mrs. Cady Stanton ; all of whom lectured to the people 
of Dixon and vicinity. In January of 1870 Hon. Henry Vincent gave 
" Oliver Cromwell " to the Dixonites. Then followed musical enter- 
tainments i)y Phili]i Phillips in 1871; the Philhaniionic Society, as- 
sisted by the Baker family, rendered the oratorio of" Queen Esther " 
in 1872; and on August 20, 21 and 22, 1S73. a brass band jubilee was 
held in the fair grounds, which closed with a grand instrumental con- 
cert by the Northwestern Light Guard band, of Chicago. Then fol- 
lowed at various {)eriods lectures by Prof. Swing, of Chicago; Olive 
Logan, Susan B. Anthony, Henry Ward Beecher, Dr. Dio Lewis, Hon. 
Geo. R. Wendling, and Theodore Tilton ; the last in 1878. 

Location of Dixon. — Dixon is situated on the Illinois Central rail- 
road, at its crossing with the Chicago and Northwestern. It is ninety- 
eight miles from Chicago by rail. It is on two great trunk lines, one 
running north and south through the state, and the other running east 
and west, being the principal connecting link between the Union Pacific, 
and the many lines that diverge from Chicago. By either of the above 
roads we have rapid communication with the outside world, north, 
soutli, east and west. It is beautifully situated on the eastern bank of 
Rock river, about seventy-five miles from its mouth. The landscape on 



^a — » ■% 








^^ 



DIXON PAPERS. 117 

eitlier side of the river at this point is truly delightful ; consisting of 
gradual slopes and tables, for sixty rods back, covered with a somewhat 
sandy soil, and at this season a carpet of living green, thus furnishing 
sites for residences surpassed by few in any part of the world. 

The town has a great advantage over many inland cities in the 
manner of scenery and pictui'esque beauty of location, and as it is on 
high and very rolling ground the drainage is excellent. To the north and 
south are broad stretches of fine prairie, smooth and unbroken, and 
adorned all over with the homes of thrifty farmers ; to the east and west, 
and in fact, all around us, in the immediate vicinity, are beautiful hills, 
valleys, and plains. In the summer, when all nature is clothed in her 
most beautiful garments of variegated charms, it is hard to find a more 
pleasant place. Indeed this locality is obtaining quite a notoriety as 
a summer resort, and from the decks of the pleasure steamers that sail 
back and forth upon the waters of Rock river at this point, can be seen 
the white tents of numerous camping parties, peeping out from among 
the green foliage lining the banks and islands. 

DIXON PAPERS. 

The first newspaper published in Dixon was the "Dixon Tele- 
graph,'' by C. R. Fisk, May 1, 1851. That is the only paper which 
has stood the vicissitudes of time and convulsions of trade for many 
years, in this part of the country. The " Dixon Sun " and the " West- 
ern Farmer," though skillfully managed, and now on a firm founda- 
tion, are of comparatively recent date. Tlie "Dixon Transcript" was 
commenced by Charles Allen, October 19, 1854; this paper struggled 
under financial embarrassments, with several changes of proprietors, 
until about January 1857, when it was discontinued. The "Dixon 
Republican," by Beckwith & Legget, commenced publication January 
15, 1857. Mr. Shaw being the proprietor of the "Telegraph," a con- 
solidation was efteeted under the name of the "Republican and Tele- 
graph," Shaw & Beckwith, proprietors. Mr. Shaw wishing to try his 
skill in the gold mines, sold his interest to I. S. Boardman. Subse- 
quently Mr. Beckwith sold his interest to the same party. 

The " Dixon Monitor," by Charles Meigs, appeared January 25, 
1858. It failed in the following November, when the "Dixon Adver- 
tiser," with an able corps of editors — Messrs. Eustace, Stiles and Ather- 
ton — arose upon its ruins. It did not prove a profitable investment, 
and was sold to Mr. Boardman, of the " Telegraph," in November 1859. 
. The " Lee County Democrat," by E. Giles, made its appearance 
June 25, 1868; subsequently tlie proprietorship passed into the hands 
of S. C. Postlewait. November 1, 1871, it passed into the hands of 



118 IIISTORV ()F LKE COUNTY. 

W. M. Kennedy, who, March 6, 1872, changed its name to that of the 
" Dixon Sun." 

The " Herald"' made its appearance February 12, 1868, A. C. Bard- 
well, editor. In the fall of that year the " Telegraph " was passed over 
by Mr. I. S. Boardman to his two sons, Wm. H. and John D. Board- 
man, who, with Mr. Bard well, organized a stock com pan}', merging 
the two papers into one about November 22, 1869. Mr. Bardwell 
assumed the editorship atid Wm. H. Boardman the business manage- 
ment. The " Telegraph '' is now in the editorial charge of B. F. 
Shaw, Esq. 

The "Rock River Farmer," a monthly, W. M. Kennedy, propri- 
etor, was started in January 1871. This work soon assumed an excel- 
lent position, and its circulation became so extended that its proprietor 
was induced, in June 1875, to change its name to that of the " West- 
ern Farmer." It is the second of two monthlies of its character in 
successful operation in this state. 

Aside from the foregoing, several papers not designed by their 
originators to be regularly issued made their appearance from time to 
time; among these were the "Daily Whisper," by John D. McKay; 
"Life in Dixon," illustrated, by J. C. Ayers, Noah Brooks and Mr. 
Curtis, appeared December 25, 1868; "Our Enterprise," by Wm. M. 
Kennedy, May 1870; and the "Gospel Trumpet," under the auspices 
of the Baptist church of this cit}'. Tiie first two, the " Whisper" and 
" Life in Dixon," displayed great ability, and produced a marked sen- 
sation. 

The Lee County National Bank. — This bank was organized April 
1, 1865, witli a capital of §100,000. The following gentlemen were 
elected to the board of directors, to-wit : Joseph Crawford, Joseph 
Utley, S. S. Williams, E. W. Pomeroy, Josiah Little, jr., Abijali 
Powers, and Wm. Uhl. Josepli Crawford was elected president, S. C. 
Eells, cashier, and John Coleman, assistant-cashier. Mr. Crawford and 
Mr. Eells still occupy their relation to the bank as above. 

T1i£ Dixon National Bank. — In 1871 Messrs. A. B. Jenks, H. S. 
Lucas, John Dement, Wm. Kentiedy, J. B. Pomeroy, I. S. Boardman, 
P. M. Alexander, A. Johnson, J. B. Charters, and others, applied for 
a charter for the Dixon National Bank, with a capital of $100,000. 
The charter having been obtained the following officers were elected: 
Directors — H. B. Jenks, H.S.Lucas, John Dement, Quartus Ely, 
and James B. Charters. Tlije present board of directors are Jas. A. 
Hawley, Theron Cumins, Jason C. Ayres, James B. Pomeroy, ajid 
A. C. Wayman. Jason C. Ayres, president, and Jas. A. Hawley, 
cashier. 

The Oas Company. — The Western Excelsior Gras Company, by city 



DIXON SCHOOLS. 119 

ordinance of September 18, 1874, commenced the manufacture and dis- 
tribution of gas to the streets, business houses and iiomes of the citi- 
zens. The council ordered, January 8, 1877, the supply to the streets 
discontinued, and that the street lamps and posts be removed and 
stored away. May 10, 1877, the council granted J. D. Patton the 
right to establish gas-works in Dixon, which enterprise has since been 
known as the Dixon Gaslight Company, which has since furnished 
light to streets and private and public buildings. 

DIXON SCHOOLS. 

The scholastic advantages presented by a town are always carefully 
" weighed in the balance," b}' heads of families who contemplate a 
change of residence. It is but natural, too, that this matter should be 
closely inquired into, as so much depends upon the facilities afforded 
the children in a community where the public schools are the alma 
maters of so large a proportion. Tiie time has long since gone by when 
this matter could be ignored, and we are glad to be able to chronicle 
the fact that Illinois has taken the second position among the states in 
the educational cause. 

No better evidence of the intelligence and enterprise which charac- 
terize the people of Dixon can be given than the tasteful and commo- 
dious public school buildings of the city, which are alike enduring 
monuments to their projectors and builders as well as ornaments to the 
city. 

In the summer of 1837 the first school-house, a one-story frame 
building, 20x30 feet, was built on the lot east of Mrs. Truman's place; 
it was afterward removed to the lot south of D. W. McKinney's resi- 
dence. This building for several years was used for a variety of pur- 
poses : school-house, court-house, town hall, meeting-house, etc. 

In 1838 the first school was opened in the new building under the 
charge of H. Bicknell ; it was supported by individual tuition fees. 
Previous to this Mr. Dixon had employed a Miss Butler, of Bureau 
country, to teach his own children. The teachers in charge of the school 
after Mr. Bicknell were Mr. Bowen a part of 1840; W. W. Heatoii in 
winter of 1841-2. Among the pupils were Jane Ann Herrick (late 
Mrs. H. T. Noble), Geo. Foot, Mrs. D. B. McKinney. Miss Ophelia 
Loveland (Mrs. J. B. Brooks) taught the school during the summer of 
1843. The district then included both sides of the river and up the 
river as far as Mr. Fuller's place, and yet the school numbered only 
about twenty-five pupils ; among these were Miss Helen Williams, 
(now Mrs. Miilkins) and Miss Elizabeth and James Ayres, children of 
Oscar F. Ayres, of this city. Lorenzo Wood was teacher during the 
winter of 1843-4. Among the pupils were Miss Sybil C. Vanarnam 



120 HJSTOKY OK I.KK (JOIJNI'Y. 

and Mrs. A. R. Wliitney. Mr. Cross and Mr. James Luriiiu 
taught the school between the years 1846 and 1848. In 1848 J. D. 
McKay had charge of the school and Col. H. T. Noble in 1851 and 
1852 ; among the pupils at this time were Mrs. Sonic, Mrs Hollenbeck 
(deceased) and Mrs. B. F. Shaw. The old school-house had been 
abandoned and a new stone building erected, the same that is now 
owned by Mrs. Burke, recently inclosed by a frame house. The school- 
room becoming somewhat too small, a primary department under 
charge of Miss Jane Ann Herrick was started in the court-house in 
185'2. 0. N. Levaiiway taught the scliool in 1852 and 185;', and was 
succeeded by F. A. Soule. In 1854 Wni. Barge assumed control of the 
schools and continued in charge from that date until July 1859. Dur- 
ing his charge the school took the character and efficiency of a graded 
school ; siiortly after Mr. Barge took charge the school was transferred 
to the basement of the building known as the " Land Office," now 
used as a residence. 

May 7, 1855, Di.xon Collegiate Institute, under the care of Rev. W. 
W. Harsha, commenced its tirst term ; school-room in the basement of 
the Lutheran church. Early teachers in this institution were Rev. W. 
W. Harsha, Professor E. C. Smith, Mrs. E. A. Smith, Mrs. C. L. 
Harsha, and Miss Jenny L. Backus. 

July 15, 1857, a Female Seminary under charge of the Episcopal 
church. Rev. J. W. Downing, princij)al, was started in the large white 
l\ouse west of the Central depot. 

In August, 1858, a high-school department was established in the 
old Methodist Episco])al church on Second street, and A. H. Fitch was 
elected principal. A. M. Gow was employed as superintendent of 
schools, and James Gow as principal of the high school, in 1859. The 
school then consisted of five departments, and had an enrollment of 
about 400. These gentlemen continued in charge of the school until 
1862, when the present principal, E. C. Smith, was elected to act at 
once as superintendent of schools and principal of the high school, in 
which capacity he has labored ever since. 

The city is divided into two school districts, and in the winter of 
1868-9 the people of District No. 5 (north side), at a cost of $20,000, 
erected a fine school building of magnificent appearance, standing on an 
elevation near the grove that skirts the northern part of our town, and 
overlooking every portion of the city, the river, its islands, and rough 
romantic scener\', and the rolling prairie beyond. The building is con- 
sti-ucted of brick to the third story, with a Mansard roof, crowned 
with a neat belfry. The ground plan is 54X63 feet, and, including 
the basement, is four stories high. The tirst and second stories, each 
thirteen feet high, are divided into two school-rooms, 25x38 feet, with 



DIXON SCHOOLS. 1"21 

a recitation room for each, 10x18 feet. Tl:e Mansard story is one large 
study-room, 39x48 feet, sixteen feet liigli, having a rostrum in tlie 
north end, 10 x 12 feet, with an ante-room opening upon it from either 
side. Tile halls are commodious and give easy access to each room. 

Mr. C. O. Scudder is principal of the schools on the north side, and 
they are prospering under his careful management. There are now en- 
rolled in tiie different departments about 180 pupils. 

Tiie high-school department is taught b}' the principal, assisted by 
Miss Welty; the grammar school is taught by Miss A. Raymond ; in- 
termediate by Miss M. Yates, and the primary department by Mrs. A. 
C. Hoi brook. 

Tiie building on the south side, in District No. 1, was erected in 
the summer of 1869 at a cost of $32,000. It is a handsome brick struc- 
ture of even more imposing appearance than its predecessor on the 
north side. This building, situated as it is upon a high eminence in 
the southern part of the cit}- near the depots, is the most prominent 
object that meets the gaze of strangers visiting our cit^'. 

The building, which is 91x75 feet, four stories high, including the 
basement, is admirably arranged, each room being large and well 
adapted to the purpose for which it is used, while the furniture con- 
sists of modern and most approved patterns. The seats provided will 
accommodate 516 pupils with comfort and convenience. The building 
contains eight school-rooms, with all the necessary recitation rooms, 
closets, etc., thus arranged : one primary- and two intermediate rooms 
on the first floor, two intermediate and one grammar room on the 
second floor, and the first grammar and high school-rooms on the third 
floor. 

There are 459 pupils enrolled in the south side public schools. 

The schools in this district are under the efficient management of 
E. 0. Smith, who has served in the capacity of superintendent of the 
south side schools for the past eighteen years. 

The high school is taught by the superintendent, assisted by Miss 
Emma Goodrich, with an attendance of fifty pupils. 

The first grammar school is taught by Miss Adelia Pinckney, with 
an attendance of twenty-seven pupils, and the second by Miss Nellie 
Sonle, with an attendance of thirty-four. 

The first intermediate is taught by Miss Hattie Sterling, with an 
attendance of fifty-six pupils; the second, taught by Miss Ida DeLand, 
numbers forty-five pupils; the third, taught by Miss Emma Bui-nhani, 
numbers forty-nine pupils, and the fourth, taught by Miss Fannie Mur- 
phy, numbers fift^'-seven pupils. 

The primary department is taught by Miss Auielia McCuinsey. and 
numbers fii'ty-one pupils. 



122 JirSTOKY OF I,KK lOUMY. 

North ot" tlie court-liouse, in the tirst ward, is another primary 
school where Miss A. G. Curtice instructs tbrty-tive pupils. West of 
the central depot, in the third ward, is another small school building 
in which Mrs. L. L. Woodwartii instructs forty-seven pupils. 

Since the grade system of instruction was adopted in the south 
side schools, beginning with 1364, there has been seventy-two gradu- 
ates from the high school : forty-one females and thirty-one males. 
There has been two or three classes graduated from the higii school 
on the north side since the adoption of the grade sj'stem in that dis- 
trict in 1861); the number of graduates we, however, were unable to 
learn. 

The Catholic society has a denominational school with an average 
attendance of 150 scholars, under the instruction of four Dominican 
sisters and one novice. The scliool was started about 1872 in the old 
church building, under the labors of Father McDermott, and has been 
kept up in a prosperous condition ever since. 

In addition to the public schools our cit}' has the Rock River Uni- 
versity. The building is a large brick and stone edifice, five stories 
high, located on a high eminence in the east part of the town, and 
commands a view of the country for many miles in extent all aroui d 
our city, as well as the course of Rock river in its meanderings toward 
the father of waters, until it passes from the range of sight. The 
building is constructed on an extensive plan and is admirably adapted 
to the purpose for which it was erected. 

January 30, 1855, a meeting was held at E.\change Hall for the 
purpose of taking into consideration the plan proposed by the Rock 
River Presbytery, through their agents Revs. liarsha and Mason, for 
locating a college at this place. 

As a result, on July 4, 1855, the corner stone of the Dixon Colle- 
giate Institute was laid in the presence of a large concourse of people. 
B. F. Taylor, of Chicago, delivered the oration. The institution had 
an endowment of ^25,000; the citizens of Dixon giving grounds, 
property, apparatus, etc., to the extent of $12,000. In 1857 the insti- 
tution was incorporated by special act of the legislature. In 1S58 it 
was abandoned by the presbytery. 

In 1858 the Dixon Collegiate Institute was reorganized under the 
auspices of A. M. Gow. 

September 8, 1863, the Dixon Seminary was opened in the college 
building by S. G. Lathrop and M. M. Tooke. 

.January 20, 1874, a conservatory of music was started in the sem- 
inary building, by Profs. S. W. Moses and E. A. Gurney. 

November 1, 1875, school was opened in the college building 



DIXON HOTELS. 1*23 

under the name of the Rock River University. O. G. May, presi- 
dent, and M. M. Tooke, regent. 

December 2, 1878, A. M. Hansen took charge of the Rock River 
University. 

September 3, 1879, the Rock River University opened under new 
management; J. R. Hinckley, president. 

Tiie institution settled down to a preparatory and military acad- 
emy, yet competent instruction in the normal, business, musical and 
art departments was provided for those wishing sucli special work. 

The last board of management and instruction consisted of Jay R. 
Hinckley, president; Maj. H. O. Chase, military instructor; W. H. 
Ciiamberlain, business manager; Henry M. Douglass, Mrs. Jay R. 
Hinckley, and Miss Lucy Wliiton. 

Normal School. — The citizens of Dixon have pledged an appro- 
priation of *25,000 for the purpose of establishing a normal school, 
which it is expected will be opened September 1 by Miss Dilly and 
Flint, of Valparaiso, Indiana, in the old seminary building until their 
new building is erected. 

DIXON HOTELS. 

It has been said of the early days of the country that " every house 
is a place of entertainment." Some special attention was given to this 
by a few families in an early day, but the first hotel built for the pur- 
pose was the Western, erected in 1836, and opened in that winter by 
Messrs. H. Thompson and P. McKinney. It was what is now used as 
the northern part of the Revere house, on Hennepin street near Second. 
This was followed by the Rock River house, in 1837, by Messrs. Crow- 
ell & Willson. This house was afterward known as the Phoenix, and 
was destroyed by fire in 1846. The Dixon house was the third build- 
ing erected for a hotel in Dixon, and was built about 1840. 

On March 19, 1853, a company was formed with a capital of $10,- 
000 for the erection of a large hotel, the building to be ready for the 
public in Jul}', but was not ready until December 10 of that year. 
This is the Nachusa house, and was built upon a foundation that was 
laid for a hotel in 1838, which enterprise failed at the time through the 
then existing financial stringency felt in the state. The Nachusa house 
is situated on Galena street, opposite the public square. It occupies a 
commanding eminence, and overlooks the whole town, as well as the 
course of Rock river for many miles above and below the city. It is 
built of undressed limestone, and, including the basement, is live stories 
high. The main building is 48x40 feet, with a wing in the rear 
80x36 built to the main building by E. B. Stiles in 1854. The fifth 
story was added to the building in 1867, and is finished with a Man- 



124 



HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



sard root'. Tlie origiual and entire cost of the building was over $30.- 
000 ; to erect this house now, with the present cost of materials, would 
probably be near $40,000. The management of the house is now in 
the liands of Mr. Geo. Benjamin, who is a thorough business man. 

The "Washington house was erected in 1854 on the corner of Main 
and Ottawa streets. It is a three-storv brick structure, 34x60 feet, 
witli a large frame addition in the rear. This iiouse is near the business 
part of the city, and close to the Rock river water-power. The present 
projirietor, Henry Remers, erected the building, and has conducted the 
business since that time, with the exception of four years, between 1856 
and I860. 




XAt'UlS.\ UOUBE. 



In August, 1855, Mr. McKenne}- removed the Di.xon house from 
the ground now occupied by Riley's brick buildings on Main street to 
its present location opposite the Opera house. 

On June 14, 1856, Messrs. Cropsey, Dement <k Noble commenced 
the erection of a large hotel, called the Shabbona House, near the 
depots. It was afterward leased to Messrs. Crocket & Dake. In the 
following year (1857) it was opened by Mr. Benjamin, from Vermont, 
and the house changed in name to the Dement House. On December 
2, 1868, it was reopened as the St. James Hotel by H. E. Gedney. This 
was followed by the Wavcrly House, at the Air Line depot, by Messrs. 
Ciieney iSz Co., on April 19, 1860; at the present writing it is under 
the management of Mr. Tliomas Young. 

The Keystone House was openei in 1866, on Main strejt, near 



BRIDGES. 1 25 

Galena, and is quite centrally located ; it is under the direction of Mrs. 
E. Brautegan at the present writing. 

The hotels of a city form one of the chief attractions to the traveling 
public. From the character of the hotels an opinion either favorable 
or otherwise is generally formed of the enterprise of a place ; for a 
people who are hospitable, and appreciate the presence and comfort of 
strangers who may visit their city, will see to it that good accommoda- 
tions are provided for them ; and the ample provisions made in the city 
of Dixon, and the hospitality extended to strangers, are well attested 
by the traveling public. 

BRIDGES. 

In 1845 Mr. Dixon spent most of the time of a legislative session in 
Springfield in an effort to secure the passage of a " bridge and dani " 
charter for the benefit of the city. It was strongly opposed on the 
ground that the state had no power to authorize any obstruction to a 
stream declared navigable within its limits ; that the stream belonged 
to the whole people and could not be diverted from the interests of 
commerce to private or corporate purposes. To this it was replied that 
the river was not in fact navigable without the aid of dams, and that 
the Rock river valley was destined to become h vast manufacturing re- 
gion. Mr. Dixon succeeded toward the close of the session in getting 
the hill through, although the bridge was to supersede his ferry, which 
was then yielding to him $800 per year. Under this charter the first 
bridge was built in 1846 at a cost of $8,000. This bridge was built by 
the Rock River Dam and Bridge Company in the fall and winter of 
1846 and 1847, at the foot of Ottawa street. Travel had hardly- com- 
menced when the spring freshet of March 20, 1847, swept away the 
north half. The bridge was rebuilt two feet higher than the original 
bridge during the summer at a cost of $2,000. The contractors were 
Lorenzo Wood and Luther I. Towner. The board of directors consist- 
ed of the following gentlemen : John Dement, Oliver Everett, John 
Dixon, M. Fellows, Ottis A. Eddy, J. B. Brooks, Jas. P. Dixon, and 
Horace Preston. This bridge stood as repaired until the spring of 1849, 
when the south half was taken out. The ferry was brought into requi- 
sition until the summer of 1851, when the south half of the bridge was 
rebuilt, raising it four feet higher than the north half, making this part 
of the bridge six feet higher than the original bridge. The following 
persons constituted the directors of the bridge company, who were 
elected on May 5, 1851 : John Dement, C. Aldridge, John Shellaber, 
J. B. Brooks, John V. Eustace, Carleton Bayley, I. S. Boardman, jr., 
Lorenzo Wood, and E. B. Baker. 

The structure erected in 1851 stood until the spring of 1857, when 
the descent of the ice on the 24th dav of February of that vear carried 



126 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

it away. During 18.">»i a tree bridge was built by private parties across 
the river in what was known as Morril Town, below where the railroad 
bridge stands. This was just completed when, on the 14th of 
February, 1857, the ice which had accumulated around the piers was 
lifted up by the rising water, carrying the bridge with it ; but the ice 
not breaking up, the superstructure was not carried away. It was 
damaged, however, so that it had to be rebuilt, which was done in the 
spring, only to be carried away by the June freshet. At this time both 
bridges, the one at the foot of Ottawa street and the free bridge below, 
were destroyed. On the 23d of May, 1857, Mr. James A. Watson 
commenced the erection of a foot-bridge at the foot of Galena street, 
but money was raised in a few days after to erect a wagon atid foot 
bridge, which was completed during the summer, and on the "iSth day 
of November, 1857, two spans of the north end went down with two 
loaded teams and eight or ten head of cattle. This was repaired only 
to be swept away by the flood of June 3, 1858, which also destroyed 
the free bridge which had been rebuilt. The city paper, of this date, 
said: "Rock river is at this time swollen to overflowing its banks. 
Both the wagon bridges at this place have suffered in consequence of 
the flood. The free bridge, but a small portion of which was carried 
away, will be repaired immediately; while steps will be taken by our 
citizens to build a new bridge in the place of the one swept away at the 
foot of Galena street." On the 25th of August, 185!t, active operations 
were commenced in the erection of a free bridge at the foot of Galena 
street to cost $12,000; Z. H. Luckey, contractor. Four months after 
it was completed, on the 20th of February 1859, the dam gave way hn- 
fore an accumulation of ice, which together descended against the 
bridge and carried away two bents at one crash ; and later, two 
more were taken. In the following August, 1860, a free bridge was 
commenced to take the place of the toll-bridge taken out by the ice in 
the previous winter. The completion of this bridge was embarrassed by 
not having sufficient funds at command to carry the work forward. " Free 
bridge parties" were given and the proceeds added to the liberal con- 
tributions of the merchants. Finally, the necessary sura ($13,000) 
was raised and the bridge was thrown open to the public amidst great 
rejoicing, January 1, 1861. This was an event in the history of Dixon. 
On New Year's eve a large " free bridge party " was held a the 
Nachusa House, which was so successful that the arrearage that had 
delayed the completion of the work was arranged. The object was ac- 
complished so that at four o'clock in the afternoon of the next day, 
January 1, the mayor and council, in sleighs and cutters, headed a 
large procession across the bridge accompanied by the sound of music 
and the thunder of cannon. About this time the lower bridge disap- 
peared. 



BKIDaES. 127 

On May 10, 1866, a middle span of the bridge went down with a 
drove of about one linndred head of cattle, all of which were thrown 
into the river, and two were drowned. Repairs were begun on Decem- 
ber 2, 1867, by James "Watson ; but in the spring, March 7, 1868, the 
bridge was destroyed by the high water and floating ice. This freshet 
took out about 120 feet of the south end of the dam, and battered 
down one pier of the railroad bridge on the following night. 

Through all these years, until the city erected the Truesdell iron 
bridge in 1868, nine bridges — all of wood resting upon wooden trestles 
or piers — had been, either in part or wholly, swept away by the treacher- 
ous waters of Rock river. This being the case, the people finally came 
to the coifclusion that they would erect a bridge which no flood could 
wash away. With much labor and expense piers and abutments of 
solid masonry were placed upon substantial foundations made by driving 
piles below the gravel and changing the bed of the river. Upon these 
piers and abutments was placed a handsome superstructure wholly of 
iron, with the exception of the floors. The entii-e cost of the work to 
the city was $75,000. The opening of the bridge to the public on 
January 21, 1869, was made the occasion for a celebration by our citi- 
zens, and after a severe test of its strength the structure was accepted 
by the city, and all rejoiced that they had at last secured a bridge 
of such great strength. The occasion was celebrated by a procession 
a mile long headed by Father Dixon in a carriage ; he was followed 
by other old settlers, Dixon cornet band, the city council, and citizens 
in wagons and carriages; and no one present upon this occasion 
thought they would live to see its destruction ; but alas 1 how frail are 
human hopes! Scarcely four years had passed when it fell, resulting 
in such a fearful sacrifice of life and property, and caasing so much 
suflering. 

Sunday, May 4, 1873, the Truesdell iron bridge fell, precipitating 
about two hundred men, women and children, who were witnessing a 
baptismal ceremony just below the bridge, into the stream without a 
moment's notice; thirty-seven persons were drowned, or killed by por- 
tions of the structure falling upon them; forty-seven were seriously 
and five mortally injured. The bridge was twisted and broken from 
end to end, and hung from the piers, an appalling sight in itself. 
Those killed were Miss Katy Sterling, Miss Melissie Wilhehn, Miss 
Maggie O'Brien, Miss Nettie Hill, Miss Ida Vann, Miss Ida Drew, Miss 
Agnes Nixon, Miss Bessie Rayne, Miss Irene Baker, Miss Emily Dem- 
ing. Miss Lizzie Maekay, Mrs. Doctor Hoffman, Mrs. J. W. Latta, Mrs. 
Col. H. T. Noble, Mrs. Benjamin Oilman, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Will- 
iam Took, Mrs. James Goble, Mrs. Elias Hope, Mrs. E. Wallace, Mrs. 
E. Petersberger and little daughter, Mrs. Thomas Wade, Mrs. Henry 



128 HISTORY OF I,EK COUNTY. 

Sillman, Mrs. William Merriman, Mrs. C. W. Kentner, two children 
of Mrs. Hendrix, two daughters of Mrs. Stackpole, Clara and Rosa, 
Mr. George W. Kent, Mr. Frank Hamilton, Mr. Edward Doyle, Mr. 
Thomas Haley, Mr. Robert Dyke, Mr. Jay R. Mason. Died from 
wounds: Mrs. P. M. Aie.xander, Mrs. William Vann, Mrs. Charles 
March, Mrs. W. Wilco.x, Mr. Seth H. Whitmore. 

In the fall of 1873 the Howe truss wooden bridge was built by 
the American Bridge Company, at a cost of $18,000; it was finished 
Novemi)er 18. Tiiis bridge is still standing; and although the water 
has been two feet higher this spring (1881) than ever known before, 
the bridge remains unharmed. 

THE CITY CHURCHES. 

The intelligence and morals of a city or community will be ex- 
pressed in its schools and churches. The former indicates the educa- 
tional tendencies, and the latter the religious advantages of the com- 
munity. The life of Dixon has been ever associated with both the 
educational and the religious, even when there were no school or church 
buildings the literary and religious education of the young was not 
neglected; but in tiie cabin homes and around the homely iieartbstone 
began the first teaching of the intellect and heart. The fruits of this 
eai'ly education are now being gathered by the de.sceudants of those 
nol)le men and women of primitive days. It was written of Dixon in 
1845 that the village had reached a population of 400, and had four 
religious denominations, — Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, and Con- 
gregational — a select and district school. 

A Unitarian church was organized in 1850, but little, however, had 
l)een done to prosper the society until 1855, when Hon. J. V. Eustace, 
Dr. O. Everett, G. L. Herrick, and others, with the aid of Rev. Mr. 
Kelsey as pastor, selected a beautifully designed frame building on the 
north side, where services were held for a few years, when the organ- 
ization disbanded and the property was sold. 

In 1854 a Congregational church was organized witli nine members: 
Revs. S. D. Peet, D. Temple, and H. Hesley successively served as 
ministers; B. D. Gay, S. K. Ilpham, and B. Gellman as deacons. The 
organization disbanded in 1858, the most of tlie members connecting 
with the First Presbyterian church. 

Tlx Methodist Ephcopal Church of Dixon. — Tiiis society was the 
first religious organization in the bounds of Lee county, bearing date 
1837. The class was organized by Rev. Mr. McKcan, who received as 
original members of the class S. M. Bowman and Mrs. E. A. Bowman, 
John Richards and Ann Richards, Caleb Tallmage and Amanda Tall- 
mage, and Maria McClurc. The society worshiped in a room over 



THE CI'l'V CHTIRCHES. 1-29 

Messrs. Boardmaii & Boweti's store. In 1839 the class had an addi- 
tion to the original members: T. D. Boardman, Mr. and Mrs. Perry, 
and Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Ayres. At this time services were held in the 
school-house. The first house of worship was erected in 1843, and 
dedicated by Rev. John T. Mitchel. This was a brick structure cost- 
ing $4,000, and was located on Second street near Ottawa. The board 
of trustees consisted of Jas. T. Dixon, C. Edson, O. F. Ayres, W. G. 
Winkoop, Thomas McCabe, J. Brierton, and S. M. Bowman. 

The first parsonage was built in 1851, 24x30 feet, at the e.xpense 
of over$800. This house stood on Third street near where the Illinois 
Central depot stands. This property was sold, and a lot procured 
on which the present clnirch and parsonage buildings stand. During 
the conference year of 1854-5 the present church edifice was built on 
Peoria street. It was improved in 1870 and 1871, and again in 1876, 
at a cost of $2,700. The original cost of the church was $15,000. It 
was not entirely finished until 1857, when it was dedicated by Bishop 
Bowman. The pastors since the organization of the class are as fol- 
lows : Robert Dulap and Barton Cartwright came here as circuit 
preachers in the fall of 1837 ; they were followed by Isaac Pool and 
Riley Hill ; Luke Hitchcock came in 1839, Richard Blanchard in Au- 
gust 1840, Philo Judson in fall ot 1841. August 3, 1842, Inlet Grove, 
Palestine Grove, and Melugin's Grove were added to Dixon circuit, 
which already embraced Washington Grove, Light House Point, Jet- 
ferson Grove, Daysville, and Paine's Point ; Philo Judson and W. H. 
Cooley were appointed circuit preachers. W.Wilcox was appointed to 
Dixon in August 1843, David Brooks in July 1844, S. P. Keys in Au- 
gust 1845, Milton Haney and R. W. PI. Brent came to this charge in 
August 1846,R. P. Lawton came in 1847, Wm. Palmer in fall of 1848, 
Thomas North in July 1850, James Baume came in September 1852, 
J. W. Agard in 1854, Wilbur McKrtig in September 1855, N. P. Heath 
in 1857, L. A. Sanford in August 1858, S. G. Lathrop in 1859, O. B. 
Thayer in September 1862, W. H. Smith in March 1864, G. L. S. Stuff 
came in October 1864, T. C. Clendenning in October 1865, George E. 
Strobridge in October 1867, J. H. Brown in October 1869, John Will- 
iamson in 1871, Isaac Linebarger in October 1874, G. R. Yanhorne 
in October 1876, A. W. Patton in October 1879, and Rev. Mr. Cleve- 
land in October 1880. 

The Preshyterian Church. — The First Presbyterian Society in 
Dixon was organized January 29, 1853, George Sharer and James 
Means being chosen deacons. Having no house of worship, they met 
in the stone school-house. The original members were George 
Sharer, Nancy Sharer, James Means, John Beatty, Nancy Beatty, 
Mary Richardson, Robert McBride, Mrs. Jane Smith, and Mrs. Jane 



l;{(t ItlSTOKY <IK I.KK ('(UNTY. 

Little. In 1855 Rev. W. AV. Harsha assumed cliarge of the church, 
and in tlie same year (June 1855) the chureli was organized under the 
general laws of the state for the purpose of building a house of wor- 
ship, and the following persons were chosen trustees: James L. Camp, 
Isaac Means, Samuel Crawford, S. Russell, and S. C. Warden. Tiieir 
house was erected on Third street and dedicated on February IT, 185(), 
by Rev. Mr. Harsha, their pastor. This building stood adjoining the 
place of the present bouse, and was a small brick building, 28x42 
feet. This house proving in time to be inadequate to the deinand of 
the congregation, additional ground was secured and the present struc- 
ture was erected in ISCfi, at a cost of about $15,000. It was dedicated 
on October 28, 1866. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. 
W. W. Harsha, who was their first pastor, and dedicated the first 
church edifice. The building is constructed of dressed limestone and 
is 41x72 feet. The building is surinounted by a tower 130 feet 
high, which incloses a fine bell weighing over two thousand pounds. 
There are connected with this church about two hundred members. 
Rev. E. C. Sickles has been pastor of the congregation for the past 
eighteen years. 

The present church edifices in the city are liandsome, substantial 
buildings, constructed and furnished according to modern tastes, and 
present a pleasing and inviting appearance. All the present church 
structures in use, except one, were built within the past fourteen ^-ears. 
These buildings are all conveniently large for the wants of this place, 
and have a total seating capacity of over 3,000, but upon special occa- 
sions can be made to accommodate a much greater number. The church 
propert}' of our city represents a total value of over $140,000. 

New Evangelical Lutheran Church. — This christian denomination 
was first represented in Lee county by "The First Kvangelical Luthe- 
ran congregation of Lee county.'' which was organized under the 
oflScial and ministerial supervision of the Rev. Jacob Burket, on 
August 20. 1848. in the barn of J. N. Burket. south Di-von. The 
following persons were constituted members of the society : Jolin 
N. Burket and Mary Burket. John Mayer and Elizabeth Mayer, 
Nathan Iletter and Catherine Hetter. Phillip Mower and Mary 
Mower. Jacob Shooj) and Catherine Shoop. Catherine Grow, Nancy 
Smice, Lydia Courtright, Catherine Palmer, Magdalene Clinetob, 
and Mary A. M. Burket. 

Jacob Burket sustained the relation of i)astor for two years, his 
service closing August 1850. He was succeeded by Ephraim Miller, 
who took charge of the congregation in May 1S51. and remained witli 
tliem until May 1S52. He was followe 1 successively by Charles 
Young and William Uiil. 



THE CITY CHURCHES. 131 

On November \)i, 1853, the congregation changed the name of 
thi- society to the Apostolic name of " St. Paul's Evangelical Lu- 
tlieran church," and incorporated by filing a certificate of corpora- 
tion in the county recorder's office. After this change the congre- 
gation was served as pastor by D. Harbaugli until the division of 
the congregation as given below. 

In December, 1856, the society was divided by the German por- 
tion of the congregation withdrawing and orgmizing an independent 
congregation. After completing their organization they called to 
the pastorate Rev. Charles Young. During the time of their sepa- 
ration the English church was served by Revs. J. L. Guard, J. R. 
Keiser, and A. A. Triinper. During the pastoral services of the 
latter gentleman the societies were reunited prior to the spring of 
1870, from which time the pastors have been Revs. N. \V. Lilly. 
S. S. Waltz, and L. L. Lipe. the present pastor. 

After the reorganization of the church by Rev. William Uhl, John 
N. Birket and John Moyer were chosen elders, and John Beal and 
Henry Burket, deacons. In November of the same year an organ- 
ization was effected ft)r the purpose of erecting a house of worship, 
J. N. Burket, Henry T. Burket, Jonathan De Puy and John Beal 
were chosen trustees. The house, erected the following year, was 
located in the southeasterlj^ part of the city, but it was found inade- 
quate to the increasing congregation, and the site unsatisfactory, and 
was abandoned for a more commodious one on Second street in 1869. 
On February 14 it was dedicated, the dedicatory sermon being 
preached by Rev. G. A. Bowers. The building is a neat brick struc- 
ture, 42x80 feet, two stories high, costing $16,500. 

The society has a handsome parsonage on the lot adjoining the 
church which was erected during the summer of 1876. 

The church was dedicated on July 28, 1872 ; the morning ser- 
mon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Ravlin, and in the evening by Rev. 
J. A. Smith, I). D. The auditorium will comfortably seat 500 peo- 
ple. The Sabbath-school room occupies nearly the entire basement 
story. On June 23, 1878, the society celebrated their fortieth anni- 
versary, in the church. 

The pastors since the organization are B. B. Carpenter from June 
1840 to October 1844; Burton Carpenter from December 1844 to 
March 1845 ; Wm. Gates occupied the pulpit occasionally and Wm. 
Walker about four months between March 1844 and April 1847, when 
E. T. Manning became pastor for one year ; S. S. Martin became 
pastor in 1849 for one year ; G. W. Benton supplied the pulpit for 
about six months between Martin's pastorate and August 1851, when 



132 HISTORY OF LEE COUNIY. 

John E. Ball became p istor for aljoiit four years : Aiisoii Tucker took 
charge in May 1S55, served eleven months ; W. R. Webb became 
pastor in June ISoU, served over four years ; Win. G. Pratt became 
pastor in March 1861, for one year ; W. S. Goodiio in September 
1862, served two years; J. H. Pratt became pastor in October 1864, 
served over nine years; I). F. Carnahan became pastor in August 
1874; O. P. Bestor. took charge in August 1S77. Rev. L. L. Lipe 
is present pastor. 

The Fir at B'ipfist Vliurch of D'uvon. — This church was oi-ganized 
under the auspices of Mrs. John Di.xon and her sister, ifrs. Kellogg, 
at Buffalo Grove, on May 28, 1838, there being present all the mem- 
bers of tlie denomination in the vicinity of Dixon and Bulfalo Grove. 
Rev. Thomas Powel'acted as moderator. The following persons be- 
came the oi-iginal members of this society : Mr. II. IT. Bicknell, Re- 
becca Dixon, Elizabeth Bellows. Jerusha Hammond, Sarah Kellogg, 
Martha Parks, and Ann Clarly. At the close of four years there were 
seventy names on the church roll of membership. All t e original 
members but Mrs. Hiram Parks have passed away. An organiza- 
tion was effected under the state laws for the j>urpose of building a 
house of worship, February 22. 1842, un^ler the name of "The Dixon 
congregation." Smith Gilbraith, J. T. Little. J. B. Nash, Stephen 
Fuller and Elijah Dixon were elected trustees. Under this organi- 
zation a lot was secured on Ottawa street, and a brick edifice was 
erected in the following year ( 1 843) ; elder J acob Knopp, of Rockford, 
officiated at the dedicatory services. Subsequently the property was 
disposed of, and in 1869 a more imposing building was erected on 
Second street, the corner-stone being laid on October 1 of the 
same year. It is a comodious brick edifice, !»0x45 feet, and was 
built at a cost of §15,000. Rev. Mr. Bestor is present pastor. 

*S'/. Lathe's EpiKC02)al Church. — This church was organized in the 
summer of 1837, under the labors of Rev. James De Puy, by the 
election of wardens and vestrymen. After this faithful minister was 
removed from the congregation the work of the church was sus- 
pended, and all the church records up to 1855 were lost. On March 
19, 1855, a meeting of the vestrv met at the office of Messrs. Robert- 
son, Eastman ct Co., Rev. Mr. Bentiy being present. At this meet- 
ing Addison Rice, S. C. Eells, A. McKay and H. Hine were chosen 
vestrymen, and Creo. C. Chapmon and J. K. Edsal were chosen war- 
dens. A building was erected on Peoria street, since changed into 
a dwelling which stands now directly north of the present church. 
In 1871, an enlarged area of ground was purchased on the corner of 
Peoria and Third streets, on which the present beautiful stone edi- 
fice was erected in the same year. 



^^iSs-" 



rfSSWKi.,.; 




A 




THE CITY CHURCHES. 135 

Sept. 7, 1871, the corner-stone of St. Luke's church was laid by 
Kev. John Wilkinson, who was rector of this parish from 1858 to 
1860. The church was opened for services September 15, 1873. 

Rev. Mr. Bentley was the first rector of the parish after this 
reorganization, and he was succeeded by C. J. Todd in August 011856, 
and he by J. G. Downing in May 1857 ; Rev. J. Wilkinson was rec- 
tor from August 1858 to August 1859 ; Rev. A. J. Warner became 
rector in January 1861, and was succeeded by G. G. Street in April 
18i!2, and Jas. W. Goe in May 1863, who continued in charge until 
July 1865 ; Rev. H. H. De Gannon was rector fi-oni March to Sep- 
tember 1866 ; D. W. Dresser from November 1866 to November 
1867; H. W. Williams from March 1868 to June 1871 ; M. Byllesby 
from November 1871 to April 1873 ; Samuel Edson from May 1873 
to October 1875 ; Joseph Cross from December 1875 to October 1876 ; 
W. Henry Jones from November 1876 until his death, April 26, 1878. 
Rev. W. W. Steel, came in September 1878. Rev. J. Wilkinson, at 
this writing (1881), is serving the church temporarily. 

T/ie Universalist Church. — This society was organized in 1870. 
This was anticipated by a Universalist centenary held in the Methodist 
Episcopal church, when measures were initiated that resulted in the 
above organization, and the establishment of the Universalist church 
in Dixon. The following gentlemen were elected trustees for the so- 
ciety in view of the building of a church edifice : Edward Sterling, 
L. A. Sutton, A. Hubbard, William Parker, and L. Sherman. 

The society held services in Union hall for awhile, and from 
there they went to Tillson's hall on Galena street, which they used 
until their house of worship was erected. To accomplish this a 
building committee was elected, consisting of G. L. Heri-ick, W. A. 
Judd, S. Merriman and C. F. Emerson. A building was erected, 
40 X 80 feet, on the corner of Second and Hennepin streets, and was 
dedicated by Rev. J. E. Forrester, D.D.. August 7, 1873. Rev. H. 
V. Chase was the first pastor, and remained with the society five 
years. He was succeeded in December, 1876, by Rev. D. F. Rogers, 
who served as pastor for one year, and about the beginning of 1877 
Mr. Chase was again called to the pastorate of the church. 

The Catholic Church of Dixon. — This church was established 
under Rev. Father Firzgerald in 1854, in which year he erected their 
first house of worship and a parsonage, on Fifth street. In 1873 this 
house was abandoned as a house of worship, for a new and very im- 
posing one on the corner of Market and Seventh streets. This was 
done under the general management of Rev. Father McDermott. 
The old building has been appropriated to denominational school 



136 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

purposes, under the control of the Sisters of Cliarity. The church 
building is the largest in the city, having a seating capacity of 600. 
The church, including altar furniture, etc., cost about $30,000. The 
bell on the church has a weiglit of 2500 pounds, and was purchased 
at a cost of S900. There are 200 families connected with the con- 
gregation of this church. Rev. Father Hodnett is pastor. 

OaJcwood Cemetery, containing ten acres, is situated immediately 
east of the city. Its site is a very beautiful one, overlooking the 
magnificent valley of Rock river for miles in either direction. It is 
high and rolling ground, interspread with a natural growth of trees 
and shrubs, making its landscape beauty unsurpassed for a '"city of 
the dead." A part of this cemetery was dedicated for cemetery pur- 
poses by the Hon. John Di,\on, on the original plat of the city, and 
the remainder was purchased and laid out by the city. It is under 
control of the city council. The rapid growth of Dixon will soon 
render it necessary to enlarge it or to seek out an additional site for 
cemetery purposes. 

CIVIC SOCIETIES. 

Of these Dixon has twelve organizations, a fact indicative of the 
social and benevolent nature of her people. With the exception of 
one, these are all secret societies, tlie aggregate membership of 
which is over 500. Most of them are beneficial in their character, 
and one has a life insurance connected with its organization. Thus 
provision is made for the atiHieted during life and their survivois after 
death. 

Below we give the names and dates of organization of the ditfer- 
ent lodges and societies, together with the principal officers : 

Masonic. — Friendship Lodge, No. 7. Organized under dispensa- 
tion from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky on November 6. 1S40; ob- 
tained charter from the Grand Lodge of Illinois October 6, 18-41. 
Officers: J. V. Thomas, W.M.; E. W. Smith, S.W.; G. D. Laing. 
J.W., W. A. Sussmillch, Sec; Theodore Moeller, Treas. 

Nachusa Chapter, No. 56. Organized under dispensation July 
29, 1859 ; received charter September 30, 1859. Officers : J. B. 
Pomeroy, H.P.; S. S. Dodge, King; J. \V. Latta, Scribe; I). B. 
McKenney, Treas.; C. G. Smith, Sec. 

Dixon Council, No. 7. Organized under dispensation December 
1, 1863. Officers : C. S. Brown, Thrice Illus. G.M.; J. B. Pomeroy, 
Sec. 

Dixon Commandery, No. 21, K.T. Organized under dispensa- 
tion June 16, 1866 ; obtained charter October 23, 1866. Officers : 
J. B. Pomeroy, E.C. ; S. S. Dodge, G. ; John D. Crabtree, C.G. : 
James A. Hawley, Treas. ; C. W. Liitimer, Rec. 



crv'ic SOCIETIES. 137 

Odd-Fellows. — Dixon Lodge, No. 39. Organized under dispen- 
sation May 28, 1848. Officers : Orvill Anderson, N.S. ; Edmund 
Camp, V.G. ; M. C. Weyburn, See. ; H. P. Wickes, R.S. ; Francis 
Forsyth, Treas. 

Nachusa Encampment, No. 115. Organized under dispensation 
March 9, 1871 : obtained charter October 10, 1871. Officers: M. 

C. Weyburn, C.P. ; C. AV. Dey, H.P. ; F. Hegert, J.W. ; F. P. 
Beck, Scribe ; C. F. Emerson, Treas. ; P. Rierson, J.W. 

Pucker Lodge, No. 493 (German). Organized August 7, 1872. 
Officers: A. Reseck, N.G.; L. Faulkaber, V.G. ; A. Levi, R.S. ; C. 
Gonnerraan, Treas. 

Temperance Societies. — Father Mathew's Total Abstinence and 
Benevolent Society. Organized February 4, 1870. Officers : James 
Rice, Pres. ; John Hennessey, V.-Pi-es. ; Dennis Denu}', Rec. Sec. ; 
Patrick McDonald, Treas. ; C. J. Turney, Marshal. 

Dixon Division, No. 11, S. of T. Organized November 11, 1875. 
Oiiicers: B. F. Stewart, W.P. ; J. W. Clute, Treas.; L. Hess, R.S. 

Forest Home Lodge, No. 137, A.O.U.W. Organized January 
29, 1879. Officers: ^. P. Wickes, M.W. ; W. J. Daley, P.M.W. ; 
H. Christman, Foreman ; Eugene Pinckney, Overseer : G. A. Mead, 
Rec. ; L. D. Pitcher, Financier. 

Henderson Encampment. No. 27, O.C.D. O. J. Downing, Com.; 
W. J. Johnson. Lieut. Com.; Ileurv Barnes. Adj't ; J. N.Hvde, 
Q.-M. 

Dixon Boat Club was organized May 22, 1878. Officers: E. C. 
Parsons, Pres.; F. K. Orvis, V;-Pres. ; W. M. Kennedy, Sec; Geo. 

D. Laing, Treas.; C. E. Chandler, Capt. 

July 6, 1875, the " Woman's Christian Temperance Union " was 
organized in the basement of the Methodist church, through the ef- 
forts of Miss Frances Willard, of Chicago. The Union consisted of 
thirty members. Officers elected were President, Mrs. S. H. Manny; 
Vice-Presidents, Mrs. D. F. Carnahan, Mrs. Linebarger, Mrs. Ed- 
son, Mrs. Chase, Mrs. E. C. Sickles ; Recording Secretary, Miss 
Lila Fargo; Corresponding Secretary, Miss E. W. Alexander; 
Treasurer, Miss Nellie Holt. 

.July 16, 1853, a division of the Sons of Temperance was insti- 
tuted under the name of Lee county Division, No. 376, and the 
following named gentlemen elected officers: L. Wood, P.W.P. ; W. 
H. Andrews, W.P.; J. Kerr, W.A.; J. W. Clute, F.S.; W. H. H. 
Crow, R.S.; A. T. Murphy, T. ; II. O. Kelsey, C; H. Brookner, 
A. C. About a month later the paper, in speaking of this society, 
says that it is "increasing very rapidly, already numbering some 
fifty members." 



138 HISTORY OF LKE COUNTY. 

March 23, 1 866, a Lodge of Good Templars, No. 756, was or- 
ganized in Dixon. The Lodge surrendered its charter in the spring 
of 1S6S, and the active nieinbers united with the Sons of Temper- 
ance. 

October 27, 1870, Rebecca Lodge, No. 30, was organized, witli 
the following charter members : A. Piatt, G. L. Herrick, H. K. 
Strong, Frances Forsyth, Constantine Wild, Phebe Pratt, Julia Her- 
rick, Mary A. Strong, Lucy A. Forsyth, and Barbara Wild. 

Di,ron Crovjn Temple, No. 25, U. O. A. T. — This lodge was 
organized August 30, 1880, by N. P. Barry, in the Universalist 
church. 

The following persons were the charter members, to wit : Ben- 
jamin F. Stewart, Geo. N. Barnes, William Chiverton, John Oconon, 
John Moseley, Austin Morse, B. B. Higgins, Clayton Brown, Jessey 
Hettler, John Hettler, E. H. Groh, John A. Stumpp, L. H. Burd, 
Sherwood Dixon, Dr. Henry Brooks, Miss Malissa Barnes, Miss 
Mary Brown, Miss Blanch Talcott, Mrs. G. G. Stewart, Mrs. Mary 
Hettler, and Miss Mary Lynch. 

Present board of officers : Geo. W. Barnes, Templar ; Austin 
Morse, Past Templar ; Mrs. G. G. Stewart, Vice-Templar ; Miss 
Malissa Barnes, Lecturer; Benjamin F. Stewart, Recorder; J. F. 
Morseley, Financier ; Jessey Hettler, Treasurer ; E. H. Groh. Mar 
shall ; Win Chiverton, Guard ; Blanch Talcott, Watch. 

This organization has associated with it a mortuary department, 
which provide^ a beneficiary fund, to be distributed, in ease of the 
death of a member of the department, to such parties as provided 
for in the mortuary certificate. 

This is the only temperance organization in the country with 
which a beneficiary department is associated. The influences and 
advantages of this provision are quite apparent in the prosperity 
of the order in local organizations, as well as the general interest 
felt throughout the country in the welfare of the new order. In 
cases of need, benefits are distributed to sick or disabled members, 
as may be ordered by the Temple, of which such person or persons 
are members. 

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 

Is entireh' volunteer, and conlsis's of a hose company of sixtv-five 
men, and a hook and ladder company of twenty-six men. These 
companies were both organized in January, 1870 ; up to that time our 
city was without any organized force for fire protection. In 1869 the 
Water Power Company had ]Mit in a rotary pump of a rated capacity 
of 1200 gallons per minute^about d(juble the capacity of a first-class 
steam fire engine. This pump, together with 600 feet of hose, was 



THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 139 

originally intended for the use of the manufacturing establishments 
at the water-power, but when the fire companies were organized the 
citj assumed charge of the pump fwid bought 1000 feet of additional 
hose, and one hose reel, hook and ladder truck, and other necessary 
fire apparatus. The fire hall was built in 1871 ; tlie upper story is 
divided into two meeting rooms, one for each company, and the 
lower story is used for apparatus. In the winter of 1871-2, water 
mains were laid from the pump to the corner of Main and Galena 
streets, and afterward to the corner of Hennepin and Second streets. 
In 1876 the city put in a piston pump with a capacity of 1600 gallons 
per minute, but owing to the small mains cannot be worked to its 
full capacity. The city has expended for apparatus and property for 
the fire department since its organization over $13,500. The de- 
partment had at the beginning of this year three hose carts, twenty- 
one hundred feet of hose, and two hook and ladder trucks, but 
nearly a thousand feet of hose was destroyed at the recent disastrous 
fire. Too much cannot be said in praise of our firemen for the 
prompt manner in which they have ever responded to the alarm of 
fire, and the herculean efforts made to save the property of their 
fellow citizens. Another item that should nbt be overlooked in this 
connection is the fleetness and efliciency that ouv firemen have ac- 
quired by earnest practice, wherein the Dixon Hose Company has 
become famous, they having at two state tournaments secured the 
Champion's belt over many competitors. 

Recent experience has made it apparent to all that our city needs 
better and more serviceable means for fire protection. Present indi- 
cations are that this desired object will soon be accomplished, as 
practical movements are now being made to accomplish that desir- 
able end. 

With admirable perseverance the Dixon Hose Company have se- 
cured a fine library of nearly one thousand volumes, many of which 
were kindly donated by friends of the company. Citizens not mem- 
bers of the company become entitled to the privileges of the library 
by donating $1, or a bo<:ik worth $1.50, subject to the approval 
of the company, and the payment of 50 cents yearly dues. A few 
weeks ago the Monitor Hook and Ladder Company commenced a 
library in their meeting-room, which already numbers over 100 
volumes. 

Mr. R. S. Farrand is the present fire marshal ; J. W. Latta, assist- 
ant. Officirs of the Hose company are C. C. Atkins, foreman ; F. 
J. Finkler, first assistant ; William Rock, second assistant ; Nathan 
McKenney, secretary ; Charles Weisz, treasurer. Officers of the 
hook and ladder company : Chas. Ramsey, foreman ; Corydon 



140 HISTORY OF LEE COTXTY. 

Cropsey, first assi.staiit ; U. R. Friesenberg, socoiid assistant; J. A. 
Stuiiipf, secretary ; G. W. Taylor, treasurer. 

DISASTERS. 

It would be a pleasure we have never experienced as vet to be 
able to write tlie history of a community or city that has had unin- 
terrupted prosperity ; to be favored with the good without an admix- 
ture of evil. Dixon is not an exception to the common experience 
of luiniaMity in adversity as well as in prosperity; and hnwever 
uniijeasant thu task may bo, we are compelled to turn aside from the 
rcHection of Dixon's prosperity and enterprite to chronicle her mis- 
fortunes and losses. The most common destruction to property 
resulted from 

The Fire Records. — The first conflagration of especial note was 
on August 2, 1856, when the stable belonging to the Mansion Hou;e 
property burned down. It wms believed to be the work of an incen- 
diary, which consumed the building with eleven horses, a peddler's 
wagon, etc.; the loss being about §.5,000. On Sunday, April 25. 
1858, the jewelry store of S. A. B.mcroft, in A. T. Murphy's- build- 
ing on Main street, was turned with all goods not in the safe. 

In tiie tolKiwing 3'ear, October 14, 1859, the city was visited by a 
fearful holocaust that consumed the property of more than twenty 
business men. Seventem buildings were burned, extending for 
more tlian half a block on both sides of Main street, extending west 
from the corner of Hennepin street. Among the buildings burned 
was the old original school-house, which had been removed from 
the original lot where D. W. McKenney's residence now stands, 
several years previous, and was then occupied as a store-room. 
The fire resulted from an unknown incendiary, and resulted in over 
$30,000 loss, with an insurance of but little over 810,000. During 
the same year a dwelling house, owned by B. E. Deyo, was burned, 
with a loss of $1,500, with no insurance. 

On January 29, 1S60, the machine shop, owned by Col. John 
Dement, was burned out, resulting in a loss of 825, OdO, and no 
insurance. This damage was repaired in two mtniths' time, the 
building being lowered one story because of damages done by tlie 
fire. This was followed in the same 3'ear by the burning of a car- 
penter shop, with four chests of tools, owned by Messrs. Herrick &, 
Gordon ; damage, 8'^50. And on October .3, in the following year, 
the dwelling house of II. Logan was burned by lightning ; loss, 
$600. In less than fourteen months the inhat)itants of the quiet 
town were called from tlieir slumbers at two o'clock in the morning 
to resist the fiery fiend, then leaping from the boot and shoe store 



DISASTERS. 141 

Ijelonging to Mr. Sprauge. Fi-oin this it swept through E. Giles' 
shoe house, a small building, and the stone building on the corner 
of Main and Galena streets, occupied by Mr. Roberts as a hat store. 
Mr. E. W. nine's dwelling was saved only by the utmost exertions 
of the citizens. The stone building was owned by Champ Fuller, 
on which there was no insurance ; the building occupied by Mr. 
Sprauge was owned by J. B. Charters, and was insured for $400. 
The entire loss reached about $5,500. In April of the following 
year the Union Block was lowered one story, the walls being unsafe 
lor large assemblies after the fire of 1860. 

On February 8, 1865, a dwelling house in Dement Town, owned 
by Col. J. Dement, was burned down about three o'clock in the 
morning. The building was occupied by a Mr. Peifer, who, in his 
eiforts to save some valuables, lo,--t his life by burning with the 
building. On June 2, 1866, the paint shop of W. J. Daley, on 
Hennepin street, was burned, at a loss of $500. 

Near five years passed without loss, but on March 3, 1871, a fire 
broke out in a building on the north side of Peoria street, occupied 
by Mr. Schuchart and family as dwelling and saloon. The build 
ing, with three other frame buildings on the west, a barn in the 
rear, belonging to Drs. Wyn and Paine, and F. C. McKenny's 
livery stable on the east, were all consumed. The estimated loss 
was $4,000. On November 30, same year, the St. James Hotel 
burned. Insurance, $22,500. 

In the spring of 1873 (March 12) the knitting-mills were destroyed 
by fire, with the roof of the flax factory, with damage to machinery. 
The loss on the knitting-mills was estimated at $20,000, and on the 
flax-mills $5,000, making a total of $25,000. In the following 
month (April 22, 1873) E. B. Stiles' dwelling on Main street, west 
of the arch, was damaged by fire to the extent of $200. 

On February 19, 1875, a dwelling house belonging to Henry 
Brener, in the south part of the first ward, was burned down; 
damage was not stated. On December 4 of this year a fire broke 
out in the upper story of Becker & Underwood's flouring-mills. 
The elevators at the top of the mill and much of the machinery were 
destroyed. Most of the machinery was damaged by fire, or water 
thrown by the fire department, which did valuable service in arrest- 
ing the conflagration. The property was insured for $32,700, and 
the amount awarded for damages on property was $13,130. Messrs. 
Bennett, Thompson & Funk had large quantities of grain damaged 
by the water. 

There was one fire, on April 10, 1876, which entirely destroyed 
the residence of Moses Jerome, in Dement Town. Loss not given. 



142 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

In the following year (1877) John McElroy's house, in the same 
town, was destroyed by fire, at a loss of $500 to the owner. 

On February 6, 1878, a fire destroyed a business house on Main 
street owned by W. H. Van Epps, and occupied I. T. Van Xcss, 
druggist, and Will. Sussmilch, jeweler. The loss on the building 
was about §;500; no insurance. There was 83.500 insurance on the 
stock of drugs. Mr. Sussmilch lost about §500 on fixtures, etc.; 
fully insured. F. Hegert's drug store, next door east, was consid- 
erably damaged by removal of goods, and by water. 

On March 23, 1879, J. C. Mead's book-store caught fire about 
three o'clock a.m. The flames were extinguished after the upper 
story and roof were destroyed: goods were removed without much 
damage. The loss was about s300; fully covered by insurance. 

The year 1880 opened the fire record on January 13, when the 
home of Tiieodore Moeller was damaged to the amount of $100. 
On the 8tli of the following April, of the same year, the most 
disastrous fire that visited the city of Dixon broke out at the water- 
power about half-past one in the morning, and in one hour the large 
stone building owned by Caleb Chipp and Col. John Dement, occu- 
pied by H. D. Dement and S. C. Eell's flax-mill, and Thomas Bald- 
win's grist-mill. W. P. Thompson's and Becker it Underwood's 
flouring-mills, were a mass of ruins. The water-wheels and the 
pump house were also destroyed, thus cutting short the water 
8ui)ply ; the foundry of Brown & Edwards on the opposite side 
of the street was badly burned, and tlie plow works of C. H. 
Curtis caught fire several times. The Amboy fire company was 
telegraphed to for help, and the timely arrival of the company with 
their steamer probably saved the property on the south side of the 
street. 

When the fire reached Becker ct I'mlerwood's mill there was a 
terrific explosion; fifteen or twenty firemen were working in and 
around the mill at the time; two of the number were instantly 
killed and ten others badly burned and injured. The killed were 
Ezra Becker and William Schum. Wounded : Cyrus Lint, Wm. 
Rink, jr., Orvil Anderson, Peter Ramsey, William Yann, Patrick 
Duffy, Lee Stevens, Frank Gcetzenberger, Joe Ilayden, and Joe 
Reuland. 

The losses and insurance on buildings and machinery were as 
follows: Becker & Underwood, $litO,tH.)0; insurance, §33,900 on 
machinery, and $5,000 on stock. W. P. Thompson, $35,000; insur- 
ance on machinery S17.000, and §.->.000 on stock. Antone Julien 
carried §5,500 on one fourth undivided interest in this mill. Col. 
John Dement from $20,000 to $25,000 on water-wheels, buildings 



MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. 143 

occupied by Dement & Eells, foundry, and Curtis' plow works; no 
insurance. H. D. Dement & S. C. Eells, from $12,000 to ?;15,000 
on flax-niill machinery, stock, etc. ; no insurance. Caleb Clapp, 
$15,000; insurance $6,000. Thomas Baldwin, $3,500 on grist-mill 
machinery and stock; no insurance. Total loss from $190,000 to 
$198,000; insurance $66,900. 

The record begins August 2, 1^56, and closes with the great fire 
of April 8, 1880. a period of twenty-four years ; during which time 
there have occurred twenty-six fires resulting in damages amounting 
to $302,000, and casualties, three deaths and ten wounded. 

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. 

Dixon Plow ^orhs. — These works were established in October, 
1856, by Col. John Dement on the site now occupied b}' Vann & 
Means, caniage makers. The business was there carried on for 
several years and was then moved to its present location at the 
water power. The whole business was, at that time, done in the 
building afterwaid used a-i a blacksmith shop. From a small 
beginning the establishment grew in capacitj^ and reputation, and 
obtained its highest importance under Col. Dement's management, 
in 1863 and 1864, when his plows took the first premium at the field 
trial of the State Agricultural Society, over all competitors, and he 
was awarded gold and silver medals ; from which fact, until the re- 
tirement of Col. Dement from the business, the plows were known 
as "The Gold Medal." At this time began the wonderful series of 
improvements which in a few years changed the soft, rough German 
steel plow, then in general use, into tlie hardened, highly finished 
patent-steel implement of to-day. Except in modes of manufacture 
and improved material there has been but little change in the Dixon 
plow. The short, deep, round-topped mould-board then in use, now 
remains. At that time it was unique, peculiar to Col. Dement's 
"Shaghai" and the modified "Shanghai," or "Gold Medal." 
The real value of this pattern is strongly attested by the fact that 
its principal features are now used by every prominent manufacturer 
of plows in the northwest. In 1867 the business \\ as transferred 
to W. M. Todd t.'t II. D. Dement, who conducted it for two years, 
selling nearly their entire produce to F. K. Orvis & Co., then a firm 
in the agricultural implement trade in Chicago. In 1869 the whule 
business was sold to Messrs. Orvis ct Co., who continued the manu- 
facture of the various lines of goods, and added others from time to 
time, building up a large trade, extending over the entire nortliwest. 
They were succeeded by the Orvis Manufacturing Company, organ- 
ized under the general laws of the state. May 12, 1877, which com- 



144 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

pauy, after two years and a halt' <>t" largely increased trade, sold out 
to Charles H. Curtis, of Chicago (the president of the company and 
largest stockholder!, on Xovember 12, 1879. ilr. Curtis has been 
identified with large manufacturing interests in this state for nearly 
forty years, and with his usual energy has pushed the business to its 
utmost, adding new articles, such as seeders, drills, sulky plows, 
etc., all of which uphold the standard <<f excellence so long deserv- 
ingly maintained b}' the Dixon Plow Works. 

The works in 1880 occupied the greater portion of a magniticent 
factory building, erected by Col. John Dement in 1869. This build- 
ing is solidly built of stone, and is four stories high on tiie front, 
measuring on the ground plan 86 X 142 feet It is interesting to the 
older inhabitants of the county, who saw the beginning of this enter- 
prise, to go tlirough the works and notice the wonderful changes 
which a few years have made in the methods of manufacture and 
their products. In the beginning a few small rooms furnished 
ample space to carry on the different branches of work, wliieh were 
mainly done by liand. Afterward each department became a com- 
plete establishment by itself, doing all the work by machinery, and 
turning out the parts assigned to it by the thousands, each piece 
being an exact duplicate of others of the same class. On the 8th of 
April, 1880, the works were damaged by fire, and business has not 
since been resumed. 

Grand Detour Plow Workn. — This well-known estalilishment was 
founded in 1837 at Grand Detour, by John Deere, now of Moline, 
Illinois, and Major Andrus, now deceased. They started what was 
styled a plow factory in a little blacksmith shop (such as may be seen 
at a country cross-road), and two forges were sufficient to meet their 
wants for some two years, when they became able to run an ordinary 
horse-power, for the purpose of turning the grindstone and fanning 
the furnace fire. The building in which these labor-saving arrange- 
ments were located stood some forty rods from the "factory" 
proper, and every plow ground and casting moulded had to be car- 
ried one way or the other, in the hand or on the shoulder, and the 
sight of the two proprietors lugging their work back and forth is 
called up with interest, in view of the great prosperity which each of 
them, by means of the same hard work and close management, 
ultimately attained. In this manner, and under these disailvantages, 
the business went on for about six years, when such success had 
attended the enterprise that they were enabled to put in steam. 
From this time forward they continued adding machinery and im- 
provements, and their progress was uninterrupted. However, there 
were no means of sending their plows through the country except 



MANLFACTUKING IJs'TERESTS. 145 

"bj wagons, and few markets except the farm in even the best agri- 
cultural sections. Teams were loaded and sent throughout the 
country, and substantial farmers were supplied with plows, which 
they sold through the community, reserving a liandsome commission 
for their service-. 

In 1848 Mr. Deere witlidrew from the firm, which had experi- 
enced several changes, at one time presenting the array of Andrus, 
Deere, Tate & Gould, and started a plow factoi-y at Moline, which 
grew and prospered i'roni the first, and miglit witii reason be termed 
a child of the Grand Detour Works. The business was run by Mr. 
Andrus alone, who was then joined by Col. Amos Boswortli, who, 
in our late war, was known as lieutenant-colonel of the 34th Illinois, 
and died in the service in March 1862. 

In October, 1857, the fiictory, which had been steadily growing 
and extending its limits, was burnt down, and upon the same site 
and remnants of the walls a new factory was erected. In August, 
1863, Theron Cumins, Esq., senior member of the present firm, 
became one of the proprietors, which took the name of Andrus & 
Cumins. Under their administration the business was carried on 
until February 1867, when Mr. Andrus died. Few men pass away 
more deeply and sincerely lamented than was Mr. Andrus. Upon 
his death the business passed into Mr. Cumins' hands, and was by 
liim conducted until June 1869, when Col. II. T. Noble, of Dixon, 
became interested therein, tlie name of the firm being T. Cumins 
&Co. 

In 1869 tlie works were moved to their present location at Dixon. 
In June, 1874, Mr. Dodge, for several years a merchant liere, became 
interested therein, and the business was then conducted under the 
firm name of Cumins, Noble & Dodge. In June, 1879, the business 
was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, the title 
being "Grand Detour Flow Company." Theron Cumins, Henry 
T. Noble, Orris B. Dodge and Charles H. Noble being the incorpo- 
rators. The plow works, wliicli in the first years only turned out 
from seventy-five to a hundred plows per year, are now producing 
many thousands, and scattering them by means of the steam horse 
over the limitless West. The works are located on a spacious trian- 
gular piece of land, between the depots of the Chicago & North- 
western and Illinois Central railroads, with switches from both roads 
running to the shops and warehouses. The factory has a frontage 
on the north of 206 feet, and to the west of 164 feet. The forging 
room is 116 x 50 feet ; the grinding room, 44 X 50 feet; the machine 
room, 30 X 70 feet ; the wood room, 150 x 50 feet ; tlie foundry, 
60 X 40 feet; and paint room on the second fioor, 150 x 50 feet; 



146 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

with a warehouse for storing purposes, 120 x 50 feet, two stories 
higli. The workmen connected with the works are men of large 
experience in the manufacture of agricultural implements, many of 
whom have been identified with this establishment for ten, fifteen 
and twentj' years, and some for even a quarter of a century. The 
good name fairly earned by the Grand Detour Plow is more than 
sustained by the very superior quality of goods now being made by 
the Grand Detour Plow Company. 

Sash, Door and Blind Factory. — In 1868 James Fletcher erected 
the building he now occupies, and commenced the manufacture of 
sash, doors and blinds on quite an extensive scale. The Victory 
building is 36 X 60 feet, and four stories high. Everything is done 
by machinery, so that all that is done to a door, sash or blind by 
hand is to put it together and smooth it up and s endpaper it. Every 
tenon is cut by a machine that is set to fit the mortise, and every 
tenon is just exactly the same size and shape, as is also every iior- 
tise. The machinery used by Mr. Fletcher is all of modern manu- 
facture, with late improvements ; comprising such machines as 
planers, mortising, boring and sticking machines, saw-tables, sharp- 
ers, formers, etc. His trade is mostlj' confined to this cit}-, his 
present facilities being too small to supply a large foreign trade, yet 
he does sell stock to many of the neighboring towns. It is seldom 
that the busy hum of the saws at Fletcher's mill are not heard upon 
working days, and among tlie most industrious of those working in 
this mill is the jiroprietor himself Tlie excellence of the work 
turned out by this factory is deserving of great success. 

The Dixon Water Poioer. — In the year 1844 the agitation of the 
subject of building a dam across Rock river at this poitit was com- 
menced, and about the year 1845 resulted in a survey being made by 
one Woodworth, who reported a fall in the river from Grand Detour 
of nine and a half feet, and that the erection of a dam at this place 
was not a difficult undertaking. Subsequently, probably in 1846, a 
charter was obtained to organize the Dixon Dam and Bridge com- 
pany, and in the fall and winter of 1846-7 the bridge was built. We 
have seen how this first bridge fared. Subsequently a new charter 
was obtained and a company organized in 1848, under the name of 
the Rock River Hydraulic Company, for the purpose of construct- 
ing a dam, but for some reason the work was nf>t immediately carried 
forward. In August. 1S49, application was made t<j the c<iunty com- 
missioner's court for a writ of ad quod damnum in accordance with 
the law in regard to proposed mill-dams; a jury of twelve disinter- 
ested men was summoned, who met in September and declared in 
favor of the building of the proposed dam. The company entered 



MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. 147 

into negotiations with Messrs. Hancliet & Dalston, ofBelt)it, Wiscon- 
sin, wliicli resulted in a contract on the part of these gentlemen to build 
the dam for a bonus of $1,500. They immediately commenced woi'k ; 
they were allowed to help themselves, without charge, to such ma- 
terial as the woods and quarries afforded, and were to own the dam 
when completed. Although provision was made for a five-foot dam 
in the preliminary proceedings, it at first was built only two feet and 
a half high, but was found to be inadequate to furnish the power 
needed and was soon raised higher. It was built of brush or young 
trees, stoTie and gravel, and was soon finished. Although Hanchet 
& Dalston had acquired the ownership of the work, they were unable 
to retain it, by reason of the indebtedness that they had incurred in 
its construction. Mr. J. B. Brooks had furnished their emjjloyis 
with goods from his store, and Col. Dement had provided funds, 
until the demands of these two gentlemen were more than the firm 
could liquidate. As a matter of security, therefore, Messrs. Dement 
and Brooks eventually acquired the entire ownership of the dam, and 
Hanchet & Dalston retired. A saw-mill was built at the north end 
of the dam at the same time, by Mr. Christopher Brookner. The 
building that, previous to the great fire of April 8, ISSO, was known 
as the Becker & Underwood mill was commenced by Brooks & De- 
ment as soon as they had become owners of the dam. Col. Dement 
sold his interest in the mill, and acquired Brooks' interest in the 
dam, and the mill was afterward run by Brooks & Daley. Dement 
then built the foundry' and the present race, and laid the foundation 
for what, prior to the fire mentioned above, was known as the flax- 
mills and the fiouring-mills of Thompson et Co., both of which were 
afterward built by Chas. Godfrey, Esq. Col. Dement, since the war, 
also built the plow woi-ks and the flax-mills on the south side of the 
race. Mr. Godfrey not only built the flouring-mill mentioned, but 
purchased the Becker & Underwood mill of Bruoks & Daley, and 
a large interest in the water-power. 

The dam withstood the tide for two or three 3'ears witliout re- 
quiring any considerable repair. Breaches were not infrequent, but 
in every instance they were readily mended and the proprietors, after 
years of experience and observation, have gained a knowledge of 
the current and bed which has at last enabled them to construct a 
first-class dam, seven feet in height, against which water and ice seem 
to be powerless. 

From Grand Detour to this place, a distance of nine miles, there 
is a fall of nine and a half feet, with a volume of 7,355 cubic feet of 
water per minute, at the lowest stages of the river. This has been 
ascertained to a certainty by J. M. Patrick, Esq., who measured it 



148 HISTORY OF LEE COrXTY. 

and made estimates in 1863. when tiie river was very low. This 
wdiild furnish a power equal to that of 3.000 horse. The fall at 
that time was five feet, and since then it has been raised to seven 
feet and two inches, whicii will nearly double the power. At 
least .J.OOO horse power is attained. Calculating that it will re- 
quire twenty horse power for one run of stone, we find that our 
water power is capable of propelling 250 run of very large stone. 
Tliis calculation is made from the lowest stage of water — when the 
river is up to a medium stage the power almost doubles the above 
figures. It is estimated that the water used by our factories when 
they were all in operation was not perceptible in the flow of water 
over the dam. The capacity of tlie power already developed would 
be sufficient to run a line of factories on each side of the river that 
would reach from the dam to the railroad bridge. This places within 
the grasp of Dixon the banner of manufacturing towns in Illinois. 
Will she take it '. By placing that portion of this water not needed by 
the present owners in the market at reasonable figures, new capital 
would be invested in it. and by the full employment of this immense 
power by capitalists, who have, and will feel, an increasing interest 
ill the city, equal to the amount of their capital invested in the me- 
chanical appliance of that jxiwer, all branches of industry and mer- 
cantile enterprises would be stimulated to such an extent that it 
would not be unreasonable to expect that in ten years Dixon would 
become a city of 15,000 or 20.000 inhabitants. 

The Flax Bagghui Mill.- — Under the proprietorship of Col. John 
Dement is an establishment that cannot well be ignored in this 
sketch, as its relation to the manufacturing interests of Dixon is one 
of great importance. This mill is the first one of the kind estab- 
lislied in the United States. The project was developed in 1865. and 
the mill erected in 1866. In February, 1867, the mill commenced 
operation under the proprietorship of Messrs. Jerome (fe Downing ; 
a few months hitter the firm Tiame was changed to Dement it Jerome ; 
but for some years Col. Jclm Dement has been sole proprietor. 
Knowing the demand for the manufactured material, the mill was 
established on a large basis, and as soon as it commenced operation 
turned out 1400 yards of bailing cloth per day. The original build- 
ing was of stone, 45x75 feet, two stories high. Kunning three years 
in this building and finding the demand so much greater than their 
facilities could supply, Dement & Jerome increased their capacity in 
1870 by extending the factory building back sixty feet, making the 
whole building 45x140 feet, and increasing the capacity of the mill 
to its present immense business of 8.200 yards of bailing cloth per 
day. The factory now gives employment to fifty men. women and 



MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. 149 

girls. To illustrate the importance of this fiax establishment and the 
number to whom it gives employment it will be necessary to go 
outside the mill. The flax bagging mill uses 9,000 pounds of tow 
per day, which Col. Dement manufactures himself from 36,000 
pounds of flax straw, which is the product of twentv-five to thirty 
acres. The mill runs a full capacity for 280 days ayear. This would 
make 1,260 tons of flax tow manufactured into baling cloth by this 
factory during the 3'ear, produced from 5, Oil) tons of straw, or tlie- 
produet of from 7,000 to 8,140 acres. The mill receives three car 
loads of tow per week, and ships two car loads of bagging. Most ot 
the product of this mill is shipped south to Memphis and Louisville, 
and some to St. Louis, from which places it is distributed through- 
out the cotton-fields, where it is used to inclose the bales of cotton. 

The Becker & Underwood Mills. — These mills stand unrivaled 
and alone as the only mills operated in this country on the complete 
Hungarian system, and are attracting flo\ir manufacturers from the 
far east, west and north to witness the successful working of this 
wonderful machinery. 

The building is 50 85 feet, six stories high, with basement. 
An elevator and cleaning room constitute the east wing, 22 x 36 
feet, and five stories in height. This building the firm commenced 
on August 12, 1880, by five mechanics, which force was increased 
sufliciently to carry the entire building up together; the siding was 
worked from the inside, inclosing each story as it was raised. The 
work was managed with such skill by the proprietors that on Feb- 
ruary 10, 1881, a little less than six months from the time the work 
was commenced, the mill started, with all tliat wonderful combina- 
tion of machinery extending from the cellar to the garret. 

On the first floor are set thirty-five rolling-mills, through which 
the grain passes until reduced into the finest flour. Each roller is 
complete in itself and runs independent of the others, pei-forming 
its own part of the reduction process, the grist having to pass 
through a number of these rollers before it is reduced to its finest 
state. These rollers are connected by conductors and elevators, 
through which the grist passes from one rolling-mill to another until 
pei'fected. The grain passes the first roller, where it is cracked and 
falls through to the basement, from which it is carried by elevators 
to the fifth floor, where it is separated from impurities and returns to 
the first floor to pass through the second roller, then to the upper 
floor as before; and continues in like manner utitil the full series is 
passed, consisting in all of eighteen operations or reductions. On 
this floor, besides the rolling-mills, are four flour packers. 

On the second floor are sixteen stock hoppers and twentj'-two 



150 HISTORY OK LEE COUXTY. 

conveyors; and on the third floor there are nine bolting reehs and 
eight purifiers The fourth tloor contains, also, eight bolting reels 
and eight purifiers, with three bran dusters and three aspirators b}' 
which the stock is cleansed Ironi impurities through a suction pro- 
cess. The fifth floor is occupied b}^ thirty -four bolting reels ; and 
ascending to the sixth floor, or attic, we find it occupied by the 
machinery whicli drives belts and elevators in the mill below. The 
mill is capable of turning out 500 barrels of flour per day. 

The cleaning room is situated between the mill and elevator, 
and is of the same height of the latter, which is five stories, with a 
cleaning mill on each floor. The elevator ha^ a capacity of eighteen 
thousand bushels, and is driven in connection with the machinery 
in the cleaning room, by an independent wheel; having no connec- 
tion with the power that drives the mill. In the basement of the 
cleaning room is being fitted up a Holly fire extinguisher as a 
means of protection from any accident by fire such as the firm expe- 
rienced in 18S0, when their former mill was destroyed in the great 
fire of that year. It is an establishment of which Dixon might well 
be proud. 

THE FOUNDER OF DIXON. 

John Dixon was the first white man to settle within the limits of 
what is now embraced in Lee county. He was a native of 'Ncvr 
York, born in the village of Rye, Westchester county, October 9, 
1784. When twenty-one 3'ears of age he removed to Xew York 
city, and opened a clothing and merchant tailoring establishment, iu 
which he continued rn a successful trade for fifteen years. He was 
a member and one of the directors of the first Bible society organiza- 
tion in the United States. This was organized February 11, 1809, 
under the name of the "Young Men's Bible Society of the City of 
New York." While tlius engaged, premonitory symptoms of pul- 
monary disease manifested themselves, making a change of climate 
necessary. Under the advice of his physician he disposed of his 
interests in the city, and in 1820, in company with Mrs. Dixon and 
children, and his brother-in law, Chas. S. Boyd and family (^now of 
Princeton, Illinois), set out for the then Great West — the western 
prairies. Leaving New York in a covered wagon, drawn by a single 
team, the emigrants passed through the States of New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh, and there purchased a flat-boat, on 
which they embarked with their team and efl^ects, and floated down 
the Oh o to Shawneetown. Illinois, then a little landing. Here they 
disemb a-ked with their horses and goods, and after disposing of their 
boat proceeded with their wagon northwest, through pathless prai- 
ries and unbridged streams, to the vicinity in which is now Spring- 



i ^^iS^;^'^ 



'#»■. 






-c^U. 






THE FOUNDER OF DIXON. 153 

field. The prairie, now the present site of the state capital, was 
then an open wild, without a human dwelling, though a few pioneers 
had reared their cabins in the bordering woodlands. On Fancy 
creek, nine miles from the present site of Springfield, Mr. Dixon 
made his home at the close of his journey of over seventy days. 
Sangamon county was not then set off, and nearly all central and 
northern Illinois was embraced in the county of Madison. Early in 
the next year Sangamon county was formed ; and the first court in 
the new county was held at the house of John Kelly, the oldest set- 
tler near the site of Springfield. John Dixon was appointed foreman 
of the grand jury. In 1825 Judge Sawyer, whose circuit nominally 
embraced northwestern Illinois, requested Mr. Dixon to take the 
appointment of circuit clerk and remove to Peoria, then often called 
Fort Clark, which he did, receiving also from Governor Coles the 
appointment of recorder of deeds for Peoria county, then just 
formed. Northern Illinois was not then divided into counties, and 
within the territory a,ttaclied to Peoria county were the voting pre- 
cincts of Galena and Chicago. This whole region, which now em- 
braces thirty counties, then had but 1,236 inhabitants. While Mr. 
Dixon was at Peoria the government established a mail route from 
Peoria to Galena, crossing Rock river at the present site of Dixon, 
and going by way of Gratiot's Grove, in Wisconsin, to accommodate 
a little settlement there ; mail to be carried once in two weeks on 
horseback. Mr. Dixon threw in a bid for the contract, which was 
accepted. ' In order to secure a passage for the mails over Rock 
river, he induced a man by the name of Ogee, a French and Indian 
half-breed, to establish a feri-y at the i^oint of crossing the river. 
This done, the travel to and from the lead mines so rapidly increased 
that Ogee's coffers became full — -too full indeed for his moral 
powers to bear ; the result was constant inebriation. To avoid the 
delays in the transmission of mails, which these irregularities en- 
tailed, Mr. Dixon bought the ferry from Ogee; and April 11, 1830, 
removed his family to this point. From that date the place, as a 
point for crossing the river, became known as "Dixon's Ferry." 
At that time a large portion of the Winnebago Indians occupied this 
part of the Rock river country. Mr. Dixon so managed his business 
relations with them as to secure their entire confidence and friend- 
ship, which, on the return of the Sacs and Foxes, under Black 
Hawk, in 1832, proved to be of inestimable benefit to himself and 
family. He was recognized by them as the "red-man's friend," 
and in accordance with the universal practice of the race, who always 
give names to persons and places, descriptive of some incident or 
attribute pertaining to them, called him "I^adah-churah-sah," — 
10 



154 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

" Head-hair white,"" in allusiun to liis flowing white hair. It is also 
their custom to run compound words or sentences together, as in 
the case of this name, pronounced by them "Na-chu-sah." Mr. 
Dixon's influence over the moral liabits of the Indians of the Rock 
River valley seriously curtailed the profits of the few Indian traders 
who had established posts there. They found but a poor market for 
the whisky with which they were wont to defraud the Indians out of 
their furs and other pelts. Owanico, or " Jahro," the Winnebago 
chief, who claimed and proved to be the "fast friend " of Mr. Di.xon 
and family, became an active and energetic disciple of temper.mce. 
The advent of Black Hawk with his six hundred warriors, who were 
marching from the Des Moines river, in Iowa, up this valley, and 
who encamped at a spring a few hundred yards above the ferry mow 
flooded by the back-water of the mill-dam), gave the Winnebago 
chiefs abundant opportunity to manifest their fast friendship for the 
family of Mr. Dixon. During the campaign Mr. Dixon's intimate 
knowledge of his country, and ()f the character and liabits of the 
Indian race, enabled him to render imj)ortant services to the country. 
This seems to have been appreciated, and to have gained for him the 
personal friendship and esteem of gentlemen of world-wide reputa- 
tion. Among these were Colonel Baker, who was killed in the 
early part of the rebellion, Albert Sidney Johnston, Zacliary Taylor, 
Robert Anderson, afterward hero of Sumter, Jefferson Davis, 
Abraham Lincoln, Gen. Winfield Scott, and others. He entered 
the land upon which the most valuable part of the (now) city of 
Dixon stands, and in 1835 laid it oft" into town lots. In this connec- 
tion it may not be improper to say that all the lands thus subdivided 
were disposed of from time to time, and the avails, instead of being 
hoarded up for individual use, have gone to build up the general 
interests of the city. 

In 1838, when the general system of internal improvements in 
the state were adopted by the legislature, and a vacancy occasioned 
by the death of Col. Stevenson occurred in the state board of com- 
missioners, he was appointed by Governor Duncan to fill the vacancy, 
and subsequently elected by the legislature a permanent member of 
the board; and although subsequent experience showed that the 
state had undertaken too much, resulting in failure, careful investi- 
gation manifested the fact that the business of the state board had 
been honestly and faithfully executed. While serving as commis- 
sioner an incident occurred to Mr. Dixon that will not be out of 
place to notice in this connection. The pay-rolls of the companies 
were made out and signed, and awaited Mr. Dixon to pay them oft". 
It was his duty as commissioner tn draw the money at Springfield 



THE FOUNDER OF DIXON. 156 

and pay the men. He had intrusted his draft on Springfield for 
collection to a contractor named Hamlin, who absconded with the 
proceeds, !?ll,50o. James P. Dixon and Smith Gilbraith started in 
pursuit, traveling by stage coach through many of the eastern 
states, but returned without success. Soon after James and Elijah 
Dixon renewed the search, traveling in Canada and the eastern and 
New England states, striking his trail once in Connecticut, but 
again losing it they returned to Dixon without recovering anything. 
In the meantime Mr. Dixon had raised the money and paid the 
amount to the state. Some time afterward Ilamlin drew a prize of 
$25,00(1 in a lottery. With this and his other ill-gotten gains he re- 
turned boldly to Galena and opened a store. Mr. Dixon at once 
instituted suit and recovered judgment for the $11,500 and interest. 
The sheriff closed out all of Hamlin's goods that he could get 
possession of, which paid the costs and expenses of the search for 
Hamlin, and a few hundred dollars of the stolen money. In 1840 
Mr. Dixon visited Washington with application for the removal of 
the land office from Galena to Dixon, and Gen. Scott, and perhaps 
other army officers, personal friends of Mr. Dixon, who had become 
familiar with the topogra|>hy of the country during the Black Hawk 
war, promptl)' interested themselves in his behalf, and introduced 
him to President Van Buren, who at once signed the order for 
removal. Of his domestic life it is becoming to make but bare men- 
tion. His wife, formerly Rebecca Sherwood, of New York, a lady 
of superior mental capacity and energy, shared with her husband 
the toils and privations incident to frontier life, and exerted a moral 
and religious influence which will be felt in this region for all time. 
She, with all her children, ten in number, passed away before the 
husband and father. Mr. Dixon continued to live here in the city 
that he loved, where for nearly fifty years he had walked the Indian 
trail as well as paved streets, until his death, which occurred Thurs- 
day, July 6, 1876. His death was expected, as he had been grad- 
ually failing for several weeks; yet, when the mufiled tones of the 
bell on Thursday morning announced the sad news that the beloved 
founder of the town had passed away, it carried sorrow to every heart, 
for old and young alike had learned to love and revere him as a father. 
His city made suitable arrangements for the funeral, which occurred 
on the next Sabbath. The services took place at the north front of the 
court-house, where platforms and seats had been erected for the pur- 
pose. Early in the day delegations composed of civic societies 
from neighboring cities arrived, each headed by a band of music. 
Many of the stores and public buildings were deeply draped in 
mourning. The body was laid in state at the court-house under 



156 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTT. 

guard of Sir Knights Templar. The remains retained the pleasant 
features of life, and were looked upon for the last time by 10,000 
people, who -'loved with a love that was more than love" the 
good Father Dixon. The honor shown his remains in death was 
truly a worthy remembrance of a long life of purity and goodness. 
It has been the custom and inclination of the human race from the 
earliest historical ages to pay honors at burial ceremonies of mili- 
tary heroes and political leaders, and the men of wealth have often 
been thus honored and followed to their grave by the multitudes, 
but seldom in all these ages has there been such ovation and general 
marks of respect tendered to a man in the common walks of life as 
was witnessed at the obsequies of Fatlier Dixon. It was emphat- 
ically an ovation of the masses, and especially of the old settlers of 
this and adjoining counties, who came to pay their respects to the 
last on earth of Father Dixon. It would reasonably be supposed 
that a man so universally loved and respected at his death as was 
Father Dixon never had an enemy in the world, but this was not 
so, — at least in his earlier days, — for in his long and active life he 
had battled earnestly and unflinchingly against evil in every form, 
and by such tirmness for the right he did, as might be expected, 
antagonize men who could not understand, or. if they understood, 
had not the souls to appreciate those noble characteristics which raised 
him far above ordinary men. Yet it can be truly said that "none 
knew him but to love," or "'named him but to praise," because 
those with whom he had met in the strife incident to life were at last 
led to acknowledge the nobleness ot his character. It was not alone 
that he was unselfish, hospitable, kind and generous, patriotic and 
loving, which gained him the respect of all;Jbut it was that, when in 
active life, he was always unswervingly tor the cause of human pro- 
gress and the right, and stubbornly opposed evil. Though his wife 
had passed away more than twenty-nine years before, and he had 
outlived all his children, and it could long since be truly said that 

" The mossy marbles rest 
On the lips that he had prest 

In their bloom, 
And the names he loved to hear 
Had been engraved for many a year 
On the tomb," 
yet he was surrounded by kind and loving hearts and willing 
hands that administered to his every want. It was well, as a lesson 
to the generation of man coming after him, that such marked respect 
should be paid to the closing life of such a man. It was well that 
such a concourse of people should assemble here as had never 
before congregated in one day in this his own city. It was well that 



THE FOUNDER OF DLXON. 157 

the court-house and other public buildings should be deeply draped 
in the habiliments of woe, for a truly good man lay dead in its halls. 
At a citizens' meeting held on Friday evening after Father 
Dixon's death, the -following memorial was prepared and spread on 
the records of the city : 

IN MEMORY OF JOHN DIZON. 

We, the people of Dixon, called upon to mourn the departure of 
him who gave our city existence and its name, desire to place among 
its records this testimonial of our appreciation of his virtues. His 
neighbors, — many of us have known him for a third of a century, — 
■who during all that time have looked up to him and have loved him as 
a father, with one accord have assembled to pay this tribute to his 
memory. John Dixon, after a life extended far beyond the life 
ordinarily assigned to man, at the ripe age of nearly ninety-two 
years, one-half of which had been passed in this town so loved by 
him, which he had made, has departed from the scene of his earthly 
labors. Having long outlived all that were, by the ties of blood, 
nearest and dearest to him, his weary pilgrimage at last is ended. 
He has gone to the summer land. A man of great strength of 
mind, force of character, and determination of purpose; yet he has 
lived and died without an enemy. Forgetful of himself, he lived 
for others, a pure and unselfish life. He was that noblest work of 
God — an honest man — and he has 

"So lived that when the summons came to join 
The innumerable caravan, that mov;s 
To that mysterious realm where each shall take 
His chamber in the silent halls at death. 
He went, not as the quarry slave of night, 
Scourged to his dungeon; but sustained and sooth'd 
By an unfaltering trust, approached the grave 
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch 
Around him and lies down to pleasant dreams." 

Burn at the close of the revolution and rocked in his cradle when 
the "cradle of liberty'' was swinging to and fro with a new-born 
nation. Father Dixon was imbued with all those noble principles of 
patriotism characteristic of that age, and which he retained through 
life. He lived to see his country grow from a vast wilderness, with 
only about the number of inhabitants contained in our state, to a 
great nation of forty millions. When he was born there was hardly 
a white inhabitant in all the great states of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, and indeed the entire northwest, now the most flourishing 
part of the United States. A dozen years before, the American 
colonies were the most loyal part of the British empire, and on the 
political horizon no speck indicated the struggle that had just closed 



158 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

and established the great republic of the world. There were then 
only about half-a-dozen newspapers in this vast country, while 
railroads, telegraphs and steam-engines liad not entered into the 
remotest conceptions of man. It is indeed a .very pertinent fact, 
in this connection, that when Fulton took his first steara-boat up the 
Hudson on a trial trip, John Di.xoii was a passenger, and paid the 
great inventor of steamboats the tirst money as fare ever received as 
a return for his immense expenses and time. So it was our own 
Fatiier Dixon who paid the first steamboat fare ever paid; who was 
the first patron of steam, that now earns, every moment, its millions 
of dolhirs. Fulton at first refused to receive the money, but Father 
Dixon with his innate principles of justice, insisted that he should, 
and it was only by his determination to be just tliat gave him the 
satisfaction of being htjnored, as we said. He lived through a 
liistory in wiiich has been allotted more important events, in their 
bearing upon the liappiness of the world, tlian any other which lias 
eiaj)sed since the creation. Now he has gone down to his grave full 
of honors, such as any hero of any age might envy. 

Mrs. Dixon was one of the few women who could and did adorn 
any position in life in whicli she was placed. Her person was rather 
under size, exhibiting no marked peculiarity. She was intelligent, 
far above the age and circumstances surrounding lier, and had a 
warm lieart and ready liand for every good word and work alike. 
Devout and fervent in all the holy exercises ot religion and morality, 
ardently attached to the church (Baptist) to which siie belonged, she 
gave her iiaiid to all who Ixire the name and character of that great 
christian body. Her moral worth, talents, virtue, and her whole life, 
was one of devotion to Christianity. She was Solomon's ideal of 
glorious womanhood before he was corrupted by tiie false glare and 
glitter of a false religion and an impure life. '•Asaii early reminis- 
cence of Mrs. Dixon's rare tact and knowledge of character, shall I 
venture to write tliat in the dend of winter, preceding tlie Black 
Hawk war, the prophet, from Proplietstown, Black Hawk, and a 
chief from Rock Island, whose name I have forgotten, held a council 
at Dixon's Ferry, and tlien and tiiere negotiated with tlie Pottawato- 
mies for the occupancy of tiie Spotted Arms' town near the present 
site of Rockford. Meal time came three times a day, to whicli the 
cliiefs at the council fire were invited as guests of ilrs. Dixon. She 
presided as waiter, and, to allay any fears of her guests, sat down 
and ate and drank with them. The perfect lady was reminded by 
Black Hawk, as spokesman, of her goodness, and he called the at- 
tention of the other chiefs to her care and politeness to tiiem." 



LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS. 1 59 

LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS. 

THIRTEENTH KEGIMEI^T. 

The Thirteenth Infantry IlliiKUS Volunteers was organized under 
the Ten-Regiment bill, at Dixon, Illinois, May 9, 1861, and went into 
camp on the fair grounds at Dixon. On the next day, after going 
into camp, the following regimental officers were elected : John 

B. Wyraan, colonel, B. F. Parks, lieutenant-colonel, A. B. Gorgas, 
major. Colonel's staff consisted of A. W. Pitts, commissary, W. 

C. Henderson, quartermaster, J. L. McCleary, assistant quarter- 
master, H. T. Porter, adjutant, Dr. S. C. Phimer, surgeon. Dr. D. 
W. Young, assistant-surgeon, Rev. J. C. Miller, chaplain. The 
drawing of positions by the companies resulted as follows : 

Dixon 

Sterling . 

Amboy 

Rock Island 

Sandwich 

Sycamore 

Morrison 

Aurora 

Chicago 

Du Page 

This regiment was organized with 87*1 men, and was composed 
of companies from Dixon, Sterling, Amboy, Rock Island, Sandwich, 
Sycamore, Morrison, Aurora, Chicago, and Du Page. The regiment 
was organized for the three months service, but the call being made 
soon after for three-years volunteers, the regiment was mustered into 
the United States service under the last call, May 24, 1861, being 
the first regiment mustered into the three-years service. 

Company A was the first company of volunteei's raised at Dixon, 
and on April 22, 1861, they met at their armory and elected company 
officers : A. B. Gorgas, captain, Henry T. Noble, first-lieutenant, 
Henry Dement, second-lieutenant, Benjamin Gilman, first-sergeant, 
and O. M. Pugh, second-sergeant, and on the same day hoisted the 
union flag opposite the mayor's office. On April 2.> the ladies of 
Dixon presented the company with a handsome banner, when as- 
sembled in front of the court-house. Miss Mary "Williams (Mrs. H. 

D. Dement) delivered the presentation address. 

Two other companies, the Dixon Cadets and the Dixon Blues, 
were organized within a few days, but their services were not needed 
on account of the regiments under the first call being full. Most of 
the members of these companies afterward enlisted and went to the 
war in other companies and regiments. On June 1, 1861, the ladies 
presented Co. A with uniforms made by their own hands. 



Captain 


H. T. Noble 


Company A 




D. R. Bushnell 


B 




M. H. Messinger 







Q. McNeil 


D 




S. W. Partridge 


E 




Z. B. Mayo 


F 




G. W. Cole 


G 




— Gardner 


H 




S. W. Wads worth 


I 




W. Blanchard . 


K 



160 HISTORY OF LEE COTINTT. 

Company C was organized at Amboy, electing as company officers 
as follows : Henry M. Messinger, captain, Nathaniel Neff, first 
lieutenant, George B. Sage, second lieutenant. 

The two companies above, A and C, were of Lee county, while 
the other companies were from the different parts of the state as 
above given. 

This regiment remained in camp at Dixon until Sunday, June 
16, when they were ordered to Caseyville. Illinois ; from thence to 
Rolla, Missouri, b}' rail, July 6. Here they remained until October 
10, 1861, when they were ordered to Springfield, Missouri ; and in 
thirty days (November 10) they were ordered back to Rolla. Here 
they went into winter quarters, and remained until March 16, 1862, 
wlicn they were ordered to Arkansas ; and leaving Kolla, Missouri, 
on the above date, they marched, via Springfield, to Pea Ridge, 
Arkansas; thence, via Kictsville, to Balesville, and thence to Helena, 
Arkansas, arriving on July 14, 18(12. On December 27, 1862, they 
reached Chickasaw Bayou, being the first I'egiment to reach that 
battleground and lead in the assault against the enemy, on Decem- 
ber 29, 1862. In tiiis battle fell scmie of the brave boys of Lee 
county. On the 11th day of the following month (January 1863) 
they participated in the battle of Arkansas Post. Then followed the 
battle at Jackson, Mississippi, May 22, 1863, in which they were 
engaged; and on the 22d of the same month they participated in the 
assault on the rebel works before Yicksburgh. From here they 
returned to Jackson, Mississippi, and participated in the siege of 
that ]^city, July 1863. They were in the battles of Tuscumbia, 
October 26 and 27, 1863. From there to Lookout Mountain, No- 
vember 24 ; thence to Mission Ridge on the following day (Novem- 
ber 25) ; two days later (November 27, 1863) they were in the battle 
of Ringgold, Georgia. In the following spring (May 1864) they 
were in the battle of Madison, x\labama. 

Their term of service having expired, they returned to S](ring- 
field. Illinois, and were mustered out of the service of the United 
States on June 18, 1864. 

Veterans were transferred to the 56th Illinois Volunteers, among 
•whom were some of the, Lee county soldiers, which will be noted in 
the following table. Mark M. Evens, of Dixon, was mustered in as 
captain of Co. I in the 56th regiment, as above, and was mus- 
tered out of the service at the close of the war, under date of August 
12, 1865. 

Officers Roll at the Close of Service. — Col. John B. Wyman, 
Amboj', killed in battle of Chickasaw Bayou, December 28, 1862. 

Lieut. -Col. Benjamine F. Parks, Dixon, resigned June 24, 1861. 



LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS. 161 

Major, Adam B. Gorgas, Dixon, promoted June 25, 1861, to lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and to colonel December 29, 1862 ; term expiring 
June 18, 186-1. 

Second Assistant Surgeon, David H. Lane, resigned November 
15, 1862, to accept commission as surgeon in 9th Cav., Mo. Vols. 

Chaplain, Joseph C. Miller, Amboy, was honorably discharged 
September 4, 1863. 

Company A. — Captain, Henry T. N"oble, Dixon, promoted by the 
President, July S, 1863. 

Second Lieut. , Henry D. Dement, Dixon, was promoted to first 
lieutenancy April 27, 1861, and resigned August 1, 1863. 

First Sergeant, Geo. L. Aiken, Dixon, was promoted second lieu- 
tenant March 1, 1862, and died April 2, 1863. 

Sergeant, Adanaran J. Pinkham ; was promoted second lieutenant 
June 11, 1863, and was promoted captain August 1, 1863. 

Sergeant, Henry Van Honton, discharged November 30, 1863, to 
accept commission as major of 3d Arkansas Cavalry. 

The following privates in Co. A were promoted : Sherman A. 
Griswold, Lee Center, was discharged to be promoted to second 
lieutenant in 1st Missouri Cavalry ; Jedediah Shaw, Dixon, as cor- 
poral ; Charles W. Snider, Dixon, as sergeant-major ; William 
Irwin, Dixon, as sergeant ; Mark Evens, as first lieutenant ; Jonathan 
H. Crabtree, Dixon, as corporal ; John H. Brubaker, Dixon, as first 
sergeant ; Henry B. Anderson, Dixon, as corporal, and Alx. Pitts as 
sergeant. 

THIRTY-FOUKTH INFANTRY REGIMENT. 

On September 2, 1861, five companies left Dixon for the army, 
and were organized in the -Sith Illinois Infantry Volunteers, at 
Camp Butler, a few days after. The companies leaving Dixon at 
this time were Co. A, from Sterling, commanded by E. B. Ward ; 
Co. B, from Morrison, H. W. Bristol, captain ; Co. C, from China, 
Lee county, Alx. Dysart, captain ; Co. D, from Dixon, T. L. 
Pratt, captain ; and Co. F, from Grand Detour. 

Companies C and D were made up of Lee county boys, while a 
number were received in other companies of this regiment. 

The 34th Illinois Infantry Volunteers was organized at Camp 
Butler, September 7, 1861, by Col. E. N. Kirk. On October 2 moved 
to Lexington, Kentucky, and from thence to Louisville, and then to 
camp Nevin, Kentucky, where it remained until February 14, and 
was afterward hotly engaged in the battle of Shiloh, losing Major 
Levenway and fifteen killed, and one hundred and twelve wounded. 
From here they moved to luka and Florence. They crossed the 
river at that place and moved to Athens, Huntersville and Steven- 



16-i HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

son, Alabama ; tlience to Battle Creek, where they were encamped 
over a month. 

Leaving Battle Creek they marched to Louisville, Kentucky, 
arriving September 27, 1862. October 1, 1862, left Louisville for 
Frankt'oi-t. October 4 was engaged in a skirmish at Claysville, 
Kentucky. From Frankfort moved to Nashville. Xovember 27 
had a skirmish at Lavorgne. liegiment remained in camp five 
miles southeast of Nashville until December 26, 1862. 

On leaving tlie above camp they moved on to Triune, near which 
place they became engaged with the enenu' on December 27. On 
the 29th they moved toward Murfreesboro, and on the 30th took 
position on the extreme right of the Union lines. On the following 
day, December 31. 1862, the enemy attacked the regiment in over- 
whelming force, driving it back on the main line. Many of the 
regiment were captured ; twenty-onu killed, twenty-three wounded, 
and sixty-six missing. 

During the three following days the regiment did guard duty. 

On June 25, 1863, they were engaged in a battle near Liberty 
Gap, losing three killed and twenty-six wounded. 

The regiment was now in the 2(»th Army C'orps. On the 26th it 
moved to Manchester, entering Tullahoma on the morning of July 1. 
August 10, moved to Bellefonti', Alabama. The 34th was detailed 
as provost guard; 30th, moved to Caxertaiu's ferry, on Tennessee 
river. Here the regiment was left to guard the pontoon bridge. 
September 18, moved the boats to Battle Creek. October 20, 1863, 
moved to Anderson's Cross-roads, in Sequatchie valley. November 
8, moved to Harrison's Landing, on Tennessee river. Arrived at 
Chattanooga the 15th, and camped on Moccasin point. November 
23th, ordered to join the brigade on the battle-field of ('hattanooga. 
iloved by Chickamauga Station; met the retreating enemy near 
Graysville, and was engaged about half an hour. 2sth, moved back 
to Chattanooga, where those unable to march were put in camp; the 
remainder of the regiment moving on the expedition into East Ten- 
nessee, as far as Loudon, where the 34th was detailed to run a 
grist-mill, grinding corn ami wheat for the division. Returned to 
Chattanooga, arriving December ID, 1863. 

December 22, the 34th was mustered as a veteran organization. 
Received veteran furlough, and rendezvoused at Dixon, Illinois, 
arriving Januai-y 21. 1864. February 28, started to Chattanooga, 
arriving March 17, and moved out to join the second brigade, in 
camp near Roseville, G-eorgia. Mustered out .Tuly 12, 1S65, at 
Louisville, Kentucky. Arrived at Chicago, July 16. for final pay- 
ment and discharge. 



LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEEKS. 163 

Officers' RoU—Gompany C. — Captains: Alex T. Dysart, Chiiia, 
promoted major, then to colonel; Benson Wood, China, resigned Jan- 
uary 29, 1863 ; Peter F. Walker, Bradford, promoted major ; L. W. 
Rosecrans, China, mustered out July 1865. 

First Lieutenants : Benson Wood, China, promoted ; P. F. 
Walker, Bradford, promoted ; J. W. Williams, China, mustered out 
November 5, 1864 ; L. N. Black, China, killed in battle March 1865 ; 
David Wingert, China, mustered out July 12, 1865. 

Second Lieutenants : P. F. Walker, Bradford, promoted ; J. W. 
Williams, China, promoted; B. F. Dysart, China, mustered out 
November 5, 1864 ; L. W. Eosencrans, China, promoted. 

Company i>.^ Captains : T. L. Pratt, Dixon, resigned August 
18, 1862 ; William S. Wood, Dixon, resigned April 14, 1864 ; S. B. 
Dexter, Amboy, mustered out November 8, 1864; Charles Eckles, 
Palmyra, mustered out Jul}' 12, 1865. 

First Lieutenants : William Wood, Dixim, promoted ; S. B. Dex- 
ter, Amboy, promoted ; Francis Forsyth, Dixon, mustered out ; 
H. A. Jeft's, Franklin, mustered out July 12,1865. 

Second Lieutenants : S. B. Dexter, Amboy, promoted ; Francis 
Forsyth, Dixon, promoted ; Charles Eckles, Palmyra, promoted ; 
Spencer Conn, mustered out July 12, 1865. 

FOETY-SIXTH INFANTRY REGIMENT. 

Company D of this regiment was organized with the following 
officers: William F. Wilder, of Sublette, captain ; Joel L. Coe, of 
Amboy, first lieutenant, and Henry H. Woodbury, of Amboy, second 
lieutenant. This company consolidated with Co. I, March 7, 1863. 

Company H was also largely a representative of Lee county, as 
it contained a number of soldiers in its ranks from among her sons. 
Captain John Stevens, of Dixon, commanded, and Thomas A. Pieron- 
nett, first lieutenant, was from Amboj'. 

In Company I we find the names of Lee county citizens among 
the commissioned ofiicers as well as in the ranks. 

Tlie 46th was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, December 
28, 1861, by Col. John N. Davis. It was ordered to Cairo, Illi- 
nois, on February 11, 1862. From thence proceeded via Cumber- 
land river to Fort Donelson, Tennessee, arriving on the 14th, and was 
assigned to command of Gen. Lew AVallace. 16th, moved through 
the works and to Dover. 19th, moved to Henry. On March 16 it 
embarked for Pittsburg Landing, where it arrived on the 18th. The 
regiment was now in the second brigade and fourth division. 

In the battle of Shiloh the 46th took a most conspicuous and 



164 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTT. 

honorable part, losing over half of its officers and men in killed 
and wounded ; it received the thanks of the commanding generals. 

The regiment was engaged during the month of May in the siege 
of Corinth. 

On June 2 the regiment camped six miles west of Corinth. On 
the 10th it marched to the Hatchio river ; on the 15th passed through 
Grand Junction, and camped three miles from town ; on tlie 2-tth 
moved to Collarbone Hill, near La Grange, and on the 30th moved 
to the old Lamar church. 

On July 1 it niarclied to Cold Water, and returned on the 6th ; 
on the 17th moved toward Memphis, and marching via Moscow, 
Lafayette, Germantown and White's Station, camping two miles 
south of Memphis on July 21, and on August 27 engaged in the 
scout to Pigeon Roost. On September 6, the following month, the 
regiment moved from Memphis toward Brownsville, and continuing 
the march via Kaleigh, Union Station, the Hig Muddy river was 
reached on the 9th. On the 11th the command was again on the 
move via Hampton Station, Danville, WhiteviJle, Pleasant Creek, 
and Bolivar to Hatchie river, where all the troops on the river were 
reviewed by Gen. McPherson on September 27. 

On October 4 the command was again on the move toward Cor- 
inth, and met the enemy at Metamora. The 4()th was on the right 
of second brigade, supporting Bolton's battery. After an hour's 
shelling by the batteries the infantry were ordered forward, and at 
a double-ijuiek advanced, driving the enemy across the river. The 
first brigade coming up, "Hui-lbut's fighting fourth divisit)n " ad- 
vanced and drove the enemy from the field, compelling his flight. 
Col. John A. Davis, of the 4fith, and Lieut. M. \i. Thompson fell 
mortally wounded, both expiring on the 10th. After the battle the 
regiment returned to Bolivar. 

On Xovember 3 they marched to La Grange, where they remained 
until the 28th, when the}' moved to Holly Springs ; and two days 
after they moved toward the Tallahatchie river, and camped near 
Waterford, Mississippi, where winter quarters were fitted up with 
mud chimneys and bake-ovens complete. But these were only com- 
pleted in time to move away from them ; for on December 11 they 
crossed Hurricane Creek, and on the following day advanced to Yo- 
cony Station, where tiiey remained until December 22, when they 
marched to Taylor's Station. 

Van Dorn having captured Holly Springs, the regiment marched 
on the 22d via Oxford to Hurricane Creek, and on the fi>llowing day, 
24th, the 46tli Illinois, and 33(1 Wisconsin moved, as train guard, to 



LEE COUNTY UNIOPf VOLUNTEERS. 165 

north side of Tallahatchie river. Here they tarried but two days, and 
on the 26th moved camp four miles nearer Holly Springs, between 
Waterford and Wyatt Station. This closed movements for 1862, but 
on January 6, 1.863, they moved to Holly Springs, and on the 10th 
the 46th and the 15th were an escort to ammunition train to La Grange, 
from which they marched on the 13th to Moscow, where they re- 
mained until February 5, when they moved to Lafayette. 

After rejoining the brigade at Lafayette they moved on March 9, 
via Collierville and Germautown, to Memphis. 

On April 21, 1863, they engaged in the expedition to Hernando, 
and returned the 24th, where they remained until May 13, when 
they embarked for Vicksburg, and on the 15th landed at Young's 
Point; on the 18th marched to Bower's Landing; on the 19th 
moved to Sherman's Landing, and on the 20th moved, by steamer, 
up the Yazoo to Chickasaw Bayou, where they disembarked and 
moved across the swamp to the bluff. May 21 they proceeded to 
the left of Gen. Grant's army ; 24th, marched in the direction of 
Vicksburg ; 25tli, marched to the extreme left of the line. The reg- 
iment was detailed on picket duty, and during the night the out- 
post (five companies) were captured by the enemy. One hundred 
and four men and seven officers were taken, seventy escaping. The 
remainder of the regiment took an active part in the siege of Vicks- 
burg. July 12, in the siege of Jackson, moved into position at ex- 
treme right of line. Engaged in the siege until the 16th, when the 
enemy evacuated Jackson ; after which the regiment returned to 
Vicksburg. August 8, moved to Natchez ; September 1, went on 
expedition into Louisiana ; returned on the 8th. 

January 4, 1864, the 46th was mustered as a veteran regiment. 
12th, started north and on the 23d arrived at Freeport, Illinois, where 
the regiment was furloughed. 

SIXTY-NINTH INFANTRY REGIMENT. 

Company H, of the 69th Illinois Volunteers, was organized at 
Dixon for the three-months service. The ofBcers tor this company 
from Lee county were James W. Reardon, captain, Dixon ; Eli B. Ba- 
ker, first lieutenant, Dixon ; Edwin F. Bennett, second lieutenant, 
Dixon ; John D. Heaton, first sergeant, Dixon ; L. M. Keyms, ser- 
geant, Dixon ; Edward Perkins, sergeant, Dixon ; P. C. Williams, ser- 
geant, Franklin Grove ; George D. Black, sergeant, Franklin Grove ; 
Germanus Knepper, corporal, Dixon ; George Johnson, corporal, 
Franklin Grove ; Hanibal Keen, corporal, Franklin Grove ; John 
Little, corporal, Dixon ; L. H. Moore, corporal, Dixon ; Uriah 



166 HISTORY OF LEE COrNIT. 

Stroup, corporal, Dixon ; Jerome A. Martin, corporal, Dixon ; Jo- 
seph Ledger, corporal, Dixon. 

Company K. — Wm. H. Tousley, first lieutenant, Aniboy ; H. T. 
Fratt. sergeant, Amboy ; E. W. Patten, sergeant, Ambo}' ; L. W. 
Waterbur}-, sergeant, Lee Center; Jas. A. Martin, sergeant. Aniboy. 

There were forty-four in the ranks of this regiment from Lee 
county. 

SEVENTY-KIFTH INP'ANTRY REGIMENT. 

The 75th Illinois Volunteers was organized at Dixon, Illinois, on 
September 2, 1862, by Col. George Kyan. 

Ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, September 27. Was brigaded 
with 30th brigade, Col. Post ; 9th division. Gen. Mitchell, of Buell's 
army. 

Octobir 1, marched in pursuit of Bragg. October 8, engaged in 
the battle of Chaplain Hills, losing 47 killed. 166 wounded, and 12 
prisoners. Marched to Crab Orchard, Col. Wookruff assuming 
command of the division. Returned, \'ia Lebanon and Bowling 
Green, to Nashville, Gen. Jeft". C. Davis taking command of the 
division. Encamped four miles from Nashville, on the Lebanon 
Pike, November 7, 1^62 ; since which time no historical memoran- 
dum[is given in the adjutant-general's reports. 

Mustered out June 12, 1865, at Camp Harker, Tennessee, and 
arrived at Chicago June 15, 1865, where the regiment received 
final payment and discharge. 

Major — James A. Watson, mustered in February 3, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out June 12, 1865. 

Adjutant — Jerome Hollenbeck, mustered in September 2, 1862 ; 
resigned December 19, 1862. 

Quartermaster — John E. Remington, mustered in September 2, 
1862 ; resigned for promotion, November 24, 1863. 

Surgeon — George Phillips, mustered in September 18, 1862; 
resigned May 10, 1863. 

Company A. — Captain : James A. Watson, mustered in Sep- 
tember 2, 1862 ; promoted major. Mustered out June 12, 1865. 

First Lieutenant — Ezekiel Giles, mustered in September 2, 1862; 
promoted captain. Resigned ^^ay 23, 1SH3. 

Second Lieutenant — William Parker, jr., mustered in September 
2, 1862 : promoted first lieutenant. Promoted captain. May 23, 
1863. Mustered out June 12, 1865. 

First Sergeant — Frederick A. Headley, mustered in September 
2, 1862: promoted second lieutenant. Promoted first lieutenant. 
Honorably discharged May 15, 1865. 



LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS. 167 

Sergeants — Alfred Iv. Buekaloo, iniistered in September 2, 1862; 
promoted second lieutenant ; died March 24, 1864. Horace Judson, 
mustered in September 2, 1862 ; reduced ; mustered out June 12, 
1865. William J. Cogswell, mustered in September 2, 1862 ; dis- 
charged March 8, 1863 ; disability. Joseph A. Hill, mustered in 
September 2, 1862 ; discharged May 28, 1863 ; disability. 

Corporals — John William, mustered in September 2, 1862 ; died 
at Richmond, Virginia, June 3, 1864, while a prisoner of war. 
Louis H. Burket, mustered in September 2, 1862 ; promoted ser- 
geant-major. Edwin J. Jones, mustered in September 18, 1862; 
deserted October 3, 1862. Isaac E. Barr, mustered in September 
18, 1862; mustered out June 12, 1865. George M. Putnam, mus- 
tered in September 18, 1862 ; mustered out June 12, 1865, as first 
sergeant. Ezra Cooper, mustered in September 18, 1862; sergeant; 
died January 12, 1865. David H. Wagner, mustered in September 
18, 1862 ; mustered out June 12, 1865, as sergeant. Anthony Zim- 
mer, mustered in September 18, 1862; reduced. Absent, sick, at 
muster out of regiment. 

Musicians — James L. Backus, mustered in September 18, 1862; 
mustered out June 12, 1865. David Freeman, mustered in Septem- 
ber 18, 1862; discharged May 28, 1863; disability. 

Comjxtuy E. — This company was organized at Amboy with 
volunteers from the central part of the county. 

Captains — Wm. S. Frost, mustered in September 2, 1862; dis- 
charged January 23, 1S65. J. H. Blodget, mustered in February 
16, 1865 ; mustered out. 

First Lieutenants — F. H. Eels, mustered in September 2, 1862; 
killed in battle. J. H. Blodget, mustered in April 23, 1863; pro- 
moted. James Dexter, mustered in February 17, 1865 ; mustered 
out. 

Second Lieutenants — J. H. Blodget, mustered in September 2, 
1862; promoted. Jas. Dexter, promoted. 

Company F — Amhrnj. — Captains : A. S. Vorey, mustered in 
September 2, 1862 ; died August 14, 1864. James McCord, mus- 
tered in April 1, 1865 ; mustered out June 12. 1865. 

First Lieutenant — Jas. Tourtillott, mustered in April 1, 1865 ; 
resigned. Jas. D. Place, promoted. 

Company G — Franklin Grove. — Captains: Joseph Williams, 
mustered in September 2, 1862 ; resigned. E. L. Irwin, mustered 
in May 20. 1864; mustered out June 12, 1865. 

First Lieutenant — R. L. Irwin, not mustered ; resigned. 



168 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Second Lieutenant — K. L. Irwin, mustered in September 2, 
1862 ; promoted. Win. Vance, mustered in May 3, 1863 ; pro- 
moted. 

But few regiments that entered the service met the enemy in 
desperate battle so soon after enlistment as did the 75th. Mustered 
in on September 2 ; on October 1 marched in pursuit of Gen. 
Bragg, and on the 8th -engaged with the enemy, in which conflict 
the Lee county boys suifered severely. Lee Center and Sublett 
were largely represented among the dead on the battle-tield. Many 
died from wounds received in the battle. 

ONE HaNDEED AND FOETIETH INFANTRY REGIMENT. 

The 140th Infantry Illinois Volunteers was raised for the one- 
hundred-days service, and went into camp at Dixon about May 1, 
1864. June 16 the regiment was ordered to Springfield, where it 
was immediateW sworn into the service, and ordei-ed to Paducah, 
Kentucky. The regiment serving the full time of enlistment, it was 
mustered out October 26, 1864. The officers from Lee county were 
as follows : 

Colonel — Lorenzo Whitney, Dixon ; mustered out October 29, 
1864. 

Quartermaster. — Geo. W. Bishop, Dixon, mustered out October 
29, 1864. 

Surgeon — Geo. W. Pliillips. Dixon; mustered out October 29, 
1864. 

Company E. — Captain: Ezekial Giles, Dixon; mustered out 
October 29, 1864. 

First Lieutenant — Joseph Ball, Dixon; mustered out October 
29, 1864. 

Second Lieutenant — John L. Skinner, Amboy ; mustered out 
October 29, 1864. 

'•CHEENEY's battery," first ILLINOIS ARTILLERY. 

Battery F, First Illinois Light Artillery, was recruited at Dixon, 
Illinois, in Januar}' 1862, by Capt. John T. Cheney, and was mus- 
tered in at Springfield, February 25. 

Moved to Boston barracks, Missouri, March 15, with four six- 
pound guns. A])ril 1, was ordered to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, 
and arrived April 9, and was assigned to Maj. Gen. Lew. Wallace's 
third division, army of the Tennessee. 






JZ.CK ^ 



LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS. 171 

"Was engaged in the siege of Corinth, and June 9 marched for 
Memphis, arriving on the 18th. November 26, moved from Mem- 
phis and arrived from the Tallahatchie river December 2. On the 
11th, in Denver's division, went on the Yocoiia expedition, returning 
to Tallahatchie river, and finally to Holly Springs, Mississippi. 

March 7, 1865, battery F was consolidated with other batteries 
of the regiment. ' 

Officers from Lee county were John T. Cheney, captain, promoted 
major; J. H. Burton, first lieutenant, prouKJted captain ; J. T. Wha- 
ley, second lieutenant, promoted first lieutenant ; Theodore W. Raub, 
second lieutenant, killed in battle ; Robert Richey, second lieutenant, 
mustered out March 7, 1865 ; J. Q. Yates, second lieutenant, not 
mustered. 

Besides the regiments here noted as containing Lee cijunty sol- 
diers, there were many volunteers who enlisted in other regiments 
in different departments of the service. In the infantry ranks, Lee 
county was represented in seventeen regiments besides those above 
mentioned, ranging from No. 10 to Xo. 152. Ten cavalry regiments 
contained Lee county boys, as well as Burnside's marine artillery 
McClellan's dragoons, etc. From the Atlantic to the prairies of Mis- 
souri, and from the Ohio river to the gulf on almost every battle-field 
were found the brave sons of Lee county nobly fighting for their 
country. 

Patriotism at home. — ^The patriotism of Lee county was awak- 
ened by the news of the firing on Fort Sumter, and on April 17, 
1861, there appeared in the Dixon " Telegraph " the following note : 
"War Feeling in Dixon. — While we are writing, the people, with- 
out distinction of party, are in council. Great enthusiasm prevails. 
A company is forming. The action of the administration is to be 
sustained." 

An association was formed called " the volunteer aid associa- 
tion," for the purpose of rendering aid to the families of absent vol- 
unteers, and on June 20, iStU. they reported a subscription to the 
fund of $2,625. 

In the autumn of 1861 a camp tor recruiting and organizing troops 
was established at Dixon, on the banks of the river west of the rail- 
road. Col. W. H. Hayden, commander of post, and Col. John De- 
ment, commander of the encampment. On May 21, 1863, John V. 
Eustace was a^^pointed provost-marshal for this congressional dis- 
trict. 

Relief societies were organized, and appropriations made by the 
county board of supervisors, for the relief of the families of absent 
volunteers. Military scrip was issued for the payment of bounty 
11 



17 "2 HISTORY OF LEE COIXTY. 

offered bv tlu- board of supervisors for Lee county. At tlie Jaiiuarv 
term of tlie board it was reported by tiie committee on said scrip 
that $6,()0U liad been distributed as designed. 

At the November term, 1S63, the board of supervisors of the 
county offered a bounty of -slOO to every accepted volunteer from 
Lee county, and at the November term of the court. 1863. an appro- 
priation was made for tlie same purpose, and spread upon the regis- 
ter the following preamble and resolution, to wit : 

W/ienas, Our government has found it necessary to make an- 
other call upon the people of the loyal states for three hundred thou- 
sand more men wherewith to crush out the existing rebellion iu our 
land'; and 

W/itrids. the State of Illinois has heretofore, by patrioti.>im of 
her noble sons in voluntarily enlisting in the army of the Union, es- 
caped the necessity of drafting (furnishing more men than her quota, 
under all the preceding calls) ; and 

Whe7'eas, we, tlie board of supervisors of Lee county, have assem- 
bled for the special purpose, and being desirous tiiat her proud name, 
which the sons of Illinois now battling for our country have made 
for our state, should still be maintained by voluntary enlistments, 
and especially desirous that our county of Lee, second to none in 
the state for patriotism, should only be represented in our army by 
volunteers ; it is therefore 

Resolved, That we offer to each and every duly accepted volunteer 
from the county of Lee a county bounty of the sum of $1(»0. 

There being a scarcity of funds in the treasury witii which to pay 
these proffered bounties, the board subsequently ordered that bonds 
not to exceed .S20,000 be issued to pi-ovide for the same. 

It subsequently appears as a matter of record that there was but 
$15,000 issued in bonds for this purpose. 

At the February term of the supervisors' court it was reported 
that $4,061.50 had been ilistributed as a relief fund to families of 
volunteers. 

At a special term of the board held in October. 1864, the follow- 
ing resolution was offered by John .1. Iliggins, and was adopted by 
fifteen for to four against, to wit : 

" Resolved, That the board of supervisors of Lee county, for the 
purpose of aiding those men who have enlisted, or may enlist on or 
after the third day of October, a.u. 1864, under the call of the pi-esi- 
dent of the United States, made on the 18th day of July, a.d. 1864, 
for 500,000 men, do hereby appropriate, in addition to the bounty 
of $100 offered at the annual session of the board on the 14th day of 
September, a.d. 1864, the sum of $900 to each and every man so 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 17^^ 

enlisting or volunteering to fill said call ; and the clerk of this board 
is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to issue county orders 
to an amount not to exceed the sum of $150,000, including the sum 
of $25,500 appropriated on the llth da.y of September, a.d. 1864." 
At the same meeting of the board, on motion of supervisor Gas- 
ton, the clerk of the board was autliorized and directed to draw 
orders on the county treasury in sum not to exceed $2,000 for the re- 
lief of the families of volunteers, in sums not to exceed $100 each, 
and to be placed in the liands of the agents (who had been previous! y 
appointed by the board) for the distribution of the relief fund. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 

Dixon township originally embraced South Dixon, Nelson, and 
a part of Nachusa townsliip ; the survey einbracing T. 21 N., R. 9 
E., which is situated and lying in I.ee ccninty ; and part of T. 22 N., 
K. 9 E., which is situated and lying in Lee county ; also that part of 
T. 21 N., R. 8 E., that is south of Rock river. It has since been 
limited to a much smaller area by ci-eating out of its original terri- 
tory, Nelson, South Dixon and the northwest part of Nachusa town- 
ships. The present town of Dixon is located in the northwest quar- 
ter of the C(janty of Lee ; being bounded on the north by Ogle 
county, on the east by Nachusa, on the south by South Dixon, and 
on the west by Palmyra township ; and may be described as follows : 
beginning at the range line between eiglit and nine east, on the coun- 
ty line between Lee and Ogle counties, and extending east on said 
line to Rock river ; thence up said river to a point half a mile east of 
section-line three east ; thence south to the center of section thirty- 
five ; thence east one mile to the center of section thirty-six ; thence 
S(nith one mile to the center of section two, township twenty-one 
north, range nine east ; thence west half a mile to section line be- 
tween sections two and three ; thence south half a mile to section 
line; thence west to range line between eight and nine east; thence 
north on said line to the place of beginning. The northern line is 
irregular, as it follows tlie river course where it makes a detour 
north and south ; and the eastern boundary is made to deviate from 
a direct line for local accommodations. It is four and a half miles 
at its widest point east and west, and six north and south, embrac- 
ing an area of about nineteen square miles. 

The natural scenery of Dixon township surpasses, in beauty and 
variety, any other township in Lee county, presenting a series of 
rugged bluffs, rounded hills, declining slopes, green lawns, and shady 



174 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

groves, through which meander laughing brooks, with here and there 
flowing fountains of purest water. And through tlie midst of this 
park of natural scenery flow majestically and peacefully the waters 
of Rock river. Numerous islands set with green grass and fringed 
witli small forest trees adorn the river in its course through the 
township, presenting adiiitinnal attractions to the eyes of the admir- 
ers of tlie beautiful in nature. The river enters the township on the 
north near tiie middle of the boundary line, flowing southeast to 
within a quarter of a mile of the east line; then bearing to the 
southwest it passes the city of Dixon and emerges from the township 
half a mile north of the southwest corner ; thus traversing the length 
and breadth of the township. 

The town of Dixon is well supplied with the purest of water, fur- 
nished by fountains which burst from the hills and bluff's, and send 
their rivulets through the farms to quench tlie thirst of the herds 
that graze upon the rich pastures. 

The drainage of the township is good, as will be readily seen by 
reference to the geography of the territory which it embraces. The 
land is generally rolling, and bluff"y along the river. It is also well 
supplied with timber of valuable varieties and best quality. Most 
ot the great trees of the primeval forest, however, have fallen before 
the woodman's axe. The tall oaks, poplars, black walnuts, and 
hickory have given place to timber of smaller growth. Though the 
grand forest of half a century is gone, there are yet groves and 
forests of the finest timber ; oak of different varieties abound, with 
here and there beautiful groves of thrifty young hickory. 

The soil is fertile and adapted to most varieties of products — 
spring and winter wheat, oats, corn, etc. Its pasturage and water 
8up]>ly adapts it to stock-growing ; the growth of clover and blue- 
grass not being surpassed in any part of the country. The citizens 
who give attention to this department obtain the most favorable 
results, paying a larger per cent than grain-growing in other parts 
of the state. 

The supply of building stone is unequaled by any other township 
in the county, and unsurpassed in quality. Quarries are opened 
along both sides of the river, furnishing a yellow sand and limestone 
of durable quality, and the blue limestone of the finest building 
material. The supply seems inexhaustible for generations to come ; 
and the same may be said of the supply of lime-producing rock, 
from which is manufactured the finest quality of lime. Extensive 
quarries are being worked, and large (juantities of lime are being 
produced. A superior quality is manufactured at the quarry above 
the water-power, within the city of Dixon. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 175 

THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF DIXON'S FERRY. 

Tlie first settlers of Dixon township have received some notice 
in connection witli the early settlement of Dixon's Ferry. Outside 
of the city of Dixon we find the first settlements embraced in the 
present township of Dixon began in the fall or winter of 1834. Dr. 
Forest, from Kentuckj^ settled on what is now known as the Wood- 
ford farm, situated on the east side of the river above Dixon. Geo. 
A. Martin settled on the place afterward known as the Trueman 
farm. Mr. Bennett settled near Grand Detour, at the place where 
the feri'v was subsequently built. Here he built a shanty and cov- 
ered it with bark. The following year he removed east. About the 
same time Geo. A. Brown settled on a farm next below Mr. Bennett. 
These four families were here when Mr. Joseph Crawford came in 
the spring of 1835, and settled south of Grand Detour. These all 
settled on unimproved land, and in the summer of 1835 commenced 
opening up farms. 

These were followed by Mr. McClure, Mr. Rue, on the Baily 
farm ; Mr. Carpenter, on tlie Hetler farm ; and in the spring of 
1837 -fames M. Santee, Solomon Siiellhanimer, Elijah Bowman, Mr. 
Carlton, and a Mr. Richards. In 1838 Nathan Hetler settled on the 
place first occupied by Mr. Carpenter. 

■ In 1838 "Gov." Alexander Charters having conie from Ireland, 
settled on the " Hazel wood" farm, two miles north of Dixon, and 
inii)roved a fine farm. As early as 18-10 his home was far-famed as 
a hospitable and pleasant retreat for visitors to this pai't of the coun- 
try, and was the place specially mentioned by William C. Bryant, 
the poet, after his visit to Rock River in 18-H. Li 1843 Alfred K. 
and J. C. Buckalu, from Pennsylvania, settled in the same neigh- 
borhood. They are both deceased; Joseph C. died September 11, 
1852, and Alfred died March 24, 1864. 

The first brick manufactured in the county is said to have been 
used in the construction of "Gov." Alx. C!harters' residence on the 
Hazelwood farm, referred to above, and tlie building to be the first 
frame house in Lee county. 

The early travel through the northern part of the state crossed 
Dixon township. The first wagon team that passed from Peoria to 
Galena, through the central Rock river country, by O. W. Kellogg, 
in the early summer of 1827. passed through the township, crossing 
Rock river at the head of the island opposite "Gov." Charters' 
home ; on which line was established what was known as Kellogg's 
Trail. Many fortune-seekers on their way to the northern minea 
j)assed over this route. The second route, wiiich was first traveled 
by .lohn Boles, left the pioneer trail of (). W. Kellogg tJome miles 



i7<; 



HISTORY OF LKE COUNTY. 



below tlio present site of Dixini. and crt)ssed the river a little above 
tlie present crossing of the Illinois railroad bridge at that city, leav- 
ing the former trail to the right. This became the recognized route 
between the settlements on the Illinois river and mining districts of 
northern Illinois. In 1829 another route was established from Ogee'a 
Ferry on the river to Buffalo Grove, and became the regular stage 
route. Traces of this route are yet seen from Dixon, through the 
opening in the forest on the northwestern hills from the city, and 
being covered with green grass, it is in striking contrast with what 
it was iifty years ago when beaten down by constant travel, or cut 
into furrows by the heavy wheels of the prairie schooners and stage 
coaches ; but now, like a beautiful narrow lawn, it stretches away 
through the shade of the heavy forest. But as reference is made to 
the early iinprovemeits of the territory of Dixon township in connec- 
tion with the early days of Lee county we refer the reader to that 
part of our work. 

Dixon townshi]) was the great theater ground of many of the in- 
cidents of the pioneer days of this locality when it was embraced in 
Ogle county. It was long the home of the red-num, its groves and 
prairies his hunting-grounds, and the Hock river his fishery ; the 
many springs of pure water gave him drink ; here are buried his 
dead, his forefathers who once joined in the chase and whose war- 
whoop mingled with the shouts of the braves, sleep 'neath the shades 
of Rock river forests. And it is not strange that the "last of the 
Winnebagoes in Dixon" was the closing history of the Indian tribes 
in northern Illinois. 

There are many interesting incidents of the early days of Dixon 
township, related by the old citizens, of adventures with the savages 



and wild beasts. Th 



ist troublesome of the latter was the large 



gray wolf which came down the river forests to commit depredations, 
and on the first suspicion that he was hunted for would retreat back 
to his favorite haunts in the shades of Wisconsin. 

TOWN OFKKJKRS KOU DIXON ToWNSUIl'. 



DATE. 


SDPERTmOB. 


CLEBK. 


A9SE83UB. 


COLLECTOR. 


1850 


J. T. Little. 


J. B. Gregory. 


E. B. Stile». 


E. VV. Hine. 


1851 


J. V. Eustace. 


N. F. Porter. 


E. W. nine. 


Jas. Hatch. 


1852 


Same. 


J. B. Gregory. 


Jos. Crawford. 


Ozias Wheeler. 


1853 


.1. B. Brooks. 


Same. 


A. Brown. 


S. Y. Cleaver. 


1854 


Jos. Crawford. 


T. W. Eustace. 


J. M. Johnson. 


Ozias Wheeler. 


1855 


Cyrus Aldridge. 


Same. 


A. Brown. 


Same. 


1856 


.T. B. Nash. 


Same. 


Jos. Crawford. 


J. W. Clute. 


1857 


Same. 


Same. 


A. N. Barnes. 


John Brown. 


1858 


Same. 


Same. 


Same. 


Same. 


1859 


Same. 


Same. 


J. H. Cropsey. 


H. S. Mead. 


1860 


A. U. Hazen. 


J. C. Ayres. 


Geo. L. Herrick. 


Same. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 



177 



DATE. 


aUPERTISOR. 


CLERK. 


ASSESSOR. 


COLLFCTOR. 


1861 


J. G. Fleck. 


J. C. Ayres. 


J. H. Burton. 


H. S. Mead. 


1862 


Jas. Reardon. 


Same. 


A. N. Barnes. 


A. McPherran. 


1863 


W. H. Van Epps. 


Same. 


V. Santee. 


W. V. Mason. 


1864 


J. B. Crawford. 


Same. 


Samuel Fargo. 


N. S. Davis. 


1865 


L. A. Divine. 


Same. 


V. Santee. 


H. S. Mead. 


1866 


Same. 


Same. 


0. Wheeler. 


J. B. Crawford. 


1867 


David Welty. 


Same. 


Same. 


Same. 


1868 


Same. 


Same. 


J. B. Crawford. 


Jas. H. Crawford. 


1860 


Same. 

J. Crawford. 


Same. 


0. Wheeler. 


Palmer Atkins. 


1870 


Lorenzo Wood. 
J. Courtright. 


Same. 


J. Uhl. 


M. M. Evens. 


1871 


L. Wood. 
P. Cheney. 


J. H. Downs. 


0. Wheeler. 


F. H. Babbitt. 


1872 


L. Wood. 
P. Cheney. 


F. H. Babbitt. 


D. B. McKenney. 


W. H. Laing. 


1873 


L. Wood. 
P. Cheney. 


Same. 


Same. 


C. W. Benjamm. 


1874 

ti 


L. Wood. 
P. Cheney. 


Same. 


Same. 


Jas. Tracy. 


1875 


L. Wood. 
P. Cheney, 


Same. 


Same. 


H. K. Strong. 


1876 


L. Wood. 
M. Burket. 


Same. 


Same. 


0. A. Webb. 


1877 


L. Wood. 
A. Barlow. 


Same. 


Same. 


M. Maloney. 


1878 


L. Wood. 
H. Hetler. 


Same. 


Same. 


T. L. Wood. 


1879 


L. Wood. 
H. Hetler. 


Palmer Atkins. 


Same. 


M. Rock. 


1880 


L. Wood. 
H. Hetler. 


Same. 


Same. 


J. Reuland. 


1881 


L. Wood. 
H. Hetler. 


Same. 


Same. 


W. N. Vann. 



John Morse was appointed firs 
.7, 1S40. 

OLD SETTLERS RECORD OF 



t assessor for the couiitv March 



DIXON AND VICINITY. 



Alexander, P.M., born in New York, 1820; arrived 1838; living in Dixon. 

Ayres, 0. F., born in New York, 1809; arrived 1839; livingin Dixon. 

Ayres, D. B., born in New York, 1834; arrived 1839; living in Dixon. 

Armstrong, Jacob, born in New York, 1815; arrived 1840; now at Fort CoUms, Colo. 

Atkinson, Wesley, born in Indiana, 1830; arrived 1838; settled in Palmyra: left about 

1855. 
Brookner, Christopher, born in Germany. 1817; arrived 1837; died October 9, 1879. 
Brookner, Daniel, bom m Germany, 1803; arrived 1837; died July 23, 1854. 
Barber, Nathanal, born in New York; arrived 1837. 

Bowman, S. M., born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1837; now in Kansas City, Missouri. 
Bowman, Elijah, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1840; cousin of S. M.; living in Boone 

county. 
Banner, Thomas S., born in New York; arrived 1837; died in Indiana. 
Bayley, Carlton, born in New York, 1819; arrived 1839; .lied about 1873. 



178 HISTORY OF LEE CorNTY. 

Bayley, Richard, born in New York; arrived 1838; died in New York city about 1850. 
BuiTOughs. Wm. P., born in New York; arrived 1835; moved to Wisconsin. 
Burroughs, Henry, born in New York; arrived 1840; moved to California; dead. 
Barr. James B., arrived 1836; dead. 
Bogardas, Wells, bom in New York; arrived 1836; dead. 

Benjamin, Horace, bom in New York, 1812; arrived 1838; died October 28, 1850. 
Benjamin, James, bom in New York, 1817; arrived 1838; living in Dixon. 
Beardsley, Daniel, bom in New York; arrived 1835; died in Palmyra. 1839. 
Bethea, William W., born in Tennessee, 1812; arrived 1835; living iii Dixon. 
Brown, Abram, born in Canada, 1816; arrived 1837; living in south Dixon. 
Brown, David, born in Connecticut, 1806; arrived 1836; died in 1849. 
Brown, John, born in Vermont, 1808; arrived 1836; died August 1878. 
Brown, Nathan, born in Vermont; arrived 1836; living in Connecticut. 
Brown, Thomas W., born in Connecticut; arrived 1840; living in Franklin Grove. 
Brown, B. B., arrived 1835. 

Bush, William T., born in Kentucky; arrived 1835; started a ferry at the J. T. Law- 
rence place; died in 1838. 
Bush, E. B., born in Kentucky; arrived 1835; went to Iowa in 1843. 
Bennett, Orwin. born in New England; arrived 1834. 
Blair, Martin, born in Kentucky. 1829; arrived 1839; living in Palmyra. 
Boardman, I. S., born in New York, 1816; arrived 1837; living in Palmyra. 
Boardman, T. D., born in New York. 1812; arrived 1839; livinc in Paliuyni. 
Birdsall, David H.. born in New York; arrived 1837; died December 1868. 
Brower, Martin W., born in Germany, 1816; arrived 1839; livin<f in Palmyra. 
Brower, Lewis, born in Germany; aiTived 1839; died in Nelson, 1872. 
Baggs, John, born in Ohio, 1823; ai-rived 1836; living in Iowa. 
Becker, Charles A., born in Prussia, 1810; [arrived 1839; died February 7, 1859. 
Beach, William W., born in New York, 1805; arrived 1840; died in Geneseo. 
Butler, Timothy A., born in New York. 1817; arrived 1838; living in Palmyra. 
Brierton, Joseph, born in Pennsylvania, 1797; arrived 1837; living east of Dixon. 
Brandon, Edward, born in Pennsylvania, 1795; arrived 1837; died Octolicr, 1839. 
Brandon, Benjamin, born in Pennsylvania, 1815; arrived 1837; living near Nachusa. 
Brandon. John, born in Pennsylvania, 1801; arrived 1837; died about 1839. 
Beede, Noah, born in New Hampshire, 1802; arrived 1836; died in Palmyra. 1854. 
Beede, Allen A., born in New Hampshire, 1835; arrived 1836; living in Palmyra. 
Bishop, Caldwell, born in New York, 1818; arrived 1837; living in Dixon. 
Bradshaw, W. T., born in New York; arrived 1838. 

Baker, Tutt, born in Kentucky; arrived 1835; started a ferry at Dr. Everett's farm. 
Brookie, John, born in Kentucky; arrived 1836; living in St. Louis. 
Carr, John, born in Scotland; arrived 1837; went to Hong Kong, China. 
Cutshaw, John, born in Ohio; arrived 1835. 
Cutshaw, Joshua, born in Ohio; arrived 1835. 

Crawford, Joseph, born in Pennsylvania, 1811; arrived 1835; living in Dixon. 
Crowell, Moses T., born in New Hampshire. 1811; arrived 1838; went to California. 
Crowell, Solon, born in New Hampshire; arrived 1838; living in Ogle county. 
Colwell, J. C, bom in Ireland; arrived 1840; dead. 
Crosby, Edward, born in New York; arrived 1840; died at Fulton. 
Crosby, Elisha, born in New York; arrived 1840. 
Coe, Frederick W., born in New York; arrived 1836; dead. 
Coe, Henry, born in New York. 1814; arrived 1837; died July 5. 1858. 
Charaberlin, Cyrus, born in New York. 1814; arrived 1835; living in (irand Detour. 
Chapman, Charles, born in New York; arrived 1836: dead. 
Chapman, George, born in New York: arrived 1836 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 179 

Chase, George W., born in Maine; arrived 1837; dead. 

Chase, Charles T., born in Maine; arrived 1839; died August 38, 1851. 

Charters, Alexander, born in Ireland, 1817; arrived 1838; died at Hazelwood farm 

September 18, 1878. 
Charters, Samuel, born in Ireland, 1800; arrived 1837; nephew of Alexander. 
Carley, James, born in New York; arrived 1839; died in Geneseo. 
Campbell, Alexander, born in England. 1830; arrived 1839; living in California. 
Cantrall, Samuel, born in 1793; arrived 1836; moved to Sangamon county. 
Cantrall, David; arrived 1836; living in Iowa; moved m 18.53. 
Crafton, George, born in Ireland; arrived 1837; dead. 

Courtright, Joseph, bora in Pennsylvania; arrived 1837; died September 1840. 
Courtright, Elisha, born in Pennsylvania, 1795; arrived 1840; died November 1. 1871. 
Courtright, Abraham, born in Pennsylvania. 1818; arrived 1840; living in Nebraska. 
Courtright, John, born in Pennsylvania. 1830; arrived 1840; living two miles east of 

Dixon. 
Courtright, Christopher, born in Pennsylvania,1833; arrived 1840; living in Nebraska. 
Courtright, Jacob B., born in Pennsylvania, 1836; arrived 1840; living in Nebraska. 
Courtright, G. W., born in Pennsylvania, 1830; arrived 1840; died in the spring of 1873. 
Courtright, Erastus G., born in Pennsylvania, 1833; arrived 1840; living in Dixon. 
Cropsey, J. M., born in New York, 1818; arrived 1839; living in Dixon. 
Cambell, James, born in Pennsylvania, 1814; arrived 1838; dead. 
Covell, E. W., arrived 1836. 

Cogswell, Abner, born in New York, 1813; arrived 1840; living in Nelson township. 
Cleaver, .Joseph, born in Pennsylvania, 1831; arrived 1838; died July 33, 1854. 
Clute, John W., born in New York, 1830; arrived 1840; living in Dixon. 
Crary, Mason, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1839; living in Iowa. 
Crary, Beach, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1839; living at P^lkhorn Grove. 
Caldwell, John, born in Ireland; arrived 1839; died about 1844. 
Dixon, John, born in New York, 1784; arrived 1830; died July 6, 1876. 
Dixon. James P., born in New York, 1811; arrived 1830; died Apnl 5, 1853. 
Dixon, JohnW., born in New York, 1817; arrived 1830; died March 20, 1847. 
Dixon, Elijah, born in New York, 1819; arrived 18.30; died March 15, 1843. 
Davy, James, bom in England, 1840; died in Ogle county. 

Dutcher, Frederick R., born in Connecticut, 1805; arrived 1838; living in Amboy. 
Dutcher, Wells, born in Connecticut; arrived 1838. 
Dills, George, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1888; dead. 
Dornan, Mark, bern in Ireland, 1815; arrived 1839; living in Dixon. 
Dornan, James, born in Ireland, 1820; arrived 1839; died about 1874. 
Depuy, Harmon, born in Pennsylvania, 1797; arrived 1839; died September 15. 1856. 
Depuy, Jacob, born in Pennsylv.ania, 1829; arrived 1839; living in Dixon. 
Depuy. William, born in Pennsylvania, 1834; arrived 1839; living in I>ixon. 
Dingman, John, born in Canada; arrived 1840. 
Dement, John, born in Tennessee, 1805; arrived 1840; moved family here in 1845; 

living in Dixon. 
Dement, Charles, bom in Illinois, 1818; arrived 1840; died in December 1875. 
Dickerman, Alanson, arrived 1836. 

Deyo, Garrett F., born in Vermont, 1785; arnved 1836; died in 1848. 
Dudley, Jeremiah, born in New York, 1818; arrived 1840; died in 1848. 
Davis, Joseph, bern in New York. 1787; arrived 1840; died Novemlur 26. 1851. 
Davis, J. W., born in Canada. 1831; arrived 1840; died May 4, 1874. 
Davis, George W., born in Cnnaila, 1835; arrived 1840; died December 13, 1855. 
Davis, Cyrus A., born in Nhw H^impshire, 1835; arrived 1839; settled in Amboy; came 

to Dixon in 1858. 



180 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Daley, John, arrived 181U; livinfj in Ongoii. 

Everett, Dr. Oliver, born in Massachusetts. 1811; arrived 1836; living in Dixon. 

Fuller, Stephen, born 1797; arrived 1836; living three miles east of Diion. 

Fellows, Stephen, born in New Hampshire, 1786; arrived 1834; died February 8, 1840. 

Fellows, Michael, born in New Hampshire, 1810; arrived 1834; living in Wiiconsin. 

Fellows, Simon, born in New Hampshire, 1815; arrived 1834; living in Whiteside 
county. 

Fellows, Samuel, born in New Hampshire, 1818; arrived 1834; died .Tune 1863. 

Fellows, William, born in New Hampshire, 18"30: arrived 1834; living in Wisconsin. 

Fellows, .\lfred, born in New Hampshire. 1822; arrived 1834; living in Iowa. 

Fellows, George, born in New Hanipsliire, 1826; arrived 1834; living in California. 

Fellows, Albion, born in New Hampshire, 1827; arrived 1834; ilii-d in 1865. 

Fellows, Stephen, born in New Hampshire, 1830; arrived 18:34; living in Iowa. 

Fry, John, bom in Pennsylvania, 1813; arrived 1838; living near Dixon. 

Fender, Absalom, born in North Carolina; arrived 1835; died in 1848. 

Fender, Martin, born in North Carolina; arrived 1835; died about 1860. 

Fender, Solomn,born in North CaroUna, 1811; arrived 1835; died in Palmyra, Novem- 
b^-r 1873. 

Fender, Jesse, born in Indiana, 1821; arrived 1835; living in Palmyra. 

Fender, John, born in Indiana, 1825; arrived 1835; living in Missouri. 

Fender, Hiram, born in Indiana, 1827; arrived 1835; died at Elkhorn Grove, .August 
21, 1879. 

Fender, James, born in Indiana, 1832; arrived 1835; died in January 1880. 

Foot, George, born in New York. 1828; arrived 1839; died 1879. 

Forrest, Dr., born in Kentucky; arrived 1834; returned to Kentucky. 

Graham, Capt. Hugh, born in Ireland, 1774; arrived 1838; died in New York city 
about 1853. 

Graham, William W., born in New York, 1817; arrived 1837; died in Montana terri- 
tory, March 1878. 

Gilbraith, Smith, born in New York. 1810; arrived 1835; died February 5, 1843. 

Garrison, Mathias F., born in Pennsylvania, 1820; arrived 1840; living in Nebraska; 
moved in 1878. 

Goble. James, born in Pennsylvania, 1811; arrived 1837; living in Dixon. 

Gray, A. F., born in Vermont, 1819; arrived 1839: died in Missouri, 1876. 

Ga.->ton, Chancy, born in New York, 1782; arrived 1835; died in Palmyra, March 7» 
1876. 

Gaston, Rev. A., born in New York, 1809; arrived 1835; died in Galesburg, Decem- 
ber 21, 1849. 

Gaston, Chancy T., born in New York, 1812; arrived 1835; died at Elgin, June 11, 
1854. 

Gaston, Levi, born in New York, 1814; arrived 1835; living in Palmyra. 

Gaston, Charles E., born in New York, 1817; arrived 1835; died in California, July 
14, 1852. 

Gaston, Henry, born in New York, 1822; arrived 1835; died at Galesburg, September 
23, 1849. 

Gregoiy, J. B., born in Ohio, 1810; arrived 1838; died 1854. 

Hubbard, Charles F., born in New York, 1817; arrived 1837; living three miles weat of 
Dixon. 

Hubbard, Thomas S., born in New York; arrived 1837; brother of Charles; living 
in Kansas. 

Hubbard, Oliver, born in New Hampshire; arrived 1835; father of M. I). M. Hub- 
bard; died September 16, IH40. 

Hine, E. W., born in New York, ISIO; arrivod 1S30: dir.l .May 1S74 



DIXON TOWXSHIP. 181 

Hamilton, J. W., born in New York; arrived 1836. 

Huff, Lemuel, born in Canada; arrived 1835; went to California. 

Hetler, Nathan, born in Pennsylvania, 1819; arrived 1837; died May 21, 1877. 

Hetler, Hiram, born in Pennsylvania, 1837; arrived 1837; living near Dixon. 

Hetler, Jesse, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1837; living near Dixon. 

Hetler, Jeremiah, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1837; living near Dixon. 

Hetler, John, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1837; living near Dixon. 

Hetler, John, born in Germany, 1809; arrived 1840; living in Dixon. 

Heaton, W. W., born in New York, 1814; arrived 1840; diedjDecember 1877. 

Heaton, James, born in New York; arrived 1840; living near Dixon. 

Herrick, Samuel, born in New York, 1807: arrived 1840; died April 6, 1864, 

Herrick, 0. F., born in Canada, 1836; arrived 1840; living in Bureau county. 

Holly, George, born in New York; arrived 1838; died 1843. 

Holly, Augustus, born in New York; arrived 1838. 

Holly, Jesse, born in Canada; arrived 1835; dead. 

Holly, David A., born in Canada, 1806; arrived 1835; dead. 

Holly, James N., born in Canada, 1808; arrived 1835; living in Palmyra. 

Hamill, Patrick, born in Ireland, 1818; arrived 1838; died 1862. 

Hinton, Pleasant, born in Kentucky; arrived 1840; died July 1844. 

Hankerson, James, born in New York; arrived 1840; died in California. 

Hollbrook, L. G., arrived 1840. 

HoUbrook, Charles, arrived 1840; living in Polo. 

Hatch, Charles, born in New Hampshire, 1814; arrived 1840; living in Dixon. 

Hatch, James, born in New Hampshire, 1816; arrived 1840; living in Dixon. [Here 
as early as 1836.] 

Howard, S. G. P., arrived 1839; moved to Chicago. 

Herrick, George L., born in Vermont, 1815; arrived 1837; came to Grand Detour 
1837, Dixon 1851. 

Hutton, Fletcher, arrived 1838; died in Palmyra, May 27, 1879. 

Hutton, Neamiah, born in Pennsylvania, 1815; arrived 1838; living at State Center 
Illinois. 

Hutton, William, born in Pennsylvania, 1790; arrived 1838; died in Sterling. 

Johnson, Samuel, arrived 1836; died at Fulton. Illinois. 

Johnson, George M., born in Michigan; arrived 1839; died January 19, 1878. 

Johnson, Avery, born in Michigan, arrived 1839; living in Dixon. 

Johnson, Henry, bom in Michigan; arrived 1839; dead. 

Johnson, Charles, born in Michigan; arrived 1839; dead. 

Johnson, William Y.,'born in Massachusetts, 1810; arrived 1838; died in Iowa, Au- 
gust 28, 1878. 

Johnson, J. M., born in Massachusetts, 1814; arrived 1838; living in Palmyra. 

Johnson, Ebenezar H., born in New York, 1810; arrived 1838; living in Palmyra. 

Jennis, Albert, born in New Hampshire, 1817; arrived 1836; moved to Iowa. 

Jones, WiUiam, born in New York, 1817; arrived 1835; died about 1845. 

Jnyers, John, bom in Pennsylvania; arrived 1836. 

Kerr, M. P.; arrived 1836; moved to Galena, Illinois. 

Kerr, James N., born in Pennsylvania, 1807; arrived 1838; dead. 

Kennedy, William, born in New York, 1818; arrived 1839; died 1874. 

Kirkpatrick, ; arrived 1835. 

Loveland, Otis, bom in New York, 1787; arrived 1837; died September 29, 1839. 

Loveland, Richard B., born m New York, 1819; arrived 1837; died August 29, 1851. 

Loveland, H. G., born in New York; arrived 1839; living in California. 

Lovejoy, James, arrived 1839; dead. 

Little, J. T., born in Maine, 1817; arrived 1839; now in Washington. 



182 HISTORY OF LKE COr.NTY. 

Lummison, Joseph, born in Pennsylvania, 1796: ariived 1838; dead. 

Lummison, John, born in Pennsylvania: arrived 1838; son of Joseph. 

Lord, John, born in New Hampshire, 1804: arrived 1838; died January 1873. 

Lord, John L., born in New Hampshire, 18"'9: arrived 1838; living- in Palmyra. 

Lord, Augustus, born in New Hampshire; arrived 1838; dead. 

Law, David, born in New York, 1772; arrived 1839; died October 3. 1845. 

Law, David H., born in New York, 1831; arrived 1839; living in Sterling. 

Law, William, born in New York, 1834; arrived 1839; died December 1842. 

Lawrence, J. Tharp, born in Island Jamaica; arrived 1839; died in New York city 1847- 

Lawrence, J. Tharp, jr., born in I.sland Jamaica, 1819; arrived 1839; living in P'almyra. 

Lawrence, Rickets, born in Island Jamaica; arrived 1839; living in New York city. 

Lane, Charles A., arrived 1840; returned to Pennsylvania. 

Linghan, J. G., born in England, 1810; arrived 1839; living in New Orleans. 

McKenney, Mathew, born in Canada: arrived 1836; died in 1847. 

McKenney, Peter, born in New York. 1798; arrived 1836; died March 27, 1870. 

McKenney, Daniel B., born in New York, 181G; arrived 1836; living in Dixon. 

McKenney, V. R., born in Canada 1832; arrived 1846; living in South Dixon. 

McKenney, Frederick, born in New York, 1806; arrived 1837; living in Dixon. 

McKenney, James, born in New York, 1804; arrived 1837; died April 8, 1865. 

McKenney, Henry B., born in New York, 1810; arrived 1840; died February 1, 1856. 

Morehouse, Nathan, born in New York. 1800; arrived 1835; died June 1878. 

Morehouse, T. C, born in New York, 1828; arrived 1835; living in Dixon. 

Mudd, , arrived 1836. 

Morrill, N. G. H., born in New Hampshire, 1808; arrived 1838; living in Dixon. 

Morrill, Jacob, born in New Hampshire, 1818; arrived 1838; Uving in New Hamp- 
shire. 

McCleary, A., arrived 1840; dead. 

McCabe, Thomas, bom in Ohio; arrived 1837; living in California. 

McCabe, Moses, born in Ohio; arrived 1838. 

Moon, Abner D., arrived 1837; died 1877. 

Murphy, Jeremiah, born in Maine; arrived 1840; living in New York. 

Murphy, A. T., born in Kentucky. 1812; arrived 1840; died June 17. 1861. 

McClure, Samuel, born in Ireland; arrived 1834; living in Stark connty, Illinois. 

McClure, Thomas, born in Ireland, 17!)S; arrived 1840; died in Iowa. 

Millard, William, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1840; living in Boone county. 

March, Thomas, born in New York; arrived 1839; died in Mexico, 1850. 

Mead, Heman, born in New York, 1809; arrived 1839; moved to California, 1874. 

Morse, John; arrived 1837; went to California. 

Murray, Robert; arrived 1840; deiid. 

Murray, Joseph; arrived 1840. 

Montieth, John; arrived 1836. 

Morgan, Isaac, born in Ohio, 1798; arrived 1834; dead. 

Morgan, Joshua, born in Ohio; arrived 1839; dead. 

Morgan, Jolin, born in Ohio, 1806; arrived 1834; living in Iowa. 

Morgan Harvey, born in Ohio, 1810; arrived 1834; died August 16, 1880. 

Miller, Henry, born in Germany; arrived 1837; died 1878. 

Miller, John I., born in Germany, 1806; arrived 1842. 

Martin, George A., born in Kentucky; arrived 1834: returned to Kentucky. 

Martin, William, born in New Hampshire; arrived 1836; died 1844, 

Martin, Charles A., born in New Hampshire, 1830; arrived 1836; living in Palmyra. 

Martin, James F., born in New Hampshire, 1804; arrived 1839; lettled in Wainu 
Grove, 1834. Living in Palmyra. 

Martin, Jacob, born in New Hampshire. 1808; arrived 1886; living in Palmyra. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 183 

Martin, Tyler, born in New Hampshire, 1820; arrived 1836; living in Palmyra. 

Mason, William V., bom in New York; arrived 1839; moved to Iowa. 

Myers, William, born in Pennsylvania, 1813; arrived 1836; living in Palmyra. 

McGraw, Edward, born in Ireland, 1813; arrived 1840. 

Moore, John, born in England, 1790; arrived 1847; died in 1854. 

Moore, John H., born in England, 1835; arrived 1847; living in Dixon. 

Moore, Hugh, born in New Hampshire; arrived 1836; dead. 

Moore, Rufus, born in New Hampshire; arrived 1836; dead. 

Moore, James, born in New Hampshire; arrived 1835; dead. 

Moores, Josiah, born in New York; arrived 1840; dead. 

Mooreg, John, born in New York; arrived 1840; living in Iowa. 

Moores, James, born in New York; arrived 1840; living in Iowa. 

Moores, Timothy, born in New York; arrived 1840; living in Dakota. 

Moores, Josiah, born in New York; arrived 1840; living in California. 

McComsey, I. D., born in 1813; arrived 1839; died March 16, 1848. 

Messer, Gilbert, born in New Hampshire, 1813; arrived 1844; living in South Dixon. 

McNeal, Thomas, born in Ireland, 1805; arrived 1840; dead. 

Moyer, John, born in Pennsylvania, 1797; arrived 1838; living in Dixon township. 

Mowrey, Philip, born in Pennsylvania, 1810; arrived 1840; died in Iowa, August 1878. 

Nehemiah, John, born in Germany, 1806; arrived 1840; moved to Stephenson county, 

Illinois; dead. 
Noble, Silas, born in Massachusetts, 1808; arrived 1841; dead. 
Newman, John, born in Kentucky; arrived 1839; dead. 
Newman, Manly, born in Kentucky; arrived 1839; dead. 
Newman, Richard, born in Kentucky; arrived 1839; living in Dixon. 
Newman, Jesse, born in Kentucky; arrived 1839; dead. 

Nash, J. B., born in New York; arrived 1838; died near Pike's Peak, Colorado, 1864. 
O'Neal, John, born in Ireland, 1800; arrived 1837; died 1873. 
O'Brien, Daniel, born in Ireland, 1819: arrived 1838. 
Obrist, Abram, arrived 1837; died in Palmyra 1850. 
Obrist, Daniel, arrived 1836; drowned in Elkhom creek. 
O'Kane, John, arrived 1837; dead. 

Oliver, J. C, born in Pennsylvania, 1804; arrived 1837; living in Sterling. 
Page, John H., born in New Hampshire, 1807; arrived 1834; died in Iowa. 
Page, Thomas, born in England; arrived 1836; dead. 
Page, Henry, born in Germany. 1820; arrived 1839; dead. 
Parks, Hiram, born in New Y^ork, 1809; arrived 1836; living in Palmyra. 
Parker, Solomon, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1840; dead. 
Patterson, David, born in New York; arrived 1838; dead. 
Peacock, Joseph, born in Ohio, 1790; arrived 1837; died January 13, 1871. 
Peacock, William, born in Ohio, 1817; arrived 1837; living near Dixon. 
Peacock, Charles, born in Ohio, 1823; arrived in 1837; living in Polo. 
Plummer, Thomas, born in Ohio; arrived in 1837; moved to Iowa. 
Plummer, John, born in Ohio; arrived 1837. 

Plummer, Caleb, born in Ohio, 1806; arrived 1837; moved to Iowa. 
Porter, Aaron L., born in New York, 1808; arrived 1838; dead. 

Porter, James, born in New Y^ork, 1814; arrived 1840; died at Harmon, July 15, 1880. 
Porter, Jerome, born in New York; arrived 1840; living in California. 
Porter, N. F., born in New York, 1820; arrived 1840. 
Powers, Joseph, born in Massachusetts, 1786; arrived 1838; dead. 
Powers, Abijah, born in Massachusetts, 1814; arrived in 1838; living in Palmyra. 
Power, James, born in Kentucky, 1791; arrived 1835; died in Missouri. 
Power, Thomas, bom in Kentucky, 1819; arrived 1835; living in Missouri. 



184 HISTOKY OF I.EK COrNTY. 

Pratt, Julius, born in Pennsylvania: arrived 1835; died in Sterling. 

Pratt, Marshall, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1838. 

Preston, Horace, born in New Hampshire, 1819; arrived 1838; living in Iiixon. 

Purington, George, born in Maine; arrived 1889; living in Freeporf. 

Robinson, John K., born in Ohio, 1809; arrived May 1832; living in Mendota. 

Rathbone, Ward, bom in England; arrived 1838. 

Richards, John, born in England, 1793; arrived 1836; died June 1, 18.')4. 

Richards, James, born in Canada, 1825; arrived 1836; living in Pixon. 

Richards, William, arrived 1836; living in Moline. 

Richardson, Martin, born in Massachusetts, 1800; arrived 1835; livings in Sterling. 

Richardson, Orrin, born in Kentucky; arrived 1835. 

Rue, Jacob, ariived 1836. 

Rosebrook Lyman, born in New Hampshire, 1817; ariived 1836; went to Colorado. 

Rogers, Walter, born in 1820; arrived 1839; living in Palmyra. 

Steevens, Dewit C, arrived 1838; went to California. 

Shelhamer Solomon, born in Pennsylvania, 1798; arrived 1837; died April 1879. 

Scheel, Orrin, arrived 1838; dead. 

Seward, William, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1838; dead. 

Southwick, Edward, born in New York, 1812; arrived 1840: died in Amboy. 

Sargent, Robert, arrived 1839. 

Santee, James M., born in Pennsylvania, 1802; arrived 1838; died December 1873, 

Santee, Samuel, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1838; died in Pennsylvania. 

Smith, Barclay, born in Pennsylvania, 1808; arrived 1837; died April 20, 1645. 

Smith, Alanson, born in New York, 1817; arrived 1839; living in Mendota. 

Stiles, Elias B., born in Pennsylvania, 1820; arrived 1840; living in Dixon. 

Stiles, Samuel, born in Pennsylvania; arrived 1844; living in Dallas, Oregon. 

Stewart, Benjamin H., born in New York, 1809; arrived 1834; died in Missouri. 

Sterling, James, born in Pennsylvania, 1805; arrived 1838; brought family here in 

1847. Died November 1860. 
Seavey, Joshua, born in New Hampshire, 1777; arrived 1837. 
Seavey, Jesse, born in New Hampshire, 1811; arrived 1837: dead. 
Seavey, Winthrop, born in New Hampshire, 1802; arrived 1837; died about 1865. 
Sartorius, Henry G., born in Germany, 1815; arrived 1838; dead. 
Sartorius, Gustavus, born in Germany, 1822; arrived 1838: living in Palmyra. 
Scallion, Thomas, born in Ireland: arrived 1839; dead. 
Scallion, Moses, born in Ireland, 1821; arrived 1839. 
Sweeney. Truxton, arrived 1840. 
Simonson, A. H., arrived 1837; dead. 

Thompson, Horace, born in New York; arrived 1836; died about 1845. 
Thompson, John, born in New York; arrived 1837; living at Elkhorn Grove. 
Thompson, James, born in New York; arrived 1837: dead. 
Thompson, William, born in New York; arrived 1837; dead. 

Tallmadge, Caleb, bom in Massachusetts, 1798; arrived 1837 ; died February 19, 1858. 
Truett, Henry B., arrived 1837. 

Thuramel, Anthony, born in Germany, 1795; arrived 1836; died June 1876. 
Thomas, Enoch, born in Ohio; arrived 1835. 
Thomas, Noah, born in Ohio, 1813; arrived 1835 ; dead. 
Van Arnam, John, born in Canada; arrived 1839; dead. 

Van Arnam, .Tames, bora in Canada, 1827; arrived 1839; living in Marion township. 
Wetzlar, Gustavus, born in Germany; arrived 1838; went to California. 
Welty, David, born in New York, 1811 ; arrived 1838; living in Dixon. 
Wakalee, Aaron, arrived 1838; dead. 
Williams, Cyrus, born in Massachusetts, 1797 ; arrived 1837 ; died August 2, 1866. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. l'S'> 

Webb, Henry, born in New York, 1880; arrived 1838; dead. 

Wilkinson, William, born in New York; arrived 1835; dead; son of Judge Wilk- 
inson, one of the proprietors ot the town. 

Woodyat, Richard, born in England, 1815; arrived 1840; father of W. H. Woodjat; 
died April 1, 1859. 

Wheeler, Ozias, born in Vermont, 1813; arrived 1840: dead. 

White, David, born in Scotland, 1798; arrived 1840; dead. 

Warner, Moses, born in Massachusetts; arrived 1838. 

Warner, Henry, born in Massachusetts; arrived 1838; living in Sterling. 

Whitmore, S. H., born in New York, 1813; arrived 1836; died May 5, 1873, from 
injuries received at bridge accident. 

Young, John, born in New York; arrived 1839; living in New York city. 

DIXON VOLUNTEERS. 

The town of Dixou is credited witli about 550 volunteers. Many 
of these, however, caine from adjacent towns, but are phxeed on tlie 
roll of honor for Dixon. This is especially true of Palmyra volun- 
teers. 

Of the numbei- of soldiers reported from Dixon, there were nine- 
teen commissioned officers, and forty-two non-commissioned. There 
were fifty-two promotions, a large number of which were of privates 
to commissioned and non-commissioned offices because of merito- 
rious service. About twenty-one are reported as having been killed 
in battle, or having died from wounds received in battle. Thirty- 
five to forty died from sickness in hospitals or at home on sick fur- 
lough. Others were discharged because of disease contracted wliile 
in the service, and have since died, and whose deaths do not appear 
on the roll of deceased soldiers. Many, at the expiration of their 
term of service, reenlisted and joined other regiments than those 
to which they originally belonged. Others were appointed on 
special duty and have made honorable records in their several 
departments. 

Col. H. T. Noble, who was mustered into the United States 
service as captain of Co. A, 13th reg. 111. Yols., was appointed 
assistant quartermaster, after which he was successively promoted 
to the rank of major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel, chief quarter- 
master on the staff of Gen. J. J. Ecynolds. In reference to his 
service we find the following items of record: 

QUAETERMASTEE GeNEEAL's OfFICE, 

Washington, D.C, August 9, 1864. 

Capt. H. T. Noble, A.Q.M., Helena, Arkansas. 

Captain: An examination of the Inspection Keport of the 
Quartermaster's Department of the Department of the Arkansas, 
made by Col. D. B. Sackett, inspector-general, dated June 8, 1864, 
reveals the fact that you have conducted the quartermaster's busi- 



18*5 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

ness, over which you have had control, in a most creditable manner; 
that your "books and papers are in most beautifuldnler, cash ac- 
count balanced every night," and that you have the confidence and 
esteem of all who know you, because of your integrity, energy and 
efficiency. 

The quartermaster-general cannot let the opportunity pass with- 
out adding his approbation, and commending you for the manifesta- 
tion of this best evidence of your genuine patriotism and devoted 
loyalty. 

The individual who so contributes by his honesty, industry and 
zeal to the maintenance of his country's honor in the hour of her 
trials shall not be forgotten in the record of the many meritorious 
whose high motives have steeled them against taking advantage 
of the evil opportunities on almost every hand, which the weak and 
selfish grasp to weaken our cause by the practice of every species of 
vileness, losing sight of everything else but self and temporary 
selfish gratification. 

Such spii'its find their ignominious level here and hereafter. But 
the true and noble minded live beyond the present ; their memories 
shall come back laden with joyous messages to gladden the hearth- 
stone circle, and the hearts of generations yet to come. 

These considerations sliould encourage us all to the continued 
faithful performance of every trust imposed upon us. 

1 am. Cajitain, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant. 
By order of the quartermaster-general U.S.A. 

Brevet major-general 
I stl ] Gko. Y. Rutukkford, 
A true copy. (^apt. and A.Q.M. 

H. A. Krter, 

Brevet major ami .\.(J.^[. 

Quaktekm.4Ster-Gf,neral's Office, 

January 18, 1865. 
Gkneral L. Thomas. 

Adjutant-general U.S.A., Washington, D.C. 
General: I have the honor to return herewith the letter of 
Maj. Gen. J. J. Reynolds, comd'g department of Arkansas, recom- 
mending Capt. H. T. Noble for appointment as colonel and chief 
quartermaster of that department, referred to this office by the adju- 
tant-general, on the 9th Inst., with the following extract from an 
inspection report of Col. J. D. Crutten<leu, inspector Q.M.D., made 
on the 19th of Dec. 1864: 




^Ji^^>^ ^y^ 



foecEASdoj 



DIXON TOWNsrnp. 189 

'■I found everytliiniJ- under the charge of captain Nnble in most 
'•excellent order, — mules in tine condition, wagons in tine repair, 
'• forage well stored, steamers unloaded immediately on their arrival, 
''be it night or day " 

"All hooks, papers and accounts in the most beautiful order; 
"cash account balanced every night. Have not seen papers bet- 
"ter kept anywhere. He stands high with all who know him, as a 
"man of intelligence and integrity. I doubt if the quartermaster's 
"department can boast of many more efficient and energetic officers 
"than Capt. ^S^oble. He is certainly capable of tilling with credit 

"any and all positions in the Q.M. Dept. " 

****** 

I am, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant. 
[sd] CuAS. TnoMAs, 
True copy. Act'g Q.M.C-iren"! Br't Brig, (jreii. 

H. A. Kkvek, 

Br't-Maj. and A.ti.M. 

John D. Crabtree, Es(|., who went out with the 13tli reg., was 
transferred as second lieutenant to Bowen's Batt. Mo. Cav., Sep- 
tember 5, 1861. On November 25, 1862, he was jiroraoted to the 
captaincy in command of Co. M, 3d Mo. Cav. He commanded 
the escort of Gen. Curtis during the latter's command of the 
department of Miss<iuri. He afterward served as judge advocate of 
the court-martial division of Arkansas, in 186-1. Returning home 
in that year, he was appointed in service of tiie government, as 
mustering, officer at Springfield, this state. The judge, at difter- 
ent times during the service, received honorable mention for deport- 
ment as an officer during engagements ; one which may be 
especially mentioned was the battle of Pea Ridge, under (ien. 
Curtis; and at the close of his service he was commissioned brevet- 
nuijor, nnder the signatures of the President of the United States 
and Gen. Stanton, secretary of war, as a token of appreciation of 
•■faithful and meritorious services." 

BIOGUAPHICAL. 

Nathan MooRHousE (deceased I was born March 14, 1801, at New 
Fairfield, Connecticut. When he was hut tvvoyeais old his father died, 
and at the age of about six years he was hound out to a farmer. Not 
liking his guardian he ran away from him when he had reached tiie 
age of thirteen years. He went on board a ship that was about sailing, 
and was gone on a seven years' voyage, most of which was on the 
Mediterranean sea. When he returned to New York he was engaged 
13 



19(» HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



a year or nmre at navi<ration on the Hudson river, and after tliat was 
married to Miss Sarali Airs, of New Paltz, Now York, wlierc tliey 
lived until 1827. They then removed to Ohio, and later to Indiana, 
and in 1835 to Lee county, Illinois. They located in Palmyra town- 
ship, where his propei'ty and home was, principally, during his life. 
He was a verv useful and active man in developius;; the resources of the 
county, having opened seven farms in Lee county, and was foremost in 
the promotion of law and order in society, at the earlier settlement. He 
held several public offices worthy of consideration, but aside from those 
of county treasurer, and probably deputy sheriff, we are not reliably 
informed. He was the father of nine children, but three of whom are 
now living, one of whom, Thomas C. Moorehouse, is living at Dixon. 
He died June 18, 1878, in Dixon, and iiis wife four days later. 

Wii.r.iAM W. Bethea, farmer, Dixon, son of Philip and Mary (Mill- 
sapi Betiiea, was born in Miirion district. South Carolina, Ma\' 15, 1812, 
and was of Welsh descent on the paternal side. His father, who served 
in the war of 1812, and also in the Creek Indian war which occurred 
soon after, migrated from South Carolina to Overton county, Tennes- 
see, in fall of 1812, and again removed to Lawrence county, Indiana, 
in 1828, where he died in 1834, at the age of fifty-four years, leaving a 
family of five sons and two daughters. In the spring of 1835 W. W. 
Betiiea started westward to seek a home, and being attracted by the 
beauty and fertility of tiie then almost uninhabited Ruck River country, 
he soon after located a farm in what is now known as Palmyra town- 
ship, which he still occupies. Mr. Bethea was one of the earliest set- 
tlers of this section and has seen its development from the almost 
primeval wilderness of 1835 to the flourishing and populous commu- 
nity of to-day. He was elected county treasurer in 1845 and served 
two terms. At tiie organization of Lee county, in 1839, he was elected 
justice of the peace, and held that office uninterruptedly until 1877. 
Mr. Bethea was married in Lawrence county, Indiana, in 1833, to Miss 
Irena Fender, who died in 1838. He was again married, in 1850, to 
Mrs. Emily (Green) Ferguson, who is still living. 

James Goble, ex-sheriff of Lee count}', Dixon, was born July 22, 
1811, in Kingston, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He spent his ear- 
lier youth at Exeter, Pennsylvania, laboring on his father's farm, and 
attending the public schools. At the age of sixteen years he entered 
a dry -goods store as clerk, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. At the end 
of three years his health failing, he was obliged to give up confinement 
for the farm. In 1837 he came west and settled in Lee county, which 
has ever since been his home. In 1838 having purchased a claim and 
built a log-house upon it he was married to Christiana Harding, a 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 191 

daughter of a t'aniily who came to this comity from his former liome in 
Peims^'lvania. Mr. Goble states that for some years they lived in tiiis 
primitive dwelling as happy as could be. In 1846 he was elected 
county commissioner, and in 1848 he resigned that office and was 
elected sheriff. He then loft his farm and removed to Dixon, where he 
has since lived. He has held the office of coroner, and others of minor 
importance. Politically he is a democrat, and cast his first vote in 
1832 for President Jackson. By the year 1846 all his family had fol- 
lowed him to Lee county, and that Fourth of July thej^ held a family 
re-union, at which were gathered forty-four members, including grand- 
children. He is the father of five children, only one of whom is now 
living, Mrs. Wadsworth, of Dixon. He lost iiis wife in the great 
bridge disaster at Dixon, Ma}' 4, 1873. She stood on the span at the 
north ]iicr, holding a little grandchild in her arms, witnessing a bap- 
tismal ceremony. The Ijridge breaking, she threw the child so near to 
shore that it was picked up and brought to life, but she was drowned. 
She was a pious lady and died a member of the Baptist church. 

Mahlox p. Burket, farmer, Dixon, was born October 31, 1843, in 
Blair county, Pennsylvania. In June, 1847, his parents removed to 
Lee county, Illinois, where he has ever since lived. His whole work 
has been farming, and during his youth he received a good common 
education at the public schools. He has traveled more, probably, 
than a majority of farmers, and is well posted on the general topics of 
the day. He succeeded his father in the proprietorship of the old 
homestead, a beautiful farm-home two miles from Dixon, on the 
Franklin road. Mr. John N. Biirket, the father of the above, pur- 
chased this home immediately on coming to Lee county, and has made 
it what it now is. He was a quiet but most useful man to his com- 
munity, and has lived a good example. It has been remarked that 
his distinguishing characteristic, aside from industry, was his ex- 
tremely temperate habits and pure life. He was a member of the 
Lutheran church, and the present organization of that denomination 
at the city of Dixon was made at a meeting held in his barn at an 
early day, Rev. Mr. Stoh officiating. He died Januarj' 3, 1865, in 
the iiouse which his own hands had Iniilt. 

John CdURTWEiGHT, farmer and carpenter, Dixon, was born De- 
cember 25, 1820, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He spent the 
earlier part of his life there, laboring on his father's farm, and received 
a common school education. In July, 1840, he emigrated to Lee 
count}', Illinois, where he has since lived. In 1842 he began working 
at the carpenter trade, and has pursued it more or less ever since. In 
July, 1846, he was married to Lydia, daughter of Joel Whitney, 
of Ogle county, Illinois, and they began life together on their present 



Iy2 HISTORY OF LEE COLNTY. 

farm liome, aliout two miles fioin Dixon, on tlie Franklin road, ffliey 
liave witnessed the tiiriiini; of a wild country, inhabited chiedy by 
Indians, into a land of bounty and civilization, braving many dangers 
and hardships with which pioneer life in this region was fraught. 
Mr. Coiirtwright owned the first reaping machine brought to Rock 
river, and the first threshing machine in Lee county. He helped in 
i)uil(ling the first county jail, and also the first church (Methodist 
Episcopal) built at Dixon. He is the father of several children, oidy 
one of whom, a daughter, is now living. He has been an indulgent 
father and kind husband, and is recognized and respected among his 
neighl)ors. He is a republican in politics, and a Methodist in church 
])reference. 

Isaac Mkaxs, dealer in farmers' supplies, Dixon, was born in 
Tyrone county, Ireland, November 15, 1815, where he attained a lib- 
eral education and was employed at farming. In April, 1840, he 
emigrated to the United States, landing at New York, and in June 
following located at Dixon, where he has since lived. For some years 
be was engaged at contracting in mason work and house building; 
commencing the business on S45, which was all he had. In 1851 
he opened a lumber-yard in Dixon, which he continued about ten 
years, and then began his present line of farmers' exchange. He lias 
been very successful in business, notwithstanding he has sustained 
some heavy losses by reposing too much confidence in his fellow men. 
He has extensive real estate interests in Lee county and vicinity, 
which, taken with his exchange, makes his business one of much 
importance. He has been twice married, and lias no children. He is 
a liberal minded, public-spirited gentleman, and has been a most useful 
man to the city and community, socially as well as financially. He 
was one of the few who were faithful during the earlier banditti out- 
rages through this section, and relates some very liazardous experi- 
ences of those times. He is an independent in his religious views, and 
accords to all the world liberty of thought upon this subject. For 
thirty-eight years he has been a Freemason. Prior to the organization 
of the republican party he was a whig, but since then has been a 
staunch republican. 

Waltek Lrni.E, sheriff', Dixon, was born September 7, 1841, at Malu- 
gin's Grove, Lee county, Illinois. Until sixteen years old he was em- 
ployed on his father's farm, and in attending school. At that age he 
lost both of his parents, and after that he attended school, mostly at 
Paw Paw, until nineteen years old, gaining a liberal education. At 
the age of twentj' years he enlisted for a term of three years in Co. F, 
let 111. Light Art., of the U. S. Vols., and passed unharmed, in 
the rank and file, through some of the severest battles of the war. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 193 

He took part in nearly all the battles of the Georgia campaign. For 
some time he was tlie bearer of a set of colors that were presented to 
his company bj the citizens of Dixon. At the close of the war, in 
1865, lie was married to Miss Cornelia F. Nichols, of Malugin's Grove, 
and engaged at farming. In the tall of 1880 he was elected sheriff 
of Lee county, and is the present very efficient incumbent. He has held 
various town offices. He is and has always been a republican in poli- 
tics. He subscribes to no church rituals, but favors a decided morality. 
He is a member of the order of Freemasons, and has filled various 
offices in his lodge. He is also a member of the Knights of the Red 
Cross. 

It is a rare thing for the writer to be called upon to record the life, 
or even a small portion tiiereof, of a gentleman who has so long 
been engaged in an active public life as the subject of this sketch, 
Hon. LoEEXzo Wdod. So varied and numerous has been the range of 
his efforts, that to do justice to all would be impossible in the space 
which we can allot to it. Judge Wood was born in jSTovember 1818, 
in Middlebur\', Vermont. Until about the age of sixteen years he 
worked at the carpentering trade, attending, when he could do so, 
the public schools of his native town ; and later he entered the Middle- 
bury College, where he obtained a very liberal education. On leaving 
college he began the study of law in a law office at Middlebury, 
but soon after (in 1839) concluded to come west. He stopped at 
Detroit, Michigan, where he took a three years' course at professional 
reading in the office and under the direction of Gov. Woodbridge, of 
tiiat city. He left Detroit in lSi2 for the west, coming direct to Lee 
county, Illinois, which has ever since been his home. In February, 
1843, he was admitted and enrolled as an attorne_v-at-law in Illinois. 
Tiie judge states, in connection with this, that he was too poor to af- 
ford the expense of a journey to Springfield (as was the custom in 
tiiose days), and that he sent a certificate of leading, and made such 
other compliance as by the court were held requisite. In return he 
received his certificate of admission, which is written on a sheet of 
"Congress letter" paper, with a steel pen, and signed by S. A. Doug- 
las and S. H. Treat. He immediately opened a law office in the city 
of Dixon, and his first four cases were in bankruptcy. He was success- 
ful in all of them, and he received fees of $100 each. This gave him 
quite a "boost," and was the beginning of many years' successful 
practice. A few 3-ears after being admitted to the bar he was elected 
county judge, which office he held until in 1852, when he resigned and 
moved on a farm which he owned in Lee county. In 1860 the house 
and improvements on his farm were almost totally destroyed by the 
" Canianche tornado" that passed over this section of Illinois, which 



194 HISTOKY OF LEK OOUNTY. 

very seriously crippled his fortune. In the fall of 18G0 he removed to 
Dixon, where he has since resided, and has been almost constantly in 
public life, filling the offices of master in chancery and internal revenue 
assessor; he has l)een longer chairman of the board of supervisors tiian 
any otiier man in Lee county ; and has filled various other minor offices. 
In 1865 he purchased an interest in the " Hydraulic Power Company " 
at Dixon, which he brought through some legal embarrassment, and 
afterward started some manufacturing concerns, which proved losing 
undertakings to him, again reducing his property. He has been a 
prominent Freemason for many years. His church preferences are for 
the Presbyterian. He has been twice married, and is the father of 
four children, three of whom are now living. The judge was present 
at tlie organization of the republican party, at Bioomington, and iieard 
the speeches there; prior to that he had been a wliig, but since then 
has been a radical republican. Speaking of the leaders of the two 
great parties, the judge says that in his boyhood days he played some 
pranks upon Stephen A. Douglas, wiio was tlien working at carpenter- 
ing; that Douglas was the most determined fellow he ever saw, — he 
ran after him, finally caught him, and spanked him with a jack-plane; 
he adds that the punishment was just. 

James C. Me.4d, books, stationery, etc., Dixon, was born February 
11, 18:^.1, in Monroe county, New York, and obtained his earlier edu- 
cation there. In 1843 he came with his parents to Dixon, Illinois, 
he attended the public schools a short time, and later was taken as 
clerk in the post-office, under David Birdsall. In the spring of 1849 
he concluded to learn a trade, and started to go to Chicago for that 
purpose. He had $5 in his pocket, and, with a pack of clothing on his 
back, he commenced the journey on foot. He had not gone far, how- 
ever, when he caught a ride with a farmer, on a load of wheat. It will 
be remembered tiiat this was before the days of railroads in this vicin- 
ity, and fanners were obliged to haul their produce to Chicago to find 
a market, and to bring back dry-goods and lumber for the trade of the 
town. Stoi)ping at Xapcrviile for dinner, young Mead met a friend 
who was a harness-maker, and who prevailed upon iiim to stop and 
learn that trade with him. In about six months after this the cholera 
broke out and his employer died, and after settling tlie accounts of 
the business he returned to Dixon. In the following spring he again 
started out on font, stopping at Aurora and Xaperville, intending to 
engage at harness-making; but not being able to obtain cmj)loyment 
at that, he entered a printing-office at Naperville. He learned that 
business rapidly, and was emplo3'ed in that office about a year, at 
which time Mr. C. R. Fisk sent for him to come to Dixon and assist 
him in opening and establishing a printing-office; which was the first 



DIXOJ^ TOWNSHIP. 195 

one in Dixon. After a short engagement with tin's ciitei'prise he went 
to Oregon, Illinois, where he became publisher of the " Ogle County 
Reporter," in which business he continued for two years. At this 
time he returned to Dixon, and engaged as clerk in the private bank 
and land office of E. B. Stiles, where he was employed until March 1, 
1854. He then opened a bookstore at his present site, on Galena 
street, in a room 12x20 feet, which was the first establishment of 
that kind in Dixon. Prosperity attended him, and in a few years he 
had amassed considerable property, and his store had grown to its 
present magnitude. He subsequently met with severe reverses, which 
materially injured and retarded him; but being a live business man, 
and enjoying the full vigor of his powers, he is again on the forward 
inarch. At the age of twenty-two lie became a Freemason, and for 
many years was secretary of the lodge at Dixon. He has been a promi- 
nent worker in the Sunday schools and a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. He lias been twice married, and is the father of 
five children, four of whom are now living. In politics Mr. Mead is 
a republican. In social life he is pleasant and affable. 

Thekon Cumins, manufacturer, Dixon, was born in Vermont in 
1825. He was the son of Joseph and Hannah (Converse) Cumins, 
both of whom are now dead. His parents left Vermont and moved 
to Ohio when he was fifteen years of age, and settled in Geauga county. 
After remaining there for tvv'o years he came around by way of the 
lakes to Chicago, from thence by stage to Dixon, having but $3 in his 
pocket on his arrival. From Dixon he went to Grand Detour, where 
iio obtained a position of clerk in the store of W. A. House & Co., at 
a small salary, remaining there for two years and a half. He then 
returned to Newark, Ohio, and for four years clerked in the store of 
J. O. and H. Smith. He then returned to Grand Detour and went 
into business with the firm for which he had formerly been a clerk, 
under the firm natne of T. Cumins & Co. This firm was dissolved 
within less than three years, and lie returned to Bucyrus, Ohio, and 
having formed a business connection with A. Haynes, under the firm 
name of A. Haynes & Co., they obtained a large grading contract on 
the Ohio & Indiana railroad, afterward a part of the Pittsburg & Fort 
Wayne railroad. On the extension of the latter road the firm olitained 
large contracts for grading and bridging, which, a few months after, 
they sold to other parties, realizing a handsome profit for themselves. 
Mr. Cumins again returned to Grand Detour, where he became general 
manager for Leonard Andrus, former proprietor of the G. T. Plow 
Works, continuing in that capacity for about two years, when he 
became an equal partner with Mr. Andrus. At the death of Mr. 
Andrus, which occurred six years afterward, Mr. Cumins purchased 



196 HISTOKV OF LEE COUNTY. 

his interest and became sole proprietor, and soeontiiined tor about two 
years and a iialf, when the works were removed to Dixon, nnd an 
interest in the business was purciiased by Col. H. T. Noble, the firm 
becoming Cumins & Noble. Mr. Cumins was married at Grand Detour 
in 1854, to Miss Josephine Harris, and has two daugiiters living. Mr. 
Cumins is a truly self-made man and adds another name to the list of 
those whose integrity, energy, and perseverance have brought them troin 
humble circumstances to wealth and prominence. 

SiiERWoou Dixon, attorney, Dixon, was born November 15, 1847, 
at Dixon, and was the son of James P. and Fannie (Rccd) Dixon, and 
the grandson of John (Father) Dixon. James P. Dixon was born in 
the city of New York, March <>, 1811, and came with his parents to 
Illinois in 1827, and to Dixon in 1829. Upon arriving at manhood he 
engaired in active business, and was for a long time agent for Flint Sz 
Walker's stage line, and in the latter years of his life was in the livery 
business. He also held several positions of honor and trust, being a 
countv commissioner at the organization of Lue county and likewise 
at the time the court-house was erected. He also held the position of 
postmaster for several years. He was married December 7, 1834, to 
Miss Fannie Reed, daughter of Samuel Reed, the first settler of Buffalo 
Grove, in Ogle county, where he located in 1831. The following 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Dixon, all but the last of whom 
are still living: Henrietta, born in 18:!6. married in 1860 to William 
H.Richards; Elizabeth, born in 1838, married in 1856 to William 
Barge; Sarah, born in 1845, married in 1870 to Geoi'ge W. Goodwin ; 
John E.., born in 1842, married in 1872, and now resides in Michigan ; 
Sherwood, who still resides in Dixon; and Susan F., born in 1839, 
:narried in 1861 to Amos Goodwin, and died at Dixon, September 15, 
1878. James P. Dixon died April 5, 1873, at Dixon, but his widow, 
now in her sixty-sixth year, is still living and at present residing with 
her son, Sherwood Dixon. The subject of our sketch was educated in 
the public schools of his native place, and in February, 1866, com- 
menced the study of law with Wm. Barge, Esq. He was admitted in 
January 1869, and commenced practice as junior member of the firm 
of Eustace, Barge & Dixon, in August 1869. In October, 1874, Messrs. 
Barge ik Dixon removed to Chicago, and forming a partnership with 
W. W. O'Brien, of that city, practiced their profession there until 
November 1877, when they returned to Dixon. In March, 1878. Mr. 
Dixon dissolved his connection with the firm of Barge & Dixon and 
formed a partnership with Mr. S. H. Bethea, the new firm succeeding 
to the tirni and business of Eustace ik Bethea. Mr. Dixon was appointed 
master in chancery in June 1880, and is serving his second term as a 
member of the board of education.* He was married November 16, 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 197 

1869, to Miss Melissa G. Mead, daughter of the late H. P. Mead, and 
has two sons, Henry S., aged eleven, and Louis N., aged eight years. 
Mr. Di.xon's political views are democratic, and he is chairman of the 
county committee of that party. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and has been for two years superintendent of the 
Sunday-school of that denomination. 

Jonathan N. Hills, ex-sheriff of Lee county, Dixon, was born 
July 24, 1829, in Oneida county. New York. He spent his early life 
at farming, and received a common school education. In 1849, with 
his father's family, he came to Lee county, Illinois, and they settled in 
Maliigin's Grove, where his father died, June 5, 1864. In 1868 he 
engaged in mercantile pursuits, the firm name being Hills & Cariiahan, 
at Malugin's Grove, which business they continued five years. In 
1876 he was elected sheriff of Lee county, and in November of that 
year removed to Dixon, whore he has since continued to reside. In 
1878 he was reelected. He has since filled various town offices, but 
has been justice of the peace longer than any other. He has always 
been a line republican. Mr. Hills aspired to a military record, but 
because of ill health was rejected from the service. He was married 
December 17, 1851, to Miss Nancy Merwiu, of Paw Paw Grove, Lee 
county, and they have six children, one of whom, a daughter, is married 
and living in Kansas; the others are at home. Mr. Hills is an active 
member and officer in the Methodist Episcopal church at Dixon, and is 
also a warm friend of Sunday-schools. He is a member of the blue 
lodge (of which he is master), the royal arch chapter, and the Dixon 
comuKindery of Knights Templar. He is also a member of the I.O.O.F. 
Mr. Hills is a firm temperance man, and believes in moderation in all 
things, excess in none. 

Hon. Jajies B. Chaetees, county judge, Dixon, was born July 11, 
1831, in the city of Belfast, Ireland. He is the only son of Alexander 
Charters, popularly known as "Governor" Charters. Until seventeen 
years of age the judge attended school at Carafurgus Island, after 
which he was placed in the Trinity College at Dublin, Ireland. He 
graduated from that institution in 1852, and afterward kept his law 
terms at the Inner Temple, in London, England. Immediately after 
graduating in law he came to Dixon, Illinois, where his father had 
lived since the spring of 1838. His father's home was a beautiful 
country site, two miles from the city of Dixon, on the Ilock river, the 
lands of which he purchased from the United States government, and 
christened the manor Hazelwood. Here, in 1853, the judge was mar- 
ried to Miss Fannie Charters, a lady of his own country and house. 
In 1856 he commenced the practice of law at Dixon, where he has ever 
since been engaged in professional pursuits. In 1877 he was elected 



198 HISTORY OF LEE COIXTY. 

judge of the county court ot" Lee county, and since that time has been 
tlie incumbent of tliat office. Prior to liis election as county judge lie 
served one term as mayor of the city of Dixon. He has been largely 
interested in several manufacturing establishments at Dixon, among 
which we may mention the Dixon File Works, of which he was secre- 
tary and treasurer. In 1868 the concern was converted into the West- 
ern Knitting Mills, which were burned in ISl'.i, with a loss of about 
$60,000, a heavy share of the loss falling upon the judge. Tiie mills 
were never rebuilt. Politically the judge supports the democratic 
principles, as they were discussed in the debates upon the constitution. 
He is a i)rominent member of the blue lodge, royal-arch chapter, 
and commandery of Knights Tuniplar. He is a member and vestryman 
of the Episcopal church at Dixon. Personally Mr. Charters is a gen- 
tleman of pleasing address and cordial manner. 

IIo.\. JoFiN D. Ckabtree, att()i-iiey-at-Iaw, Dixon, was born Novem- 
ber 19, 1837, in Nottingham, England, and with his parents came to 
America in 1848. They came direct to Winnebago county, Illinois, 
where they settled and remained some time. In 1853 they removed to 
Dixon, which has since then been his home. The judge's opportuni- 
ties for obtaining an education were few, yet by hard work and close 
application he managed to obtain quite a liberal one. He had privately 
read law some, ]irior to June 1, 1861, at which date he entered the 
office of Mr. Edsall (now attorney-general ot Illinois); but taking an 
active interest in the result of the rebellioti he enlisted as a private 
soldier, April 17 of the same year. Here he made a brilliant record, 
rising bj- promotion and appoititment to the office of captain of Co. 
F, 3d Mo. Cav., and before the close of the war had been breveted 
major. He was mustered out of the service November 5, I860, and on 
returning home he reentered the office of Mr. Edsall, and resumed his 
piofessional reading. In July, 1866, he was admitted to the bar, and 
in October following formed a partnership with Mr. Edsall, which con- 
tinued three years. He was then elected county judge of Lee county, 
which office he held eight years. At the expiration of that time he re- 
sumed the practice of law at Dixon, and that has been his business 
since. He is a fluent speaker, a deep and active reasoner, and wields a 
strong influence in the public sentiments and politics of Lee county. 
He cast his first vote for president Lincoln, and has voted for every 
president since then, living up to the republican principals as he taught 
them. He has held prominent offices in the various masonic orders, 
and has been a member of the I.O.O.F. He is a member of the veter- 
an soldiers organization called O.C.D. His church preferences are 
for the Baptist, though he subsci'ibes -to no clnirch ritual. His tine so- 
cial qualities, combined with excellent abilities, make him a general 
favorite among his friends, both in an<l out of the profession. 



DIXOX TOWJfSHIP. 199 

Samuel C. Eells banker, Dixon, was born in Delaware county, 
New York, Marcli 19, 1822, wiiere he spent his yonth on a farm, and 
later as a clerk in a dry-goods store. As soon as sufficiently advanced 
he entered the Delaware Academy, where he received a very liberal ed- 
ucation. In 1854 he was married to Miss Annie More, a lady of his 
own nativity, and they now have three ciiildren, all living. The same 
year he came to Dixon, Illinois, as bookkeeper for the lirm of Robert- 
son, Eastman & Co. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Eastman retired from 
the firm, and it then became Robertson, Eells & Co. In 1859 the firm 
was changed to Eells & Coleman, and in the spring of 1865 was suc- 
ceeded by the organization of the Lee county national bank. In this 
institution Mr. Eells became cashier, and Mr. Coleman assistant cash- 
ier; the latter has since retired from the business. The life of our sub- 
ject has been one of even tenor and his just pride is in his financial 
career. Politically he is a staunch republican and exerts a telling but 
quiet influence for his party. He is a member of the Episcopal church 
at Dixon, and is a warm friend and supporter of all churches. He is 
the pronounced friend of educational institutions. Personally he is a 
man of a kind heart and courteous address. 

William H. Van Epps, farmer, Dixon, was born in Genesee count}'. 
New York, in December 1842. His parents were William H. and 
Charlotte R. (Churchill) Van Epps. The father of the subject of our 
sketch, the Hon. W. H. Van Epps, deceased, for many years a promi- 
nent resident and merchant of Dixon, was born in 1812, at Schenectady, 
New York, and was the son of John A. and Deborah (Housman) Van 
Epps, whose great -grandparents emigrated from Holland early in the 
last century. His parents removed to Genesee county. New York, in 
1813, where his father (who served in the war of 1812) died in 1816. 
In 1829 his mother removed to Monroe county, New York, where he 
attended the best schools. In 1837 he determined to go west, and hav- 
ing located in Fulton county, Illinois, engaged in various successful en- 
terprises until 1848, when he returned to Genesee county. In 1854 he 
again came west and settled at Dixon, where he opened an extensive 
dry-goods and general store, which he carried on for more than twenty 
years. In 1856 he became a member of the Illinois State Board of Ag- 
riculture, and in 1861) was made its president, serving in that capacity 
for four years. In 1868 he was the candidate of the democratic party 
of which he was a member) for lieutenant-governor. He was twice 
married, his first wife being Miss Charlotte R. Churchill, of Genesee 
county, who died in 1848. He was again married in 1850 to Miss 
Mary A. Peck, also of Genesee county, New York. His death occurred 
October 8. 1877, at the age of sixty-five years. Up to the time of the 
family's arrival in Dixon the history of the present W. H. Van Epps 



200 HISTORY OF LKE COUNTY. 

is comprised in that of liis father. He received excellent educational 
advantages, and after leaving school was in the eniplo_v of James R. 
Asliley, of Morrison, until he enlisted in the marine artillery in Ausrust, 
18ti2, sfirving with tiieni a few months only. On leaving the service 
he returned to Dixon, and with the exception of some three or tour 
vears, during which time he twice went to Califoi'nia, remaining about 
a year each time, he has been stea'lily engaged in farming. He was 
married to Miss Leah Emery, on December 6, 1877. 

William Barge, attorney, Dixon, was born February 2fi, 1882. 
His parents were John and Jane (Elliott) Barge, and he is of French 
descent on his father's, and Scotch on his mother's side. In 1833 the 
family removed to Richland county, Ohio, where the earlier j'ears of 
Mr. Barge were passed. The family removed from Richland county 
to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1839, his father dying there in 1850. Dur- 
ing this time Mr. Barge attended the Wooster Acadeinv, where the 
greater part of his education was acquired. In 1851, with his mother 
and two sisters, he removed to Rock Island, Illinois, where he entered 
the law office of Pleasants & Henderson as a student. Removing to 
Dixon in 1854 he started the first graded school (outside of Chicago, at 
least) in the state, and continued in charge of it until 1859. He com- 
menced to practice law in 1860, and after being for some time a partner 
of H. B. Fogg, Esq., became in lSt)9 a member of the firm of Eustace, 
Barge & Dixon. In the fall of 1874 Messrs. Barge & Dixon removed 
to Chicago, becoming associated there with W. W. O'Brien, Esq.. but 
being appointed in 1S77 attorney of the Illinois Central railroad, he 
again returned to Dixon. He has had also, for many years, charge of 
the legal interests of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad in his sec- 
tion, and still continues to hold the important trust contided to him iiy 
both corporations. Mr. Barge was married August 19, 1856, to Miss 
Elizabeth Dixon, granddaughter of the old pioneer John Dixon, and 
is the father of five children : Mrs. Rathbun, wife of W. W. Rathbun, 
Esq., of Mercer county, Illinois ; W. D. Barge, who has just been ad- 
mitted to the bar and has become a partner of his father; John J., aged 
twenty, Lizzie M., aged fourteen, and Charles R., aged nine years. Mr. 
Barge, though never active in political matters, is a democrat from con- 
viction, and has long been one of the most prominent members of the 
legal profession in northern Illinois. 

Hon. Jaso.n C. Ayrks, Dixon, was born August 22, 1835. in St. 
Lawrence county. New York, and in 1S36 his parents moved to the west, 
and settled in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father 
died when the subject of our sketch was nearly four years of age, and 
in the following year his people returned to Bufl'alo. New York, where 
his youth was spent and where he received a very liberal education, 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 201 

with special direction to the profession of surveying and civil-engineer- 
ing. At the age of eighteen he located in Chicago, and in the spring 
of 1854 settled in Dixon, Illinois, where he has since resided. Here 
he was for a short time engaged in a .small mercantile business, which 
proving unprofitable he abandoned it. He then went into business as 
land agent and surveyor, in connection with the Hon. Jos. Crawford, 
forming a partnership that continued until 1863. During the latter 
year they prepared and published, from actual surveys, the first correct 
and authentic map of Lee county. Mr. Ayres afterward continued 
the real-estate business, devoting the greater portion of his time to 
reading law. In 1870 he was admitted to the bar, but has never en- 
gaged exclusively in the general practice of his profession. Being a 
surveyor as well as an attorney, he has made a specialty of conve3'anc- 
ing, and has pushed his business to successful growth and substantial 
results, and for many years has been engaged in making and negotiat- 
ing loans on real-estate securities. He is also a prominent stockholder 
in, and president of the Dixon national bank. While his financial ad- 
vancement has been very signal, his social record is an enviable one. 
He was elected city clerk March 6, 1861, and lias held that otBce ever 
since, a duration of over twenty consecutive years, and March 16, 1864, 
he was elected city treasurer, which post he has ever since had. Polit- 
ically he is a staunch republican. He is a member of the Masonic order, 
a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar ; in lodge, chapter, council 
and commandery he has held prominent offices. He was married May 
7, 1861, to Miss Lovina, daughter of Dr. Jno. S. Crawford, of Williams- 
port, Pennsylvania. They have two children, a daughter now grown, 
and a son. 

Hon. Johx V. Thom.\s, mayor of the city of Dixon, was born at 
Princeton, New Jersey, October 30, 1835. He spent his youth there, 
and took a full classical course in the Princeton College. In 1857 he 
came west, and being pleased with it concluded to abide in Dixon ; 
soon after he began the study of medicine, under the tutorship of Dr. 
Oliver Everett, at Dixon, and afterward, during the winter of 1859-60, 
attended lectures at the Keokuk (Iowa) Medical College; but before he 
had completed his course there he was called into the hospital service 
of the government, where his duties, though of short duration, had 
the effect to turn him from the further pursuit of that profession. On 
returning home he took a course in didactics, under Prof. A. M. Gow, 
and afterward began the business of teaching; first at Nelson, Illinois, 
and subsequently at Dixon, as principal of the north side public 
schools. Here he remained until 1874, when, on account of impaired 
health, he was obliged to abandon it. He then engaged in the real- 
estate and insurance business, which has been attended with successful 



202 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

results and substantial growth. When he gave up teaching the citizens 
chose him city councilman, and afterward mayor of the city, the second 
term of which office he is now tilling. In various ways they have 
demonstrated their appreciation and respect for his high moral worth 
and superior abilities. For many years he has been a prominent mem- 
ber of the A.F. and A.M., and master of Friendshi]i Lodge. He 
has been high pi'iest in the Royal Arcii Chapter, and is now prelate of 
the Dixon Commandery of Knights Templar, which post he has liad 
for three years. He is also a member of the I.O.O.F. His prefer- 
ences are for the Episcopalian church. In 18G1 he was married to 
Miss Ellen J., daughter of Dr. Dewitt C. Warner, then of Di.xon ; they 
have three children, the oldest of whom is a son, now a law student 
at Di-xon. 

Eugene Pinckney, attorney-at-law and loan agent, Dixon, was born 
in 1S39, in New York city, where he obtained his earlier education. 
Later he was sent to the Wesleyan Institute, located at Newark, New 
Jersey, and aftervvard to the New Jersey Institute, at Pennington, 
New Jersey, from which he graduated in 18.52. He then entered 
Princeton Colh.'ge, where he took a full course in the classics, and in 
March, 1856, he came west. In May of that year he came to Dixon, 
Illinois, which has ever since been his home. Here he began a course 
of professional ruaditig, in the office and under the direction of Messrs. 
Heaton & Atherton, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar by the 
supreme court of Illinois. He immediately entered the practice of 
law, and subsequently added to his legal pursuits tiie business of loan- 
ing money upon real estate. He was prominently interested in the 
Dixon file works, an institution of consideralile magnitude, l)Ut which is 
now extinct. He was the first editor of the Dixon '' Sun,"' one of the 
leading papers in Lee county. His habits have always been those of a 
student, and his favorite fields of research have been in tUe natural 
sciences and profane and biblical literature. He is a member of the 
State Geological Society, and has recently organized the Dixon Eiologi- 
cal Society, which has a promising future. He is master in the Forest 
Home Lodge of the A.O.U.W., located at Dixon. He is a prominent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Dixon, and is an active 
Sunday-school worker, sometimes extending his work in this to other 
counties. He has been twice married, but has no children. He is a 
Jeftersonian democrat, and has never voted any other ticket. 

Henry P. Bix'kkk, miller, Dixon, was born in Schoharie county. 
New York, in 1819. His parents were Peter I. and Lena (Woolford) 
Becker. He received a common school education, and at the age of 
seventeen went into his grandfather's mills to learn the business. He 
remained there about ten years, going from thence to Albany in 1847. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 203 

Ho resided tliere until the spring of 185(1, wiieii iiemigrated to Wis- 
consin, and after working for various parties until 1857 he in that 
year entered into partnership with Mr. Bean, under the style of Bean 
«fe Becker. In the l;dl of 1859 he closed his connection with this firm, 
and coming to Dixon he purchased an interest in the Di.xon mill, then 
conducted by C. Godfrey & Son. His brother, John W. Becker, was 
also interested. In the following spring Mi'. Godfrey's I'emaining 
interest was purchased by Nathan Underwood, and the firm became 
Beckers & Fnderwood, which on the retirement of J. W. Becker, in 
1872, was changed to Becker ct Underwood, as it still remains. Mr. 
Becker was married in 1840 to Miss Lucrctia Tygert, of Albany county. 
New York, and had one son, Ezra S. Becker, born in Schoharie, New 
York, in 1841. He was a young man of 1::reat promise, and under- 
stood the milling business thoroughly in all its branches. He lost his 
life in the fire that destroyed the mill in 188(*, a full account of which 
will be found elsewhere. It was a sad blow to his father, whose aged 
mother had died in 1878, followed by the death of his wife in 1879, 
and now the tragic fate of his only child, left Mr. Becker stripped of 
his wlu)le family in the short space of twenty months. Mr. Becker is a 
republican, and is now serving his fourth term as alderman of the 
second ward of Dixon. 

Abalino C Bakdwell, attorney-at-law, Dixon, was born October 
23, 1844, at Conneautville, Pennsylvania, and was the son of George 
A. and Julia A. (Cutler) Bard well. His parents removed to Wliite- 
sidescounty, Illinois, in 1853, where Mr. A. C. Bardwell received the 
most of his education at the neighboring schools. Coming to Dixon 
February 10, 1864, Mr. Bardwell commenced to study law in the oflice 
of Geo. P. Goodwin, Esq., and at the same time held a clerkship in the 
office of Hon. J. V. Eustace, then provost-marshal of the district. On 
February 10, 1865, he enlisted as a private in the 147th 111. Inf., and 
upon the organization of the regiment was elected captain of Co. G. 
Having served for about three months as company commander, be 
was detached and appointed provost-marshal at Resaca, Georgia, and 
afterward served in the same capacity at Americus and Savannah until 
mustered out of service February 10, 1866. Returning home he le- 
sumed his law studies, attending Chicago law school during the winter 
of 1866-7, and being admitted to the bar soon after, he commenced 
the practice of his profession at Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois, late in 
the following fall. Shortly after, his health becoming impaired, he re- 
moved to Dixon, and in the spring of 1868 established the Dixon 
"Herald," which was, in November 1869, merged into the Dixon " Tel- 
egraph," owned' by a joint stock company with Mr. Bardwell as editor, 
in which position he continued until May 1871. In the ensuing An- 



204 HISTORY •>!•■ LKK COUNTY. 

^iist he formed a partnersliip with Hon. J. K. Edsall, and resumed the 
practice of law. Ti)c iirin was dissolved in 1872, Mr. Edsall having 
been elected attoniey-general of the state, and Mr. Bardwell has since 
continued to practice alone. He was married in 1871, to Miss Clara C. 
I'tley, daughter of Joseph Utley, Esq., of Di.xon, and has one son, Henry 
W. Bardwell, nine years of age. Though a comparatively young man, 
Mr. Bardwell occupies an enviable position among his professional 
brethren, and citizens generally, both as a lawyer and a man. 

A. Clinton W.vknku, do)Mity county treasurer, Dixon, was born in 
New Preston, Connecticut, April :5, 185n. He i.s the son of L. A. and 
Sarah D. Warner, of Freeport, Illinois, with whom he came west in 
18.55. He si)ent his youth at Freeport. obtaining a very liberal educa- 
tion in the schools of that*city. In 1867 he entered the office of the 
county clerk, as deputy, of Stephenson county, of which Freeport is 
the county seat. He remained there until 1871, when he came to 
Di.von, where he was immediately employed as deputy in the count}' 
clerk's office. A little later he was given charge of the office of county 
treasurer, as deputy, under treasurer Josiah Little, and in connection 
with this he is now engaged. In Ma}', 1878, he was licensed by the 
supreme court an attorney-at-law, but has not sought to engage in a 
general practice. He is a prominent stockholder, and a director in the 
Di.\on national bank, at Dixon, and during the past few years has 
handled more real estate than any other man in Lee county. In De- 
cember, 1875, he was mai-ried to Miss Myra O. Brookner, a lady of one 
of the oiliest and most i-espected families iti Dixon. They have three 
chiKiren, all !)oys. Mr. Warner is a member of the Methodist E])isco- 
pal eliureh, and a warm friend of Sunday-schools. He is a man of re- 
fined tastes aud correct haiiits, an energetic student, combined with 
active and growing business qualities. He is an independent rei)ui)lican. 

George Stkei., capitalist, Dixon, was born at Lockport, Illinois, 
May in, 18-12, and was the son of George and Annie (Morrison) Steel. 
The elder Mr. Steel and his wife were both natives of Scotland. He 
was a contractor, and in that capacity was connected with many of the 
great enterprises of the northwest, such as the Wellaud canal, the Illi- 
nois and Michigan canal, the dredging of the Chicago river, etc. In a 
building owned ijy him the Krst informal meeting of the Board of Trade 
of Chicago was held. He was one of the original directors of the Ga- 
lena division of the Ciiieago & Xorthwestern rnilroad. He built the 
first elevator at Chicago, and was one of the first to engage in the pack- 
ing business, and in the lake trade. At the organization of the St. 
Andrew's Society of Chicago he was elected its president. He was a 
large real-estate owner, and erected many buildings. Death brought 
his active and prosperous career to a close on March 22, 1865, at the 





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0^^^U^^ 




DIXON TOWNSHIP. 207 

age of sixty-seven. His son, George Steel, removed with his parents to 
Chicago in 1844, where he was brought up. He was educated at Mount 
Pleasant Acadenay,Sing Sing, New York, and Racine College, Racine, 
Wisconsin, and also attended the Chicago law college. He studied law 
for a time in the office of Hoyne, Miller & Lewis, of Chicago, but about 
1861, becoming interested in railroad matters, he turned his attention to 
that line of business for about five years. He then became engaged in 
contracts for street pavements in Chicago and Cleveland, and also in 
the building of the lake tunnel in the former cit}', and at the same time 
was considerabl}' interested in mining developments. Mr. Steel came 
to Dixon first in 1873, and has since been engaged in various enter- 
prises in this vicinity. He was married July 11, 1871, to Miss Louise 
P. Van Epps, and has three children : Willie, aged ten, Annie, aged 
six, and an infant daughter. Mi'. Steel is independent in political 
affairs, and is a member of the Presbj'terian church. 

IssAc S. BoAEDMAN, real estate dealer, Dixon, was born in Tioga 
county. New York, January 3, 1816, and is the son of Isaac S. and 
Abigail (Saltmarsh) Boardman. His father kept a public-house in 
Tioga county for over a quarter of a century', and was post-master of 
his town for more than twenty-seven years. Mr. Boardman left home 
at the age of sixteen, going to Bath, New York, where he clerked in a 
dr>'-goods store for six years. He then made arrangements to go into 
business in connection with his brother-in-law Mr. S. M. Bowman, 
and they resolved to locate at Dixon. Purchasing a stock of goods at 
New York and Philadelphia, which at that early day were shipped by 
way of Pittsburgh and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, they arrived 
at Dixon in May 1837, and commenced business. At the organization 
of Lee county in 1838 Mr. Boardman was elected county clerk and 
served four years. Just before the expiration of his term of service 
he resigned and purchased a flouring-mill in Ogle county, which he 
operated until 1849, when he sold out and returned to Dixon, and was 
sooii after elected to the office of clerk of the circuit court, which posi- 
tion he held for seven years. During this time he had purchased the 
"Republican and Telegraph," published at Di.xon, and conducted that 
paper for about ten years, under the name of the " Dixon Telegraph." 
About 1868 Mr. Boardman retired from the active management of his 
paper, and placed it in the hands of his sous John D. and William, 
who had just graduated from the University of Michigan, and since 
that time Mr. Boardman's only connection with active business has 
been in looking after his large real-estate interests. He was married 
in 1840 to Miss Mary L. Dixon, a daughter of Father Dixon. She 
died in 1850, leaving three children. The eldest, Mary E., married 
Charles C. Pinckne}', Esq., and is now residing at Denver, Colorado. 
13 



208 HISTORY OF LEE COUXTY. 

John D., tlie eldest son, was a graduate of tlie law department of tlie 
University of Michigan, and having become -interested in mining in 
Arizona was killed there by a desperado in a dispute over a contested 
claim. William, the second son, after severing his connection with 
the " Dixon Telegraph," removed to Chicago to take charge of the 
business management of the ''RaII Road Gazette." After the great 
tire the place of publication was transferred to New York cit}', and it 
is now very prosperous. Mr. Boardman was married a second time in 
1^.54, to Miss Anna C. Campbell, of Mount Morris, Illinois. She died 
in 1863, leaving one daughter, now eighteen years of age. Mr. 
Boardman cast his first vote for Gen. Harrison, and for more than 
forty years has been an active whig and republican. 

Joseph Utlet, merchant, Dixon, was born in Western, Oneida 
county, New York, on July 27, 1815, and is the son of Henry and 
Sarah (Morse) Utie}', and obtained his education at the schools in the 
neighborhood. After completing an academical course he entered his 
father's establishment, where he learned the trade of a tanner. He suc- 
ceeded to his father's business in 1838 and carried on the same until 
1859, in which year he removed to Dixon and opened a saddlery and 
liardware store, which he continued until 18G7, when he turned over 
the business to his eldest son and has not since been actively engaged 
in business. He has for many years been much interested in the 
matter of cheap transportation, and has been prominently connected 
with the canals of this state, and in 1869 was appointed by Gov. Pal- 
mer a canal commissioner, holding that position until 1877, and most 
of tlie time was president of the board of canal commissioners. Mr. 
Utley was married in 183S to Miss Frances Church, daughter of Seth 
Church, Esq., of Western, Oneida county, New York. Tliej- have three 
children : E. B. Utlc}', aged forty years, who is engaged in the sad- 
dlery-hardware and leather business at Dixon; Clara, aged thirty-seven 
years, and wife of A. C. Bardwell, a prominent attorney of Dixon, 
and Dr. J. H. Utley, aged thirty-four years, and now practicing his 
profession in Dixon. Politically Mr. Utley is a stalwart republican, 
and is a member of the Presbyterian church. 

Hon. Johx V. Eostack, judge of the circuit court of the thirteenth 
judicial district, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 
9, 1821, and is tiie son of Thomas and Fannie (Olmsted) Eustace. 
His father and grandfather were both clergymen belonging to the 
Presbyterian denomination, the former being born in Dublin in 1797, 
migrating to America and first locating in Philadelphia, where he 
remained until 1839, when he removed to St. Louis, where he died 
from cholera in 18i7. On the maternal side Judge E. is a descendant 
of Rev. Jonathan Ingersoll, who for thirty-seven years before the revo- 



DIXON^ TOWNSHIP. 209 

liition was the Presbyterian minister of Ridgefield, Conn. She married 
Ebenezer Olmstead, who was a colonel in the Connecticut line during 
that war. Her brother was the first lieutenant-governor of that state. 
Judge Eustace was educated at Philadelphia, graduating from the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania in the summer of 1839. Sooti after the family 
removed to St. Louis, wliere he entered the office of Hon- Charles D. 
Drake (now chief justice of the court of claims, Washington), as a law 
student, and was admitted to practice before reaching his twentieth 
year. He became a partner of Mr. Drake for a short time, but in 1843 
removed to Di.xon, where he practiced with much success until 1857, 
when he was elected judge of the circuit court upon its first establisii- 
ment, but resigned before serving his full term, and resumed the prac- 
tice of ills profession. In 1861 he was appointed provost-marshal of the 
district, which position he held until tlie close of the war. He tlien 
became a member of the firm of Eustace, Barge & Dixon, which con- 
tinued for several years, and in 1877 was again elected judge of the cir- 
cuit court, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge W. W. Hea- 
ton, and in 1879 was reelected for a full term of six j^ears. He has also 
served in the state legislature and as a presidential elector, and in 1876 
was the democratic candidate for attorny-general of Illinois, but was 
defeated along with the balance of the ticket. Judge Eustace was 
married at St. Louis in 184-3, to Miss Anna M. Smitii, and has four 
children : Fannie, born in Dixon, who is married to Henry W. Grce- 
tham and residing in Dixon ; Thomas H., born in Dixon and now in 
the emplo}' of a manufacturing firm at Freeport, Illinois; Elizabeth, 
born in Dixon, and married to Mr. John L. Orvis, of Dixon, and 
John V. jr., born in Dixon and now practicing law at Rockford, Illinois. 
In his political affiliations the judge is a democrat, but enjoys the 
esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens, without regard to party 
lines, as an able and upright expounder of the law. 

Lester D. PrrcHEE, dealer in agricultural implements, Dixon, was 
born in Lewis county, ^New York, July 28, 1839, and is the son of 
Philander and Mary (Agen) Pitcher. After leaving sciiool he worked 
upon his father's farm until the spring of 1864, when he came to Illi- 
nois and located in Jo Daviess county. After farming for some two 
years he built a store and entered into the general merchandise busi- 
ness at Piteherville, where he had succeeded in getting a postoffice 
established, and was made post-master, which office he held until 1871, 
when he removed to Dixon and engaged in the manufacture of the 
Excelsior Barley Forks, and of the Buck Patent Spring Bolster for 
lumber wagons. In 1877 he went into the agricultural implement 
business, which he still carries on. Mr. Pitcher was married January 
20, 1871, to Miss Abigail Cramer, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and has two 



210 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

children, Bessie, aged eight years, and Louis, an infant son. In 1862 
Mr. Pitcher enlisted in the 5th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, but after serv- 
ing about three months was discharged for disability. He is a repub- 
lican in politics, and at the present time is alderman of the third ward 
of the city of Dixon. 

Daniel B. McKexxet, magistrate. Dixon, was born March 31, 
1816, in Montgomery county, New York, and is the son of Peter 
and Rlioda (Tickner) McKenney. He I'emoved with his parents in 
1820 to Canada, where he resided during his childhood, and came to 
Dixon in the spring of 1836, when twenty years of age. His fathei- 
'caine in that fall, when they together opened hotel in a log-house on 
Peoria street, Dixon. In the winter of 1S36-7 he drove twenty miles 
west of Princeton, this state, and purchased one ton of fresh pork, for 
which he paid $200. The same quantity could be bought the follow- 
ing winter for $25. In the winter of 1836-7 flour was $20 per barrel 
in Chicago, the nearest port of supply. Soon after this time oats were 
purchased at eight cents per bushel, and at one time he and his uncle 
bought up and stored a large quantit}-, which afterward became a total 
loss and were thrown away. In 1841 Mr. McKenney purchased seventy 
feet front on Main street, on which stood the first brick building 
erected in Dixon. Other buildings have been since built, until the 
ground was occupied. Soon after the purchase of this lot he engaged 
in merchandising, in which he continued for a number of years. After 
a life of twenty-six years, young Daniel was persuaded that it was not 
" good for man to live alone," and was united in marriage to Miss 
Eliza Ann Whitney, of Franklin Grove, in 1842. Mrs. McKenney 
is a daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Gray) Whitne}-, of Lee county, 
noticed in connection with Franklin Grove. In the spring of 1870 
the subject of our sketch was elected magistrate in' Dixon, in which 
office he has continued until present, his official acts being held in high 
esteem by all lovers of justice. In politics the Esquire is democratic 
in his affiliations, but voted for Abraham Lincoln thi-ough ])ersonal ap- 
preciation. 

Capt. John Dtsaet, grain dealer and flour merchant, Dixon, was 
born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1834, and is the 
son of Joseph and Mary xVnn (Davis) Dysart. He spent the days 
of his childhood on a farm near Birmingham, Pennsylvania, in which 
place he received his early education. In 1857 he came to Illinois, and 
settled in Nachusa, Lee county, where he engaged in the grain and lum- 
ber trade, in which he continued fortwent}' years. On August 25, 1861, 
Mr. Dysart enlisted in Co. D, Bowen's Cavalry Battalion of Vol- 
unteers, entering the ranks as a private, from which he rose to the 
command of bis company. The captain was in the-Army of the Mis- 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 211 

sissippi, was in the battle of Pea Ridge as one of the many interesting 
experiences of army life. The captain was private only fifteen days, 
dnty sergeant three months, orderly sergeant one year, quartermaster's 
department three months, lieutenant of the company from which he 
was promoted to captaincy, and was mustered out in October 1865. In 
the spring of 1877 he moved to Di.xon, and engaged in the purchase 
and shipment of grain, occupying the stone elevator built by Col. John 
Dement, west of the Illinois Central depot, where he is still in an ex- 
tensive business. The elevator has a capacity of 30,000, and is driven 
by steam-power, through which he handles about half a million of 
grain per annum. In the spring of 1880 he extended his business, 
through the elevator at the Illinois Central railroad, North Dixon, un- 
der the firm name of Messrs. Dysart & Brubaker. This firm has a 
flour house on Hennepin street, between Main and Water streets, ' 
where they ship for the trade from 300 to 400 barrels of flour per week, 
having exclusive control of the Becker & Underwood flour. Mr. 
Dysart also owns elevators at Nelson, five miles west on the North- 
western railroad, at Nachusa, five miles east, and at Franklin and Ash- 
ton, east, all on the Northwestern railroad. From these several points. 
in Lee county is shipped to the Chicago house of Messrs. Dysart & 
Geoghegan. On March 9, 1865, Mr. Dysart was united in marriage 
to Miss E. L. Crawford, of Pennsylvania. As the result of this union 
are two interesting daughters. The family home is a beautiful resi- 
dence, conveniently located on Crawford street in the city of Dixon. 

Frank W. Little, deputy county clerk, Dixon, was born August 
26, 1859, in the city of Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, and is the son of 
Joseph T. and Elliner W. (Cobb) Little. His parents came to Dixon 
in the fall of 1838, being among the early settlers of Lee county. Hi» 
father was among the first merchants in Dixon, and in after years be- 
came associated with the manufacturing interests of the county, until 
he removed to the city of Washington, District of Columbia, in 1880. 

Elias Bovey, lumber merchant, Dixon, was born in Washington 
county, Maryland, June 19, 1838; and is the son of Jacob and Delila 
(Kretsinger) Bovey, of that state. He moved with his parents to 
Illinois and settled on a farm near Mount Morris, Ogle county, in 1843. 
He received his education in the common schools and Rock River sem- 
inary at Mount Morris, Ogle county. When twenty-one years of age 
he purchased a farm three miles south of Polo, and commenced busi- 
ness for himself, as a farmer. In the spring of 1867 he came to Lee 
county and located in Dixon, where he has since made his home. In 
1872 he established a lumber yard on Water street, where he is still 
conducting a successful business. On the 26th of September, 1865, 
Mr. Bovey was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Buckalu, of Dixon, 



212 HISTORY OF LEE COL" MY. 

wlio deceased February 6, 1877, and was conve^'cd to her linal resting 
place in the Dixon cemetery. On the 17th of March, ISSO, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Addie Clute, of Dixon. Mr. Bovey is a 
prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in wliich he 
holds different official relations, and is an efficient Sabbaih-school su- 
perintendent. Politically the subject of our sketch is a republican, 
and cast his first vote f\)r Abraham Lincoln. 

Major Obadiah Downing, agricultural merchant, Dixon, was born 
in Queen's county. Long Island, New York, April 12, 1836, and is the 
son of George and Miiry (Jackson) Downing. The family, thougli of 
an English ancestry, have for several generations resided on Long 
Island, the Major's fiither and grandfather having been born in tiie 
same house. Having spent his childhood on the home farm, the 
Major, when a boy of sixteen, came to Chicago and made his home 
with his uncle, whom he assisted in the mercantile trade for six years, 
and in 1856 returned to Long Island, where he resided until the break- 
ing out of the war of the rebellion. He responded to his country's 
call by enlisting in the United States service, and in August, 1861, 
entered Co. H, 2d reg. N. Y. Cav., as second lieutenant, and re- 
mained in the service until the close of the war, and was mustered 
out as lieutenant-colonel. He was under Gen. Sheridan in the depart- 
ment of the Potomac; and took ])art in all the principal battles of the 
Army of the Potomac, and during the great battle of the Wilderness, 
when Gen. Sheridan was menacing Richmond, on the 12th day of May, 
1864, he fell into the hands of the enemy and was conveyed as pris- 
oner of war to Libb}' Prison, and thence to Macon, Georgia. The 
Major was one of the five hundred Union officers who were sent as 
Union prisoners to Charleston, South Carolina, and placed by the 
confederate authorities under the fire of the federal guns to force the 
government to an exchange of prisoners. After remaining here a few 
weeks they were removed to Columbia, South Carolina. In the fol- 
lowing August the Major eftected an escape from prison, and was cared 
for by the colored people for two weeks while trying to reach the 
Union lines. He was, however, tracked down and recaptured by the 
aid of bloodhounds near Abbeville, South Carolina, and taken back to 
Columbia. Here he remained quiet for one month when about the 1st 
of October he and Col. Cook, afterward minister to Chili, run the 
guards on a dark, rainy night when the camp-fires were burning low 
and escaped to the mountains of Tennessee, where they kept them- 
selves concealed for about three months. Finding it impossible to pass 
the rebel pickets, they reported at the rebel headquarters and rep- 
resented tliemselvesas confederate soldiers and obtained passes through 
their lines; but in crossing the mountains in the Cherokee country 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 213 

tliey were taken by a ])atrol of Indians who were guarding the moun- 
tain passes to prevent tiie escape of deserters, and were carried back to 
the rebel lieadquarters, where they were confined and starved into a 
confession and returned to Libby prison ; and on February 22, 1S65, 
were exchanged and returned to the federal army. 

A special order being issued in tlie war department that all sol- 
diers having captured rebel flags should have a furlough to visit Wash- 
ington and deposit the captured ensign, Col. Downing, being one of the 
honored number, visited the capital for the above purpose, and was 
present at the theater at the time of the assassination of President 
Lincoln, and witnessed that dreadful tragedj' on April 13, 1865. After 
the close of the war he returned home on Long Island, and was chosen 
b}' tlie people of Queen's county to represent them in the state legis- 
lature in 1865, and was reelected in 1866. In 1867 the colonel came 
to Illinois and settled in Dixon. He assisted in establishing the first 
factory in the country for manufacturing cotton bagging out of flax 
tow, and in the fall of 1868 sold his interest to Col. John Dement. 
In the same fall he purchased a farm of 600 acres in Kane county, this 
state, where he made his home until 1876. In 1872 Col. Downing 
was united in inarriage to Miss Mary Yates, of Kane county, and 
daughter of Bartholomew C. and Kancy (Tabias) Yates, formerly of 
western New York. In 1876 our subject sold half of his farm and 
returned to Dixon, where in 1879 he engaged in the agricultural trade 
in that city. The colonel has a beautiful home in north Dixon, and a 
family of three children: Miss Mary Olive, born March 27, 1874; 
Master Geoi'ge, horn September 6, 1875, and Benjamin Franklin, born 
November 22, 1880. 

CoL. Henry T. Noble, manufacturer, Dixon, is a native of Massa- 
chusetts, born in Otis, Berkshire county, that state, May 3, 1830. He 
is the son of Henry and Mary Ann (Hubbard) Noble. The geneal- 
ogy of the family is traced back for seven generations to Thomas Noble, 
of England, who was born in 1632, and came to Boston sometime prior 
to 1653, thence to Springfield, Massachusetts, and died in Westfield 
in 1704, aged seventy-two. Tiie colonel, our present subject, spent 
his early life on a farm, during which time he was securing a liberal 
education prepai'atory to entering college, and became a member of the 
first class organized in the state normal school at Westfield, Massachu- 
setts. Subsequently he devoted two years to school teaching. In 
1850 he came to Illinois, and located in Dixon. The two succeeding 
years he devoted to school teaching, writing in the land ofiice at such 
times as not engaged in his profession. In 1852 the colonel engaged 
in the purchase and collection of land wari'ants held by soldiers who 
served in the Mexican war; traveling through Missouri, Tennessee, 



214 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Kentucky and Alabama. On his return lie ocated lands in Illinois, 
and engaged witii his uncle, Silas Koble, in banking and real-estate 
business, until 1S57. He was subsequently engaged in settling up the 
affairs of the bank until the beginning of the war in 1861. He was 
the first to enlist in the Union service in Lee county, enrolling his 
name five days after the firing on Fort Sumter, and proposed to be 
one of fifty to go to the front at once in his country's service. On 
April 20 he was chosen first lieutenant of Co. A, 13th rcg. III. Vols., 
and was mustered into the United States service under the three- 
years call, May 24, as captain of said company. On July 8, 18fi3, he 
was promoted to the staff of the quartermaster's department ; and in 
November of the same year he was promoted major, and in thirty days 
later commissioned lieutenant-colonel. About March 1, 1804, he was 
promoted colonel by the secretary of war on the staff of Major-General 
•J. J. Reynolds, and appointed chief quartermaster, department of 
Arkansas; which position he held until October 15, 1866, when he 
was mustered out of the service at his own request, and under the ex- 
pressed regrets of the commanding general of the department. After 
tlie acceptance of his resignation he returned home to Dixon, and in 
the following winter visited Washington and closed up his business 
with the government with gratifying results. The colonel was in con- 
stant [service from April, 1861, to November, 1866, during which time 
lie never lost a day, with the exception of a furlough of thirty days, 
which was afterward extended ten days, while he was in Washington, 
by Gen. E. D. Townsend, by order of the secretary' of war. In 1866 
he bought an interest in the Grand Detour plow works, now estab" 
lishcd at Dixon, under the firm of Commins, Noble & Dodge. 

On February 27, 1853, Col. Noble was united in marriage to Miss 
Jane Ann Ilerrick, born in Chautauqua county, New York, and was 
the daughter of Samuel and Sally (Nash) Ilerrick. She was killed in 
the great bridge disaster at Dixon, Illinois, May 4, 1873. In 1875 he 
was married to Miss Mary Augusta Hampton, who was born in Boston, 
Erie county. New York, and was the daughter of Slater and Manerva 
(Ellis) Hampton. Geiwalocpj : Col. Henry T. Noble, born 1830, in 
Otis, New York, son of Henry Noble and Mary A. (Hubbard) Noble; 
ITcnry Noble, born 1804, in G. Barrington, Mass., son of David Noble 
and Patience (Noble) Noble; David Noble, born 1771, G. Barrington, 
Mass., son of Preserved Noble and Elizabeth (Hughstand) Noble > 
Preserved Noble, born 1723, Wcstport, Mass., son of Joseph Noble 
and Ahigal (Dewey) Noble ; Joseph Noble, born 1691, Westfield, Mass., 
son of Matthew Noble and Hannah (Dewey) Noble; Matthew Noble, 
born 1666, Westfield, Mass., son of Thomas Noble and Hannah (War- 



DIXON TOAVNSHIP. 215 

ren) Noble ; Thomas Noble, born 1633, in England, came to Boston, 
Mass., thence to Springfield, thence to Westtield, where he died. 

JosiAH PoMEEOY Dana, merchant, Dixon, was born in Albany, New 
York, Jannar}' 11, 1819, and is the son of John Wood and Sophia 
(Pomeroy) Dana. His father was born in Warwick, Massachusetts, in 
1788, and was the son of Daniel Dana who was born near Boston in 
1754, son of Daniel Dana, sr., of Boston, Mass. The two latter par- 
ticipated in the revolutionary war, and were engaged in the battle of 
Bunker Hill ; and in after years figured in the public affairs of the 
commonwealth. The Dana family was formerly represented in this 
country by three brothers : John, Joseph, Daniel, who came to this 
country at a very early date, two settling in Massachusetts, and one in 
Vermont. The family has many relics and curiosities of ancestral 
honor, which are carefully preserved for future generations. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was left fatherless at the age of nine years, and was 
soon after placed under the care of Daniel Dana, his uncle, who was a 
successful merchant, and under this influence ho acquired a knowledge 
of the business and never de]iarted from the business customs of his 
fathers, but at the age of twent3--two roamed westward and landed in 
Chicago in August 1842 ; thence to Southport, Wisconsin, where for 
fifteen years he was engaged in the mercantile and lumber interests of 
the city. In 1865 he removed to Dixon, Illinois, and engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits, in which he has continued until the present time. In 
1860 Mr. Dana was married to Miss Winfred Nixon, who was residing 
near Portage city, Wisconsin. Resulting from this union were three 
children, one son and daughter living, and one daughter of seven years 
was lost at the great bridge disaster on May 4, 1873, an account of 
which is given in another place in this book. Miss Agnis Nixon, sister 
to Mrs. Dana, also perished at the same time. Mr. Dana's mother 
died in the city of New York in May of the present year, at the ad- 
vanded age of ninet3'-one j^ears. 

Benjamin F. Shaw, editor and publisher, Dixon, was born March 
31, 1831, in Tioga count}'. New York, and is the son of Alanson B. 
and Philomela (Flower) Shaw, natives of Bradford county, Pennsyl- 
vania. His grandparents were born in Now England, whose ancestors 
were from England. His father, Alanson B. Shaw, was the son of 
Jedediah and Martha (Gore) Shaw. His mother was the daughter of 
Zephon and Mary (Patrick) Flower. His father died when he was a 
small boy, and in 1845 he came west and settled in Pock Island in 
1847. He came to Dixon in 1851, and assumed the publication of 
the Dixon " Telegraph," of which he became proprietor. In 1859 he 
sold the "Telegraph " and bought an interest in the Amboy paper. In 
1860 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, and recorder, in which 



216 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

capacity he served eight years, during wliicli time he continued liis 
connection with the Lee county " Times." In 1870 he took editorial 
charge of tlie Dixon "Telegraph," which he has continued up to this 
time, having been editor of a paper from 1851 to the present writing, 
excepting four iiKjnths, during which time he crossed the plains to 
Pike's Peak. He spent the winter of 1868 in Washington, and during 
the session of congress reported for the Chicago " Evening Journal " ; 
was connected with the internal revenue service in 1869, and was one 
of the commissioners appointed b\' the governor to locate the Elgin 
state insane asylum. In 1877 he was appointed canal commissioner, 
in which office he has continued until the present time. In Novem- 
bei', 1856, Mr. Shaw was united in marriage to Miss Anna Eustace, 
daugiiter of Rev. Thomas Eustace and Fannie (Olmstead) Eustace, of 
Dixon, from which union resulted the birth of three children : Frede- 
ric L., Eustace E. and Lloyd Shaw. Mr. Shaw has always taken an 
active part in politics as a staunch republican. He had three brothers 
and four sisters : Alonzo, Ellen E., Pliu-be, A''alney, Philomela, Jude- 
diah and Martha. 

Hon. Jos;i:i'n Ckawi-oud, surveyor and banker, Dixon, was born in 
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1811, and is the son of 
John and Catharine (Cassedy) Crawford. In 183o he removed with 
his parents to Huntington, Penn.«ylvania, and at the age of twenty he 
engaged in school teaching, in which profession he continued for four 
years. On April 4, 1835, he started for Illinois. Passing Chicago 
and Dixon's Ferry, he stopped at Galena, where he remained but a 
short time, returning to Dixon's Ferry, and located on a farm south of 
Grand Detour, in May of the same spring. He also engaged in busi- 
ness as surveyor, which he followed extensively until recent years, and 
made the original survey of most of the villages on Rock river from 
Rockford to Rock Island. In 1836 he was appointed deputy county 
surveyor for northwest Illinois, and was elected count}' surveyor of 
Ogle county, which then included Whitesides and Lee, and was elected 
surveyor of Lee county at the time of its organization in 1840, in 
which office he served for eighteen years. He served in 1841 as mem- 
ber of the first board of sujicrvisors for the county of Lee, and was 
elected to represent Lee and Whitesides in the Illinois state legislature 
in 1849, and reelected to the same in 1853. In 1852 he settled in 
Dixon, where he still resides. He has dealt extensively in farming 
lauds, and owns about twelve hundred acres of fine farming land in 
Lee county; one farm of 1,000 acres in one body three miles east of 
the city of Dixon, and one tour miles southwest of the city, embracing 
200 acres. Both farms are devoted to grain and stock-growing. He 
was one of the chartered members of Lee count}' national bank, which 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 217 

was organized in 1865, since which time he has sustained the relation 
of president. He was elected major of the city of Di.xon in 1873, and 
reelected the two following terms. On September 16, 18 — , Mr. 
Crawford was united in marriage to Mrs. Huld (Bowman) Culver. 
Resulting from this iinion is a son, Joseph Willber Crawford, born 
August 20, 1859, and still making his father's house his home. Mr. 
Crawford had two brothers and tliree sisters. His brother, Dr. John 
S. Crawford, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was killed by a train of 
cars while crossing the track in his buggy. His brother, Samuel 
Crawford, resides 5t Sterling, this state ; his two surviving sisters are 
Sarah and Catharine; the former, Mrs. L. W. Hale, resides in Ohio, 
and the latter married Mr. John Litle, of Pennsylvania. His parents 
were born in Lancaster, Pennsj'lvania, and his forefathers were of 
Scotch blood. Mrs. Joseph Crawford was the daughter of John and 
Mary (Bretten) Bowman ; the tather was born on the banks of the 
Delaware river in Penns^'lvania, and the mother on Staten Island. 
Her graiidfother, Christoplier Bowman, was of German}'. 

Hon. Col. John Dement, manufacturer, Di.xon, was born April 26, 
1804, in Gallatin, the county seat of Sumner county, Tennessee, and 
is the son of David and Dorcus (Willis) Dement. When thirteen 
years of age he removed with his parents to Franklin county, Illinois, 
and located upon a farm, where he made his home until twenty-two 
years of age, when he was elected to the office of sheriff, which im- 
posed upon him also the duties of collector ard treasurer of public 
funds. He was elected in 1828 to represent Franklin county in the 
Illinois state legislature, and in 1830 was reelected for a second term, 
serving four years consecutively as member of that body. Subse- 
quently he was elected by the general assembly as treasurer of the 
state for three successive terms. During his service in this responsible 
position he successfully closed up the affairs of the old state bank, 
and rendered efficient service as an officer in the Black Hawk war, being 
out in three campaigns. In 1831 he was with Gen. Duncan and Gov. 
Reynolds as aid, and was one of the witnesses to a treaty with Black 
Hawk when that chief relinquished all claims to the land lying east 
of the Mississippi. In the following spring (1832), when Black Hawk 
in violation of his treaty was marching up Rock river. Col. Dement, 
then residing at Vandalia, responded to a call from the governor for 
volunteers to march to the relief of the invaded settlements, and was 
chosen captain of a volunteer company- of the spy battalion and moved 
immediately to the front. Reaching Dixon, Gen. Whiteside sent Col. 
Dement with a few men to visit Shabbona, the Pottawatomie chief, who 
was living twenty-five or thirty miles north of Dixon. He moved out 
with his men, in all about six, some twelve miles toward Shabbona 



218 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

grove and encamped for the niglit. Having no rations only what their 
guide had provided for liimself, tlie}' consumed tlie last of tiieir supplies 
for their breakfast and renewed the march toward the Indian settle- 
ment. Meeting a band of Black Hawk's party they learned the location 
of that chief and his people, and late in tlie evening they turned 
toward camp, riding all night after a fatiguing day. They returned to 
Dixon on the following da}' and reported to the commanding general. 
After Stillman's defeat and Gen. Whiteside's expedition the volunteers 
■were disbanded because of expiration of time, and a new levy of troops 
were called out by the governor. Col. Dement returned home, and 
arranging his official matters returned to the volunteer headquarters, 
■where he was elected commander of a battalion of spies, and assuming 
command he marched in advance of the main army toward Rock river, 
searching the groves and Bureau woods for Indians who had been 
committing depredations on the settlers, and reported to Gen. Taylor 
at Dixon. From this point he soon advanced in search of Black Hawk, 
leading to the brilliant engagement with that warrior referred to in the 
chapter on the "Black Hawk war." Black Hawk admitted the loss 
of seven warriors and two favorite chiefs ; says this is the only battle 
of the year in which he personally took part, and paid a high compli- 
ment to the courage and fighting qualities of Col. Dement. In 1836 
he was elected representative. To accept this he resigned the state 
treasurership, turning over his books and accounts, which were audited 
and approved by the finance committee of the general assembly. In 
1837 he was appointed by President Jackson receiver of the land 
office at Galena, which was removed to Dixon in 1840. He held this 
position until removed b}' President Harrison ; reinstated by President 
Polk; was again removed by President Taylor ; again reinstated by 
President Pierce, continuing in position until the land office was re- 
moved to Springfield, under the administration of President Buchanan. 
In 1S44 he was chosen presidential elector for James K. Polk. He 
was a memberof three state constitutional conventions of 1847-48, 1862, 
and 1870, and has been a member of all the conventions called to re- 
vise the Illinois constitution since the formation of the state govern- 
ment in 1818. In the first two conventions he served as chairman of 
the committee of the legislative department, and in the last convention, 
1868, he was chairman of the committee on suffrage. The colonel has 
been elected to the office of mayor of Dixon for four terms, while his 
name, means and energy have been associated with most of the leading 
enterprises and public improvements of the city of Dixon. In 1835 lie 
was united in marriage to Miss Maria Louisa Dodge, daughter of Gov. 
Dodge, of Wisconsin. His eldest son, Henry Dodge Dement, is the 
present secretary of State for Illinois. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 219 

William W. Heaton, deceased, late chief justice of the appellate 
court of the first district and for many years a resident of Dixon, was 
one of the foremost members of the legal profession in the State of 
Illinois. He was born in Western, Oneida county, New York, April 
15, 1811:, and was the son of John and Sarah (Weed) Hea'ton. He 
received an academical education, and was for a short time engaged in 
teaching, but soon relinquished that pursuit for the more congenial 
profession of the law. He entered upon his studies in 1835 and in 
1838 was admitted to the bar at Terre Haute, Indiana, and soon 
attained a good practice. In 1840 he removed to Dixon and practiced 
law until 1861, when he was elected judge of the circuit court and 
occupied that position until 1877, having been twice reelected. The 
appellate court having been established by act of legislature in 1877, 
Judge Heaton was elected one of its justices, and on the assembling 
of the court in October he was chosen chief justice. He died very 
suddenly in Chicago, on the 26th of December, 1877, being but a few 
moments before his sudden taking oflF in apparently his usual good 
health. Meetings of the bar in the several counties comprised in his 
district were held, at which resolutions were adopted eulogizing his 
public and private career and lamenting his untimely demise, which 
was all the more sad as it occurred only the day before the one appoint- 
ed for the nuptials of his youngest daughtei'. Judge Heaton was 
married three times, his first marriage taking place in Oneida county, 
New York, the second at Terre Haute, Indiana, and on the I7th of 
March, 1851, he was united to Mrs. LucindaMcCnmsey, of Dixon, who 
survives him. Four children are still living: Dwight, a lawyer resid- 
ing in Dixon ; Edward, who is living in Nebraska and engaged in 
farming; Mary, married to Prof J. F. O. Smith, now of Fort Lara- 
mie, Wyoming territory, and Virginia, wife of Clias. H. Gardner, at 
present a resident of Dakota. 

Luke Hitciicook, D.D., presiding elder of the Di.xon district of 
the Methodist Ejjiscopal church, was born in Lebanon, Madison count}'. 
New York, on April 13, 1813, and is the son of Julius and Myra 
(Ingersoll) Hitchcock. He was brought up and educated in his native 
town, attending the neighboring schools. In the fall of 1831 he united 
with the Oneida conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. His 
fields of labor for the next five years were principally in the counties 
of Onondaga and Tioga, in the State of New York. In August, 1839, 
he removed to Illinois, and settled at Inlet Grove, Lee county, and 
during the winter of 1839-40 was in charge of the church at Dixon, 
being the first regular pastor after its organization. He soon after 
went to Chicago, and became pastor of the only Methodist Episcopal 
church then in existence in that city. In the fall of 1842 the society 



220 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

divided and built the Second churcii on Canal street. Tiiis was tlie 
oriu;inal foundation of what is now known as the Metiiodist Episcopal 
Centenary ehnrcli. Soon after, on account of his health being poor, he 
returned to Lee count}^ and being disqualiried for jireaching he engaged 
in l)usiness pursuits for the next two or three years. He was one of 
the founders of Lee Center, and held for a time the office of postmaster 
He was also one of the original projectors and stockholders of the Lee 
Center Academy and a member of the first board of trustees. On the 
passage of the state .school law the grounds and building were turned 
over to the town without compensation, to be used as a free school, 
provided the system of education should be kept at a certain standard, 
which trust was accepted bj' the school directors of the district. Dr. 
Hitchcock reentered the ministry in 18i7, and for thirteen years was 
presiding elder of the district, which then contained all the territory 
now embraced in the Rock River conference and a large portion of the 
present Central Illinois conference. In 1860 he was elected by the 
general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church an agent of the 
Western Book Concern. His services in this position were extremely 
valuable, and gave him a high reputation as a business manager. He 
filled this position until 1880, having been at five succeeding quadren- 
nial conferences. He has also been elected a member of every general 
conference since the year 1853. In the fall of 18S0 he again be- 
came presiding elder of the Dixon district, which position he still fills. 
He has been honored b\' the Wesleyan University of Middletown, 
Connecticut, with the degree of A.M., and with that of D.D. by the 
Cornell College, of Mount Yernon, Iowa, both being conferred without 
the knowledge of the recipient. Dr. Hitchcock was married in 1837, 
to Miss Jane E. Birdsall, of Fabius, New York, who is still living. 
They have seven children: Birdsall I., residing in Colorado; Eliza- 
beth, who is married to J. E. Wilson, Es<j., of Chicago, a member of 
the well-known firm of Wilson Brothers; Myra, married to Dr. C. H. 
Fowler, of New York ; Mary, married to Charles E. Smith, Esq., of 
Cincinnati; Ella, married to E. C. Wilson, Esq., of Wilson Brothers, 
Chicago; Adelaide, married to Archer Brown, Esq., of Cincinnati, 
and Charles A., engaged in business in Chicago. Dr. Hitchcock has 
an unblemished record, during nearly half a century of service, as a 
spotless man, intelligent patriot, and devout christian. 

Wii.i.iAM ITm,, dealer in agricultural implements, Dixon, was born 
in Alleghany county, Maryland, 1819, and is the son of Daniel and 
Mary (Lind) Uhl. He was educated in Gettysburg College, Pennsyl- 
vania, graduating about 1845. He entered the ministry of the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran church, and in 1851 removed to Peru, Illinois, re- 
maining in that pastorate until 1853, when lie removed to Dixon, 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 221 

wliere he organized a cliurch of the denomination to which he belonged, 
of which he was the pastor for about two years, being at the same time 
engaged in farming. In 1860 he resigned his pastoral charge on ac- 
count of ill health, and having purchased the " Farmers' Mill " was 
engaged in the milling business until 1867, when he returned to farm- 
ing. In Febrnar}', 1851, he purchased the agricultural implement 
business from the Farmers' Association, placing his son, E. C. Uhl, in 
charge as manager. He was a charter member of botii the banks 
located at Dixon, and has been an officer and director of each at various 
times since their organization. Mr. Uhl was married in 1840, at 
Wellersburg, Pennsylvania, to Miss Lucinda Cook, and has four ciiil- 
dren. The eldest is Jonathan, born in 1841, and now residing in Page 
county, Iowa, engaged in stock farming; E. C, who was born in 1844, 
and is a resident of Dixon ; Ellen, born in 1842, and married to J. H. 
W. Bennett, and Josie E., born in 1847, and married to Z. D. Mathnss. 
Both daughters now reside at Shenandoah, Page county, Iowa, where 
their husbands are engaged in business. E. C. Uhl, who manages the 
business at Dixon, was born at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and accom- 
panied his father during the various removals before mentioned. He 
was married in 1874 to Miss Virginia Roe, daughter of Col. E. R. 
Roe, of Springfield, Illinois. Mr. William Uhl has been a life-long 
democrat, while his son is a firm supporter of the principles and policy 
of the republican party. 

David Welty, Dixon, was born in Williamsville, Erie county, 
New York, September 30, 1811. His parents were Jacob and Betsy 
(Horshey) Welty. His parents removed to Buffalo when he was 
twelve years of age, and he acquired the greater part of his education 
at that place. When he became of age he engaged in the dry-goods 
business, which he followed for several years. At the time of the 
patriot war in Canada Mr. Welty served as aid on the staff of Gen. 
Burt. Plis health being in a very precarious condition he removed to 
Dixon, in 1838, and has since resided in Lee county, part of the time 
in the city, and the remainder has been spent on his farm lying near 
Dixon. He was elected probate judge in 1854, and served two terms 
of four years each, and also held the office of drainage commissioner 
for several years. Judge Welty was married at Buffalo, ISTew York, 
on October 23, 1834, to Miss Seraphina Scott, daughter of Joiin and 
Brilliant (Holmes) Scott, and a native of Mayville, Chautauqua county, 
New York, who is still living, and tliey have nine surviving chil- 
dren : Emily, who married Leander Devine, December 26, 1866, and 
is residing at Dixon ; Ellen, married to E. K. Sibley, December 7, 
1870, and living in St. Louis; John, emplo3'ed in pension office at 
Washington, D. C. ; Maxwell A., who resides in St. Louis; Adeline, 



222 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Anna, Charles, William and George, all of whom are at present living 
in Dixon. 

Charles W. LAxniEE, marble dealer, Di.xon, was born in Sodus, 
Wayne county, New York, September 5, 1845, and is the son of 
Henry M. and Ann E. (Williams) Latimer. His parents removed to 
Lyons, New York, during his infancy, and he acquired his education 
at the Lyons union school. After leaving sciiool he worked for two 
years at the trade of marble cutting. He enlisted, December 1863, in 
the 9th New York lieavy artillery, and serving through the remainder 
of the war was niustered out September 211, ISG.J. On returning home 
he worked at his trade at Albion, New York, and Erie, Pennsylvania, 
and in June, 1867, entered the marble works of Day & Ashc-raft, at 
Norwich, New York, with whom lie remained until 1874, when he 
removed to Dixon, and in compan}' with M. L. Young purchased the 
marble works of J. Y. Westervelt, carrying on tlie business under the 
firm name of Latimer & Young. June 1, 1876, he purchased the inter- 
est of Mr. Young, and with tiie exception of a few months has since 
conducted the business solely on his own behalf. Mr. Latimer was 
married January 8, 1873, to Miss Ella Backus, of Palmyra, New York, 
who died September 7, 1876. They had only two children, the eldest 
of wliom died in November 1875, and the second soon after birth. Mr. 
Latimer ranks high in the Masonic fraternity, being at present recorder 
of the Dixon Commandery, K.T. He is also superintendent of Oak- 
wood cemetery, and the neat and beautiful appearance of this " city of 
the dead" speaks well for his watchful management. A visit to the 
works of Mr. Latimer will prove that in the (juaiity of his work, its du- 
rability, and in all other respects, he ranks head and shoulders over the 
establishments of a similar character in far larger cities, and his integ- 
rity and urlianity is daily extending the already large circle of his 
friends. 

Thomas P. Uodxeit, pastor of the Catholic church, Dixon, was 
born in Glin, county Limerick, L'eland, February 2, 1845, and is the 
son of Thomas P. and Elizabeth (Hanlon) Hodnett. At the age of 
seventeen he left his native town and entered the Jesuit college at 
Limerick, wheie he remained for four years, and was for one year at 
the Catholic university of Ennis, county Clare. He then passed his ex- 
amination at Dublin, after which he entered the L'ish college at Paris, 
France. He remained there for three years, and then came to America, 
and after passing eight months at St. Mary's of the Lake seminary, 
he entered St. Francis seminar}', and was ordained September 30, 1866, 
and was appointed assistant to Right Rev. John Henry Morris at Water- 
town, Wisconsin, where he remained a year, when he was transferred 
to the pastoral charge of Potosi, Wisconsin, and afterward to Lancaster, 





c^ui cejt/^ 



Ce/ /i//t-C4yt-^ 




?£ 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 225 

Wisconsin, and several other pastorates. In 1871 was appointed by 
Bishop Foley, pastor at Dixon, and assumed charge in January 1875. 
He has a school in connection with his church under the charge of 
four sisters belonging to the order of St. Dominic, with an average at- 
tendance of 150 pupils. The grades are arranged similarly to those of 
the city schools, and a public examination is held each year, conducted 
by prominent and influential citizens of Dixon. The cost of the pres- 
ent church and the ground was about $30,000, and the value of the 
property belonging to the church in the city is estimated at $40,000. 
The congregation consists of about 175 families, and the church has a 
seating capacity of 650 persons. There are also affiliated missions at 
Harmon and Ashton, in Lee countj'. The value of the property be- 
longing to the former is estimated at $7,500, and to the latter at $5,000. 
Father Hodnett has an able assistant in the Rev. James F. Clancy, who 
was appointed associate pastor at Dixon early in 1879. 

GrEORGE W. J. Brown, physician, Dixon, was bora in Greensboro, 
Pennsylvania, in 1846, and is the son of John C. and Elizabeth (Hop- 
ton) Brown. His father was a glass manufacturer and farmer. Both 
parents are still living on a farm near Greensboro. He was brought 
up and received his early education at the public and select schools of 
the vicinity, and afterward pursued a course of study at the Greene 
academy. He then taught school for several terms, the first one when 
only fifteen years of age. In 1865 begun the study of medicine with 
Dr. G. W. John, of Stewartstown, Yirginia, reading with him until 
the fall of 1867, when he went to Philadelphia and began a regular 
course of medical study at the Pennsylvania and Blockne}' hospitals 
and university, graduating in the spring of 1869. He then took charge 
of his preceptor's practice at Stewartstown, Virginia, and remained a 
year. In 1870 he removed to Mej'crsdale, Pennsylvania, and continued 
the practice of medicine and surgery th<;re until 1877, when he sold out 
his good will to Dr. J. Ernest Meiers, of Washington, D.C., and re- 
moved to Illinois. He matriculated at the Haiinemann Medical College, 
in Chicago, taking a course and graduating from tlie above named col- 
lege in the spring of 1878. In the same year he succeeded to the prac- 
tice of Dr. J. A. Steele, of Dixon, of tiie firm of Steele & Blackman, and 
remained a partner of Dr. Blackman for two years. In 1880 he opened 
an oftice alone in front rooms over Petersberger's clothing store on 
Main street, where he continues to practice his profession. Dr. Brown 
was married in 1872, to Miss Maggie M. Miller, of Meyersdale, Penn- 
sylvania, and has two children, Charles L., aged seven years, and Edna 
Florence, aged four years. Dr. Brown is a republican and a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

William H. Godfrey, Dixon, was born in western New York in 
14 



226 HISTORY OF J.KK COL-NTY. 

1826, and is the son of Cliarles and Harriet (Horton) Godfrey. He 
received liis education at Geneva, New York, where he resided until 
lie was twenty-four years of age. His health failing he removed to 
Gloucester, Virginia, where he purchased a plantation and engaged in 
farming for the space of five years, after which he came to Dixon and 
purchased the flouring-mill then owned and operated by Brooks & 
Daly. In the following year he purchased a half interest in the water- 
power,-which he still retains. He soon after built a second mill, wiiich 
was subsequently burned and never rebuilt. In 1860 he sold a half 
interest in the mill to John Becker, and shortly afterward sold the 
remaining interest to Nathan Underwood. Since that time Mr. God- 
frey has been principally engaged in looking after his real-estate inter- 
ests in Dixon and vicinity, he being a large land owner. Mr. Godfrey 
was married at Geneva, New York, in 1849, to Miss Catharine J. Du- 
gan, a native of New York city, but at that time a resident of Geneva. 
They have four children. Politically Mr. Godfrey's affiliations are 
democratic, and he is a member of the Presbyterian church. 

Oliver Everett, physician, Dixon, was born September 12,1811, 
at Worthington, Massachusetts. His parents were James and Phebe 
(Clark) Everett. When he was eight years of age his father's family 
removed to Cummington, Massachusetts, where he attended school 
for some years, after which he entered Berkshire medical school, con- 
nected with Williams College, at Williamstown, Massachusetts, gradu- 
ating in 1836. Having determined to make his home in the then dis- 
tant State of Illinois, in September, 1836, he arrived at Dixon, where 
he decided to locate. He at once engaged in the practice of his profes- 
sion, which he has since continued uninterruptedly and with eminent 
success. At the time of his arrival there was no medical practitioner 
at Dixon, though a Dr. Forrest, a native of Kentucky, had made that 
point his headquarters for about a year, but had gone awa}' a siiort 
time prior to Dr. Everett's arrival, and the latter is not only the Hrst 
physician who permanently located in Dixon, but has also resided 
there for a longer continuous period than any person now living. Dr. 
Everett was elected mayor of Dixon in 1863, and served his fellow- 
citizens in that capacity to the satisfaction of all. He took consider- 
able interest in the establishment of tiie northern insane asylum 
located at Elgin, and was a member of the first board of trustees of 
that institution, serving from 1869 to 1873. The doctor takes a great 
interest in scientific matters generally, and has a remarkably fine col- 
lection of specimens in various departments of natural history. Polit- 
icall}' he has been a firm supporter of the principles of the republican 
party, from its organization. Dr. Everett was first married in 1838, 
to Miss Emilv Everett, at Princeton, Illinois. Her death occurred a 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 227 

few years later. He was again married in 1846, to Miss Bessie Law, 
of Dixon, wiio died May 4, 1881. Three children resulted from this 
union : Dr. Wni. L. Everett, who died in October 1873, aged twent^'- 
four years; Dr. J. M. Everett, who is now a partner with his father 
in the practice of medicine, and a daughter, who is the wife of W. N. 
Johnson, Esq., a well known citizen of Dixon. 

Walter McL. Wadsworth, undertaker, Dixon, was born in Hart- 
ford, Connecticut, in 1811, and is the son of Richard and Ann 
(McLean) Wadsworth. His parents removed to Canandaigua, New 
York, in 1812, where they resided about ten j'ears, when they went to 
Biiflfido, New York, and here the subject of our sketch received his 
education. After leaving school he learned the cabinet-making trade, 
which lie followed for several years. When about thirty-five years of 
age Mr. Wadsworth removed to Three Rivers, Michigan, and carried 
on the furniture business for two years after which he returned to 
Livonia, New York. He resided there about four years, when he re- 
moved to Rochester, New York, and after a two years' residence in 
that city came west and located at Dixon in 1854, when he engaged 
in furniture business, which he followed until 1861, when he sold out 
and was appointed United States internal revenue collector for the 
district, which position he occupied for eight 3'ears. His health being 
impaired by being so closely confined to office work, he resigned the 
position of collector and for three years acted as agent for Fairbanks' 
scales. He then became engaged in the undertaking business, which 
he still conducts. Mr. Wadsworth was married in 1834, to Miss Emily 
Benjamin, at Brantford, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Wadswoi-th, after 
nearly half a century of wedded life, vie in energy and activity with 
their neighbors of a later generation. They have one child, Mrs. 
Anna Wadsworth Worthington, who was born at Livonia, New York,' 
and she also has one child, Walter E. Worthington, who was born 
November 13, 1866. Mr. Wadsworth has always been a republican, 
and he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

James B. Pomerot, merchant, Dixon, was born in Cuyahoga 
county, Ohio, in 1840. His parents were Ebenezer and Mary A. 
(Bronson) Pomeroy. Soon after his birth his parents removed to 
Kenosha, Wisconsin, where thej' resided until the death of his father 
in 1876, his mother having died in 1867. He was educated at Keno- 
sha, and when twenty years of age removed to Dixon and engaged in 
the fruit business, which he continued until 1876, and then went into 
the grocery trade. At the organization of the Dixon national bank in 
1871 Mr. Pomeroy was elected a director by the stockholders and was 
subsequently elected vice-president by the board of directors, which 
position he still holds. He is also one of the most prominent members 



228 IlISTOUY OK LEE COUNTY. 

of the Masoiiif tVaternity, being at present liigli priest u\' tlie eliapter 
of Royal Areh Masons, and eminent commander of Knights Templar. 
Mr. Pomeroy is an active republican, a member of the Episcopal 
cluirch, and as yet has not assumed the duties and responsibilities of 
the married state. 

Oscar F. Ayees, insurance agent, Dixon, was born in 18ii9, in 
Orange county, New York, and is the son of Benjamin F. and 
Ciiristiana (Minthorn) Ayres, and is of Scotch and German ancestry. 
His father was a farmer and his son assisted him on the farm and at- 
tended the schools in the vicinity until he reached his twenty-iirst 
year, when lie removed to Albany, New York, and followed the busi- 
ness of a merchant tailor. In 1831 he went to Fabius, Onondaga 
county, New York, conducting the same business. In 1839 removed 
to Dixon, and in 1844 engaged in the dry-goods trade and continued 
in it for tiiirty years. Before coming to Dixon he was a licensed min- 
ister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He received iiis first ordination 
about 1845, and his ordination as elder two or three years after. Dur- 
ing all the years since that time he has tilled the pulpit at various 
places near to Dixon, officiated at funerals and marriages, and for many 
years was called upon to fill any vacancy occnning in neighboring 
localities. For the past seven years Mr. Ayres has been engaged in 
the fire insurance business, and in 1871 made a trip to the Pacific coast 
for the purpose of placing stock for the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph 
Company, whicli he succeeded in doing. Mr. Ayres was married in 
1831, to Miss Hannah M. Birdsall, who is still living. They iiave two 
sons and four daughters, and on the 1st of March, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. 
Aj'res celebrated their golden wedding, surrounded by their children 
and grandcliildren. 

Mark Dornajj, farmer, Dixon, was born in Ireland, in 1816. His 
parents were Mark and Alice (Carey) Dornan. In 1836 Mr. Dornan 
came to America, and after a short stay in the east came to Lee county 
in 1837, and located upon land in Dixon township, which still forms a 
portion of his present farm. He has now 240 acres of productive and 
valuable land, which he leaves to the general care and management of 
his son James. Mr. Dornan was married in 1843, to Miss Alice Cray- 
craft, who died in July 1880, and tiiere are five children living: 
James, John and Susanna, who reside with their father, and Francis 
and Mark, who reside upon their fathers farm, but have homes of 
their own, both being married. 

John G. Fleck, farmer, Dixon, was born in Huntington county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1816, and is the son of Henry and Catherine 
(Raney) Fleck. His father was a farmer, and after leaving school 
Mr. Fleck followed the same occupation in Huntington county, until 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 229 

lie arrived at the age of forty years, when he came west and located 
upon his present farm in Dixon township, Lee county, Illinois. He 
has 80 acres of fine land under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Fleck 
was married in February 1839, to Miss Nancy Buck, in Pennsylvania. 
She was a daughter of Abram Buck, Esq., who came west and settled 
in Ogle county in 184:8. A family of si.K children was the result of 
this union, four of whom are still living: Sarah, born in 18-16, mar- 
ried Ira S. Fleck, and is now living at Bunker Hill, Kansas; Horace, 
born in 1853, is now a member of the tirm of Fleck & Robinson, at 
Dixon; Mary and Ella ]\I., both of whom reside with their parents; 
Alice, born in ISl-l and died in 1865 ; Alma J., born in 1861: and died 
June 13, 1881. The recent death of their youngest daughter, just 
budding into womanhood, has inflicted a wound upon the heai-ts of 
the bereaved parents which only those who have suffered a similar loss 
can estimate. Mr. Fleck is independent in politics, though he generally 
acts with the republicans, and is a member of the Evangelical Luth- 
eran church. 

William W. Waters, pump manufacturer, Dixon, was born in 
1851, at Gloyersville, New York, and is the son of George and Eliza 
(Winter) Waters. His father followed the business of a tanner and 
glover, and in 1855 removed to Illinois and settled at Ashton, Lee 
county, since which time he has principally been engaged in farming. 
W. W. Waters was brought up and educated at Ashton, and left home 
in November, 1871, going to Amboy to learn the cabinet-making 
trade. He remained there for three years and a half, after which he 
removed to Rock Falls, Whitesides county, where he was employed by 
the Keystone Burial Case Company for a year and a half. He then 
came to Dixon and engaged in his present business in connection with 
two partners under the title of the Dixon Pump Company. The bus- 
iness is now carried on by Mr. Waters and Mr. George W. Knox, who 
lately purchased the interest of Mr. Louis Merriman. Mr. Waters was 
married on September 9, 1879, to Miss Ida M. Mills, daughter of Clin- 
ton D. and Mary (Stanley) Mills, of Ashton. Mr. Waters is a repub- 
lican, and a member of the Presbyterian church. 

Orville B. Blackman, physician, Dixon, was born in Hillsboro, 
Illinois, on August 30, 1851, and is the son of George and Hannah J. 
(Paisley) Blackman. His father was a carriage manufacturer, and died 
at Hillsboro in 1858. His mother is still living and resides at Hills- 
boro. During his earlier years Dr. Blackman attended the academy in 
his native place, but when eleven years of age went to work in a 
woolen factory, where he continued for six years. He then reentered 
school, where he continued for three years, and at the same time com- 
menced the study of medicine, reading with Dr. Fields, of Hillsboro. 



230 HISTORY OF LKE COUNTY. 

lie next taught school for about a \'ear at Irving, Illinois, after which 
he went to Chicago and attended a course of lectures at Hahnemann 
Medical College, graduating March 3, 1873. Removed to Dixon in 
May 1873, and entered upon the practice of his profession. After a 
year he formed a partnership with Dr. J. A. Steele, which continued 
for four years and a half, until the removal of Dr. Steele, after which 
he formed a ])artnership with Dr. G. W. I. Brown, which lasted for 
two jears, and was then dissolved, since which time he has practiced 
alone. Dr. Blackinan was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia S. 
Cress, of Hillsboro, on March 3, 1874, and has three children: Gertie, 
aged six ; George, aged four ; Cress, aged three. Dr. Blackburn is a 
thorough republican, and has been a member of the Evangelical Luth- 
eran church for over thirteen years. 

James Andekw Hawlet, county clerk and banker, Dixon, is a na- 
tive of New York, being born in Monroe county, that state, on August 
20, 1830, and is the son of James and Sarah (3tratton) Hawley. His 
father was born in Connecticut, in 1101, and was the son of Stephen 
Hawley, of English ancestors. During the acquirement of his education, 
when a youth, he attended the Monroe Academy, and the Genesee 
Wefleyan Seminary. From 1848 to 1851 hedevoted his time toschool 
teacliing, aftet which he accepted a clerkship in the publishing house 
of Wanzear, Bcardsley & Co., remaining with that firm until 1855, 
when he became general agent for Messrs. A. S. Barnes & Co., and 
also Ivison, Phinney & Co., book publishers of New York city. Dur- 
ing this time he became familiar with the west, and traveled through 
Illinois looking after the interests of the above firms. In 1858 he set- 
tled in Dixon and opened a book store, which he disposed of in 1861. 
He ofiiciated for two years as commissioner of public schools. He has 
filled the office of county clerk for Lee county for the last twenty years, 
being successively reelected from his first election in 1861. He served 
as school director for a period of ten years, being first elected in 1863; 
and was for a number of years the president of that board. For several 
years he was a member of the board of directors of the Lee county na- 
tional bank of Dixon, prior to 1878, when he became connected with 
the Dixon national bank, acting as president until April 24, when he 
was elected cashier, which responsible relation he still holds. He is 
well known as a prominent Mason, and has not only ascended through 
its sublime mysteries, but has occupied the highest oflicial positions in 
the state departments of this ancient order. In 1871 he was elected 
Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter of the state; in 1873 
and 1874 he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illi- 
nois, and in 1874 was Grand Commander of Knights Templar for said 
state. On June 20, 1855, Mr. Hawley was united in niarriage to Miss 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 281 

Marj A. Gardner, daughter of Dr. diaries and Mary Gardner, then of 
Dixon, Illinois. A family of five children resulted from the above 
marriage union, two daughtei's and three sons : Mary Augusta, Charles 
Gardner, Lloyd Eobinson, George William and Laura S. Charles G. 
has been depnty county clerk of Lee county since January 1878. He 
was born May 1, 1858, in the city of Dixon. In the fall of 1874 he 
entered college at Racine, Wisconsin, and in the winter of 1876 he en- 
tered Aim Arbor state university, Michigan. On returning home from 
the last-mentioned school he entered the county clerk's office and was 
subsequently appointed deputy as above stated. 

Wkbster W, Wynn, M.D., physician, Dixon, was born in Monroe 
county, New York, August 22, 1818. His parents were John and 
Amanda (Grunendike) Wynn. He spent his early life on a farm, 
and commenced teaching school at the early age of sixteen, which pro- 
fession he followed for several years, devoting his- spare time to the 
stud}' of scientific branches preparatory to a medical course. Upon the 
organization of Genesee College, New York, he entered the first 
literary class formed, and remained in this school two years, when he 
entered the Buffalo Medical College, at BufiFalo, New York, graduat- 
ing, alter a three years' course, in the winter of 18.55-6. After prac- 
ticing in the above city for a short time he removed to Dixon, Illinois, 
where he formed a partnership with Dr. N. W. Abbott, who in the 
following year removed to Chicago. Following the dissolution of 
this partnership Dr. Wynn continued the practice alone until January 
1865, when he formed a partnership with Henry E. Pain, M.D., who 
had iL'cently removed from the east and settled in Dixon, which 
genial association has continued until the present time. He was 
appointed surgeon at the military post at Dixon during the war of the 
rebellion. On July 21, 1859, the doctor was united in marriage to 
Miss Frances E. Latham, daughter of George and Amanda E. Latham, 
formerly of Chenango county, New York, from which union resulted 
two children, George Wesley and Frankie, who died respectively 
October 23 and 31, 1862, and were followed by the mother to her 
final resting-place on December 29 of the same year. On September 
25, 1866, the doctor was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana 
McKenney, of Dixon. This union was blessed with the birth of a 
son, Hubart W., September 26, 1867, (deceased); Mary Frances, 
Octol)er 17, 1869, and Harriet, March 6, 1871. 

Chari>es F. Emerson, merchant, Dixon, was born in Castine. Maine, 
in 1828, and is the son of Henry and Nancy (Hutchings) Emerson. 
His father was a farmer and blacksmith, and, resided in Castine up to 
the time of his death. Mr. Emerson was brought up and educated in 
his native town, and at the age of twenty went to sea in a vessel en- 



232 JIISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

gaged in the coasting and West India trade. He followed this occu- 
pation until his twenty-seventh year, when he came west and located 
on a farm inSontii Dixon townsiiip. After fanning nearly seven years, 
removed to Dixon, but did not engage in business until after the be- 
ginning of the late war, when he went south and served the govern- 
ment in different capacities for several years. He returned to Dixon 
in 186.5, and a year later bought an interest in the lumber business of 
S. K. Upham, where he continued until 1875. Since then lie has not 
been engaged in active business until recently, having again gone into 
the lumber trade in company with Mr. George D. Laing. Mr. Emer- 
son was married at Boston, Massachusetts, in December 1855, to Miss 
Hannah E. Aver}', daughter of John A. and Eliza Avery. Mr. Emer- 
son is a member of the i-epublican party, and served as alderman of his 
ward from 1872 to 1.S74- inclusive. 

Cyrcs a. Davis, dealer in lumber, Dixon, was born in New Ipswich, 
New Hampshire, June 11, 1821, and is the son of Cyrus and Mary 
(Appleton) Davis, both of whom were born in the year 1800, and were 
of English ancestry. His parents removed to the west when he was 
about fifteen years of age. and located near Amboy, where his father 
engaged in farming. Mr. Davis followed farming for about fourteen 
3'ears, when he returned to Massachusetts. He was soon after elected 
a member of the Massachusetts legislature, and among his colleagues 
at this time were .lohn A. Andrew, afterward known as the great 
war governor Caleb Gushing, and many otiiers who have since fig- 
ured prominently in state and national politics. In September, 1858, 
he returned west to look after his interests in Lee county, and 
soon after engaged in tiie furniture business at Dixon, which he 
carried on for nearly two years, and then conducted the book and sta- 
tionery business for about the same length of time. For the past eleven 
years he has been dealing in coal and lumber, which business he still 
carries on. Mr. Davis was married in 1852, to Miss Sarah J. Holt, of 
Ashbv, Massachusetts, and they have but one child, a daughter, born 
August 23, 1853, and married July 1, 1873, to S. S. Dodge, of Dixon. 
Mrs. Dodge was the first child born in the town of Amboy after its 
being laid out by tiie Illinois Central Railroad Company. Politically 
Mr. Davis is an ardent republican and his family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

Horace Prkston, farmer, Dixon, was born in 1819, at New Ips- 
wich, New Hamjishire, and is the son of Jeremiah and Anna (Proc- 
tor) Preston. His father being a farmer, Horace spent his earlier life 
in working upon the farm and attending the neighboring schools. In 
1830 he came west and located in Dixon, where heopened a blacksmith 
shop, he being the second person to open a shop of this kind in Dixim. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 233 

John Wilson was the tirst to engage in that business, but before the 
arrival of Mr. Preston lie liad given up his shop and was tlien building 
a hotel. Mr. Preston carried on blaeksmithing for fourteen years, 
when he sold his shop and bought a farm ftear Dixon. After remain- 
ing on this place five 3'ears, he sold a^jortion and purchased another 
farm near Lee Center, to which he removed. About nine o'clock in the 
evening, June 3, 185i;t, Mr. Preston and his tamily having just retired, 
they were startled by a peculiar roaring sound similar to that caused 
by a conflagration. Thinking the house in flames, Mr. Preston hur- 
ried to an adjoining room occupied by his two little daughters, and 
seizing one under each arm was just turning to escape when the whole 
roof of the house was torn off and Mr. Preston and his children were 
carried through the air a distance of eighty or ninety yards, where they 
landed unhurt, with the exception of a few bruises. Mi's. Preston, who 
had started downstairs carrying her infant, also escaped with hci- life, 
but the child was killed. The next morning dawned upon a scene of 
utter destruction. Everything in the track of the tornado had been 
completely demolished. Houses, barns and fences were swept away, 
crops were ruined, and trees were blown down. The same spot which 
the previous evening had been a prosperous and comfortable home was 
now a scene of desolation and ruin. A day or two after the passage of 
the cyclone Mr. Preston hauled seventy-five loads of debris from a 
small portion of his farm, consisting of not more than ten or fifteen 
acres. In the following year Mr. Preston sold this farm and again 
engaged in farming near Dixon, which he continued until the spring of 
1880, when he removed into the city. Mr. Preston was married at 
Dixon in 1849, to Miss Jane Wood, and the result of this union has 
been three children, the eldest of whom is Ella, who is married and 
resides in Massachusetts; Jennie who is married to William Packard, 
and residing in Dixon, and Clara who resides with her parents. 

Jacob BRrBAKER, jr., merchant, Dixon, is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and was born in March 1844-. His parents were Jacob and 
Lydia (Whitmen) Brnbaker, who removed to Ogle county, Illinois, in 
1848, where his father engaged in farming. In 1852 the family re- 
moved to Dixon, but in 1855 they returned to Ogle county. Mr. 
Brubaker left home in 1859, and went to Polo, Illinois, where he 
became a clerk in a dry-goods store, remaining there until September 
18(14, wlien he enlisted in the 92d 111. Mounted Vols. He accompa- 
nied Sherman's army on their march to the sea, and after the sur- 
render of Johnston was mustered out of service in June 1865. He 
then returned to Polo, but in 1867 removed to Dixon, where he fol- 
lowed his former occupation until 1873, when he was employed by 
Becker & Underwood, with whom he i-emained until the spring of 



234 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

1S80. He soon after associated himself with Capt. Dysart in tlie tlour 
joW)iiig and grain business, which he still carries on. In December, 
1805, Mr. Brul)aker was married to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Isaiah 
and Clarissa Wilcox, of Buffalo Grove, who were among the first sot- 
tlei's in that locality. Mr. Brubaker has three children living: Xellie, 
aged fifteen ; George, aged eleven, and Sadie, aged three. Mr. Brn- 
baker is a republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Sylvanus K. Uph.\m, retired merchant, Di.xon, is a native of Cas- 
tine, Maine, where he was born in 1811. His parents were Sylvanus 
and Mary (Avery) Uphain. He is a descendant of old Puritan stock, 
the first Upham having come to America in 1635, and settled in Massa- 
chusetts, where the family remained until about the beginning of the 
present centur}', when Mr. Upham's father removed to Maine, where 
he died in. 1832. Mr. Upham attended school until his fifteenth year, 
when he went to sea, which vocation he followed for two years, when 
he settled at Salem, Massachusetts, and learned the tanning trade. 
After remaining there about four years he returned to Castine, where 
for ten years he carried on a tanner\-. In 1S44 he removed to Boston 
and engaged in the grocery business, but, catching the gold-fever in 
1849, he went to California, remaining there for two years, when he 
returned to Massachusetts. In November, 1852, he removed to Dixon 
and engaged at once in the lumber business, which he carried on until 
1875, since which time he has not been engaged in active business. 
Mr. Upham was married in January 1839, to Miss Mary A. Brooks, of 
Castine, who died at Dixon, December 30, 1870. They had four 
children, three of whom survive, the eldest being Margaret B., born 
in November 1839, now the widow of Charles Wright, Esq. Mrs. 
Wright is at present living in Paris, and is an authoress of consid- 
erable distinction. Lieut. Frank Upham, born in 1841, is an officer in 
the 1st U. S. Cav., at present stationed at Fort Walla Walla, Washing- 
ton Territory; Charles C, born in 1852, is residing in Mexico, as resi- 
dent engineer of the Mexican Central railroad. Annie G., born in 
1845, was married in 1866, to Edward B. Utley. Dixon, and died 
June 12, 1867. Mr. Upham was married a second time in 1872. 
to Mrs. Angelina Sewell, relict of the Rev. Daniel Sewell, of Win- 
throp, Maine, who died in 1866. Way back two centuries and a half 
ago we find the ancieut records speaking in high terms of the services 
of Lieut. Phineas Upham, who served with distinction in the long and 
bloody contest waged between the sturdy settlers of Massachusetts and 
the savage hordes of King Phillip, and who finally perished from 
wounds sustained at the hands of the treacherous foe. 

Nicholas Plein, brewer, Dixon, was born in Frier, Germany, 
November 8, 1848, and is the son of John and Margaret (Plein) Plein. 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 235 

He received his education at the schools of his native town, and when 
eighteen years of age came to America and settled in Dixon, where he 
worked several months for Valentine Thoman. He then removed to 
Chicago, where he remained a short time and then returned to Dixon, 
where he again entered into the employ of Mr. Thoman. After the 
death of the latter, which occurred in June 1873, he purchased the 
property and business which lie still carries on. Mr. Plein was mar- 
ried in 1873, to Mrs. Christina (Sold) Thoman, a daughter of Louis 
and Christina (Keller) Sold. She was born in France in 1846, and has 
resided in Dixon since 1854. There are six children: Charles, aged 
seventeen ; Constant, aged thirteen ; Joseph, aged eleven ; Amelia, 
aged nine; Kitty, aged five, and Louis, aged one. 

Samuel Shaw, farmer, Di.\on, was born in Scotland, October 1803, 
and is the son of James and Sydney (Forsythe) Shaw. His father 
was the owner of a large stock farm near Glasgow, but removed 
to the north of Ireland when Samuel was about seven years of age, 
where the latter was brought up and educated. When eighteen years 
of age he came to America, and settled at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 
After remaining there three 3'ears he returned to Ireland, where he 
engaged in farming for several years. He again came to America, and 
in 1833 located in Cass county, Illinois, where he resided until 1854, 
when he removed to Palmyra township, where he remained until 1875. 
Since that time he has been a resident of the city of Dixon, engaged in 
no active business, but owning about 000 acres of good farming land in 
the vicinity of the city. Mr. Shaw was married in 1827, to_Miss Mary 
Campbell, a native of Scotland, and who, after the lapse of more than 
half a century, still remains the sharer of his joys and sorrows. They 
have four sons and three daughters surviving, the eldest of whom is 
James, born in 1833, and now a leading attorney of Mount Carroll, Illi- 
nois. AVilliam, born 1835, has a large stock farm in Missouri. Arch- 
ibald, born in 1837, is farming in Kansas. Samuel, born in 1844, is 
practicing law at Kansas city, Missouri. Three daughters, Elizabeth, 
Mary and Cathrine, reside in Dixon witli their parents. One son, 
Timothy, born in 1839, was a student at Illinois College at the out- 
break ot the war, and enlisted at the first call for troops in April 1861, 
and died at St. Louis in August 1861, from disease contracted in the 
service. Mr. Shaw is a firm believer in the republican party and its 
principles, and attends the Presbyterian church. 

Hon. Henkv D. Dement^ Secretary of State for Illinois, was born 
at Galena, Illinois, in 1840, and is the son of Col. John and Mary 
L. (Dodge) Dement, and is the grandson on his mother's side of 
General Dodge, the first governor of Wisconsin. At the age of five 
years he removed with his parents from Galena to Dixon, where he 



236 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

attended school for several years, and tinisliing the course at Monnt 
Morris Seminar}', at Mount Morris, Ogle county, Illinois. At the age 
of twenty years he enlisted in the serviceof his country, going into the 
13th 111. Inf. in October 1861. On the organization of the companies 
he was elected a second lieutenant, and within a short period was pro- 
moted to first lieutenant, and captain, receiving a complimentary com- 
mission for the latter position from Gov. Yates, for gallantry at Arkan- 
sas Post and Chickasaw Bayou. He served with Gen. Curtis in all his 
campaigns west of the Mississippi, and was in the 15th Army Corps 
during the siege of A^icksburg. Soon after the fall of the latter place 
he resigned his command and returned home. Soon afterward lie 
engaged in the manufacture of plows etc. at Di.xon, in connection with 
W. M:. Todd, but sold out to F. K. Orvis & Co. in 1S70. Shortly 
afterward he engaged in the manufacture of flax bagging for covering 
cotton bales, which he carried on until 18S0, when he was burned out 
in the large fire that occurred in the spring of that ^-ear. Capt. De- 
ment was elected to the louver house of the Illinois legislature in 
November 1872, and reelected in 187-1, and at the e.xpiration of that 
term was elected to the senate from the counties of Lee and Ogle, and 
served four years. In the spring of 1880 he was nominated by the 
republican state convention as their candidate for the position of secre- 
tary of state, and elected in the following November by upward of 
40,000 majority. He was married October 20, 186-4, to Miss Mary F. 
Williams, daughter of Ilon. Hezckiah Williams, of Castine, Maine, and 
the result of this union has been three daughters : Gertrude M., aged 
fifteen years, Lucia W., aged thirteen years, and Nonie E., aged five 
years. Capt. Dement and his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
church. 

TnoMAs McCrNE, farmer, Dixon, was born in Yenango county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1831, and is the son of William and Keziah (Pax- 
ton) McCune. His father was a farmer, and is still living in Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr. McCune was brought up and educated in Venango county, 
and after his arrival at manhood engaged iu farming. In 1872 he came 
west and located on his present farm in Dixon township, which consists 
of 183 acres of valuable land with large and commodious buildings in 
first-class order. He was married June 3, 1S58, to Miss Lydia J. 
Williams, a resident of Venango county, Penney Ivania. They have 
five children as follows: Miles, aged twenty-three; Irvin, aged twenty- 
one; Sarah J., aged eighteen; Ellen, aged thirteen; and Maud, aged 
nine years; all of wiiom reside at home. Mr. McCune is a democrat 
in his political affiliations. 

Joseph B. Brooks, deceased, for ten years a prominent citizen of 
Dixon, was born at Castine, Maine, on August 15, 1820, and is tiie 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 237 

6011 of Barker and Margaret (^Perkins) Brooks. He left home and 
went to Boston about 1843, where he engaged in tlie shipchandlery 
business in connection with Mr. S. K. Upliam. In 1845 he returned 
to Dixon and opened a genera! merchandise store, and for the next ten 
years did the largest business of any merchant in this section. He 
was one of the original projectors as well as one of the largest owners 
in the water-power at Dixon, and put up the first machinery after the 
construction of the dam for the purpose of running the saw-mill. 
During his entire career he was one of the most active and energetic 
leaders in any enterprise that promised to promote the interests of 
Dixon, but died on December 20, 1855, in the very prime of life. 
He was married in Dixon, January 6, 1847, to Miss Ophelia A. 
Loveland, of New York, bj' whom he had two children, Henry J. 
and Margaret A., both of whom still reside in Dixon. His son, Dr. 
H. J. Brooks, was born in Dixon, October 9, 1850, where he received 
his earlier education. After leaving school he commenced reading 
medicine with Dr. J. A. Steele, and then entered the medical depart- 
ment of the Northwestern University of Chicago, graduating in 1874. 
He then took a course of lectures and a diploma at tJie Long Island 
College Hospital at Brooklyn, New York, and also at Bellevue Med- 
ical College, New York. He then returned to Illinois, and was ap- 
pointed assistant physician at the Northern Insane Asylum, where he 
remained some three j'ears, serving with great credit to himself as 
shown by the report of the superintendent. Dr. Kilbourn. Resigning 
this position in January, 1876, he went to Europe with a view of re- 
maining there a couple of years, but was recalled in a few months by 
a dangerous accident happening to his mother. Early in 1879 he 
entered upon the active practice of his profession at Dixon, which he 
still carries on. Dr. Brooks was married June 18, 1879, to Miss Clara 
V. Daggett, a resident of Elgin. Politically the doctor acts with the 
republican party, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. 

Ezra Emmeet, inventor, Dixon, was born in Washington county, 
Maryland, July 6, 1826, and is the son of Joseph and Catharine 
(Evey) Emmert. His father was a farmer, and Ezra was brought up 
on the farm and attended school in the vicinit}'. When nineteen 
years of age he came west and located in China townshi]) in Lee county, 
wliere he carried on a farm for about eight j'ears. During this time 
he commenced experimenting on various improvements in farm ma- 
chinery. Among his more important inventions was a combined 
seeder and cultivator, now manufactured at Dixon by the Orvis 
Plow Company, and from which he realized a considerable amount 
of money. He was also the original inventor of what is known as the 
Marsh harvester, his patent dating from 1857. He has now under 



238 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

process of completion several importai.'t improvements in this machine. 
He also patented a corn-planter, rotary seed-drill, etc. Mr. Emmert 
moved into Dixon in November I8S0, where he lias since resided. 
He was married at Franklin Grove in 1850, to Miss Sarah A. New- 
comer, who died November 18, 1880. There are two children living: 
Mary C, married to T. J. Miller, of Dixon, and Eleanor A., aged 
twenty-one years, and residing in Dixon. In politics Mr. Emmert is 
an adherent of the repnblican party- 

D. B. Atres, harness-maker, Dixon, was born in Albany, New 
York, April 29, 1833, and is the son of Oscar F. and Hannah M. 
(Birdsalh Ayres. His parents removed to Lee connty in 1839, where 
he was brought up and educated, and after leaving school, when six- 
teen years of age, he entered the shop of H. O. Kelsey for the purpose 
of learning the harness-making trade, which he followed for several 
years. He then became a clerk for the dr^'-goods tirm of Wood & 
Boardman, and afterward engaged in the same capacity for his father 
for about two 3'ears, when he became a partner in the dry-goods busi- 
ness with his father, but in a couple of years the tirm was burned out. 
He then engaged in farming for some three years, after which he 
returned to Dixon and went into his present business, which he has 
followed for nearly twenty years. Mr. Ayres was married on August 
11, 1858, to Miss Sarah J. Perry, of Dixon, and they have two chil- 
dren: Minnie, aged twenty, and Oscar P., aged seventeen, both of 
whom reside with their ])arents. 

Eli C. Smith, principal of the south side public school, Dixon, was 
born in 1829, in Essex county. New York, and is the son of Alinerin 
and Lois (Larrabee) Smith. His father was a farmer, and in 1833 was 
a member of the New York legislature. He died in Savannah, Illi- 
nois, in 1854:. E. C. Smith was brought up and educated in the State 
of New York, and catne to Illinois in 1850, locating first at Geneva, 
and after remaining there a year removed to Rock Island, where he 
resided for three years as principal of the Rock Island Seminary. In 
1855 he came to Dixon and commenced his school-work in what was 
then known as the Dixon Collegiate Institute, — now known as Rock 
River University, — where he continued until the fall of 1857. He 
then engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on until the 
fall of 1861, at which time he became principal of the south side Dixon 
school, which position he still tills. Mr. Smith is also manager and 
part proprietor of the Nachusa nursery, which was established in 1854 
by J. T. Little, and purchased by Mr. Smith, in connection with his 
brother, the Rev. Dr. Smith, of Chicago, in 1871. Dr. Smith is also 
editor of the "Standard," a religions journal of the Baptist denomina- 
tion. Mr. Smith was first married at Granville, Washington county, 



DIXON TOWNSHIP. 239 

New York, on December '2, 1853, to Miss Eliza A. Mason, who died 
in October 1870, and left surviving two sons: Herbert O., born in 
September 1859, at Dixon, and wiio is now practicing medicine in 
Minnesota, and Edward T., born in Morrison, Illinois, July 26, 1861, 
and residing at Dixon. His second marriage occurred September 26, 
1872, to Miss Seraphina F. Gardner, of Dixon, by whom he has three 
children: Kenneth G., aged seven years; Percy A., aged five, and 
Anna M., aged two years. In politics he is a member of the repnb- 
lican party, and belongs to the Baptist church. 

CuAELEs A. Todd, merchant, Dixon, is a native of Broome count}', 
New York, having been born there September -i, 1857. His parents 
were George W. and Frances M. (Yarrington) Todd. His father is a 
farmer and both parents are still living. Mr. Todd received his educa- 
tion at the schools in the vicinity of his bii'thplaoe, and alter leaving 
school, came to Dixon in 1869 and entered the store of his uncle, J. H. 
Todd, as a clerk, where he remained until January 1, 1879, when he 
purchased the hat and cap business of J. C. Keir, and on January 1, 
1880, bought a half interest in the clothing and furnishing goods business 
conducted for many years bj' his uncle above mentioned, and since that 
time both stores have been carried on under the firm name of J. H. & 
C. A. Todd. Mr. Todd was married to Miss Sarah J. Austin, of Dixon, 
December 26, 1877. He is one of the most enterprising young mer- 
chants of Lee county, and by his fair dealing and eneigy has established 
an enviable reputation. His political affiliations are republican and he 
is a member of the Baptist church. 

JosiAH Fey, ice-dealer, Dixon, is a native of Lee county, having 
been born in Dixon township in 1843, and is the son of John and Mary 
(Klinetop) Fry. His father came to Lee county at an early day and 
engaged in farming. He is still living on his farm near Dixon. Mr. 
Fry was educated at the schools near his home and in Dixon, and after 
leaving school followed farming for about ten years. In 1872 he moved 
into Dixon and engaged in the coal and lumber business, which he 
carried on until about a year ago, at which time he bought out the ice 
business formerly conducted by Louis Faulthaber, and has since been 
engaged in that enterprise. Mr. Fry was married September 13, 1866, 
to Miss Mary C. Stettler, of Pennsylvania, and his family consists of six 
children : John E., aged fourteen ; Mary E., aged twelve ; Bert, aged 
nine ; Annie E., aged seven ; Ollie, aged five, and Ernest J., aged two 
years. In politics Mr. Fry is a thorough-going and active repuljliean. 

Chaeles Dement, deceased, Dixon, was born in Franklin county, 
Illinois, on December 25, 1822, and was the son of David and Elizabeth 
(Kirkpatrick) Dement, and was a half-brother of Col. John Dement. 
After the death of his father the family removed to Shelby county. 



240 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Illinois, where his earlier years were spent, but in ISio his mother came 
to Dixon and he was sent as a student to Mount Morris Seminar^'. On 
his return he became associated with liis brother, Col. Dement, in deal- 
ing in land, and while thus engaged he purchased a large interest in 
what was then called Fulton City, but which is now known as Fulton, 
Illinois. He soon after removed there, and erected at great expense 
one of the largest and finest hotels in the west, which was called 
the Dement House. He carried on this establishment for several 
years, but it having caused him considerable financial embarrassment, 
he finally sold the property, which is now used as an educational insti- 
tution. He returned to Dixon and became engaged in land opcations, 
and also in farming to some extent, up to the time of his death, which 
took i>lacc December 18, 1875. He was first married in 18.')1, to Miss 
Amanda Sterling, of Dixon, of wiiich marriage there is one child sur- 
viving, Charles A. Dement, whose sketch will be found below. Mr. 
Dement was married a second time, to Miss Myra Huntley, of Dixon, 
December 25, 1861, and at his death left four children surviving : David 
Louis, aged nineteen ; Marian A., aged seventeen ; George W., aged 
twelve, and Amelia E., aged nine years. 

Charles A. Dkmext, son of Charles and Amanda (Sterling) 
Dement, was born in Dixon, November 20, 1852, and received his 
education principally at the public schools of that city, though for three 
years he was a student at the Western Union College, Chicago. After 
completing his education he began his business career as a dealer in 
fancy fruits and groceries, which he carried on for about two years, but 
in 187t) engaged in the livery business at Dixon, which he still carries 
on. He was married September 30, 1880, to Miss Jennie Hunt, of 
Stanwood, Iowa. Mr. Dement is a young man of business habits and 
a\)ility, and has the characteristic push and enterprise which were 
exhibited in the business careers of his father and uncle. 

John Coffey, butcher, Dixon, was born in Oneida county. New 
York, on March 9, 1841, and is the son of Timothy and 
Ellen (Clianloy) Coft'ey. His father was a farmer and died in the 
State of New York in 1848. Mr. Coti'ey came west when only four- 
teen years of age, and located at Peru, Illinois, where he learned the 
trade of a butcher, and after following that occupation for a year or 
two he also leaiMied the tinsmith's trade. Soon after he removed to 
Dixon and worked at various employments until 186."), when he en- 
gaged in his present business. He was married at Dixon, in 1867, to 
Miss Margaret E. Haley, and lias three children : Mary E., aged eleven ; 
Agnes A., aged seven ; and John H., aged three years. Politically 
Mr. Cuftey belongs to the republican party. 

Wii.i.iAM Pi.KiN, restaurant, Dixon, was born at Trier, Germany, 




A 






SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 243 

January 11, 1854, and is the son of John and Margaret (Plehi) Plein. 
He was brouglit up and educated in iijs native town, and when nine- 
teen j'ears of age came to America and located at Dixon. He was 
soon after employed at the brewery of J. B. Clears, where he remained 
several years, wlien he opened a restaurant and is now engaged in 
that business. Mr. Plein was married February 18, 1881, to Miss 
Rosa Buckmann, of Dixon, but after the short space of four months 
lost his wife, Mrs. Plein dying June 15, 1881. 

Geoege G. Rosbrook, liveryman, Dixon, was born in Monroe 
county. New York, November 5, 1835, and was the son of John B. 
and Lucretia (Green) Rosbrook. His father was a farmer, and the 
family removed to Niagara county. New York, soon after the birth of 
George, and he was educated at Lockport, in that county. In 1854 
his father came west and settled in Harmon township, Lee county, 
where he engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he carried on 
until the time of his death, in the spring of 1872. After the death of 
his father the farm was managed by the subject of this sketch until 
1874, wiien he came to Dixon and purchased tlie interest of J. T. 
Cheney in the livery business, conducted by Cheney & Perry, the 
new firm being Perry & Rosbrook. About a year later the partner- 
ship was dissolved, and Mr. Rosbrook has since carried on the business 
alone. He was married on January 16, 1858, to Miss Mary Tuttle, of 
Harmon, and has six children surviving: Fannie, aged twenty-two, 
was married to John Jenkins, of Harmon, in 1879 ; Tryon, aged 
twenty-one, resides in Dakota, where he is engaged in farming; Nettie, 
aged nineteen ; Bartow, aged seventeen ; Louis, aged fifteen, and 
Emma, aged thirteen, are all residing at the home of their parents. 
Politicail}' Mr. Rosbrook is a member of the republican party. 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 

This is No. 19 N., in R. 11 E. of the 4th P.M. Bureau county 
bounds it on tiie south, and La Salle county forms half of the eastern 
boundary. It has a very fertile soil and is but slightly undulating. 
In places it is a little low, but is all capable of easy drainage. The 
soil is black, excepting a little in the northwestern part, which is sandy. 
Here a part of Palestine Grove covers Sec. 6 and portions of 5 and 7. 
Nearly all of Knox Grove is in this township, on Sees. 24 and 25, 
along Bureau creek, mostly on the south side. This stream enters the 
township near the middle of the eastern boundary of Sec. 24, and 
flows across the southeast corner, through Sees. 24, 2G, 34 and 33, leav- 
ing near the southeast corner of the latter. Below Knox Grove it is 
15 



244 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

slightly skirted with timber, and is the only stream of any importance 
in the town. About half a mile south of it, and miming nearly par- 
allel with it, is a part of the old " Chicago road," which in an early 
day led from that city to Princeton. Many of these diagonal roads 
once intersected this region, but most of them have been abandoned. 
A few remnants, however, still remain. A part of the original La Salle 
and Grand Detour road is still in use through Sec. 17 and a part of 18. 
In the eastern part of the town there are tsvo pieces of road of the 
same nature. There is a road running north and south through the 
center of the town, and another east and west to within half a mile of 
the east and west boundaries. The Illinois Central railroad crosses the 
eastern line of Sec. 36, and runs nearly due northwest through Sees. 
36, 25, 23, 15, 9, 8, 5 and 6, dividing the town nearly in the center. 
The old Black Hawk "Army Trail " crossed the town in neai-ly the 
same direction, entering near the southeast corner and leaving on the 
west line of Sec. 18. The old telegraph line and stage route from 
Dixon to Peru entered the town at the northwest corner of Sec. 30 
and left near the center of the south line of the same section. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The settlement of Sublette township dates from 1837. Jonathan 
Peterson came to Ottawa, Illinois, in October 1836 ; he had come from 
New Hampshire by Lake Erie to Detroit, and thence afoot to Ottawa. 
Here he spent the winter of 1836-7, and in February started for Lee 
county. The same summer he made a claim in the northwestern part 
of Sec. 4, Sublette, and after building a log cabin just over the line in 
Lee Center, he went back to his native state and was married, return- 
ing with his wife the following year. In June, 1837, Sherman 
Hatch arrived in Dixon and came across the country to Lee Center 
township to Chas. F. Ingals, who had settled there the previous year. 
The same summer or fall he settled on the southwest part of Sec. 7, 
taking possession of and completing a log house that had been partly 
built by four young men from Ciiicago, who had abandoned their 
claim. In the fall of 1837 Mr. Hatch returned to Vermont. He came 
back the next year with his wife, whose marriage he had recently cel- 
ebrated. He claimed ai half section of prairie and nearly as much tim- 
ber in the vicinity of his first settlement, but did not enter much of it, 
having loaned most of his money to parties who were unable to pay 
him when the land was offered for sale. The same fall Thomas and 
William Fessenden, with their families, came on from New Hampshire, 
Thomas Fessenden having been west as early as 1834 and returned the 
same year to New Hampshire. They claimed land on Sees. 6 and 7, 
and built a log house on the southeast corner of the N.W. J of Sec. 7, 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 245 

and moved into it in December, having lived in the meantime on the 
" Binnt place," Amboy township. This was the first real settlement 
in Sublette, and the nearest neighbor of the Fessendens at tliat time 
was Joseph Doane, wlio was living about half a mile from the "Blunt 
place." The following year William Fessenden built lialf a mile north, 
on the southeast corner of the S.W. ^ of Sec. 6, where John H. Long 
now lives. In 1838 Joseph Knox and his family settled at the south 
end of the grove which bears their name. The same year Sylvanus 
Peterson settled on the S.E. ^ of Sec. 5. Before 1840 John Morton 
and R. E. Goodall settled north of him on land now owned by William 
Long, jr., and Rnsseil Phillips on the southwestern part of Sec. 5, 
claiming forty there and forty opposite in Sec. 8. In 1839 Daniel 
Baird settled where Elijah Austin lives, on the La Salle and Grand 
Detour road, on Sec. 17. Mr. Baird settled in La Salle in the fall of 
1836. The same year (1839) Phineas Rust built the first frame house 
in Sublette, on Sec. 30, half a mile south of where Ambrose Angier is 
now living. Mr. Rust never lived here, but sold his claim, the N.E.J 
of Sec. 30, to Philo Stanard and Thomas Angier late in 1840. The 
same year Thomas Tourtillott built a frame house 16x20 on Sec. 31, 
and O. Bryant settled on the " Old Chicago road " on Sec. 35. In 
1842 Thomas Angier built a frame house where his present buildings 
are located. Gilbert Thompson also built on the site now occupied by 
Mrs. Fauble, on the S. i of S.E. i See. 31. 

In 1843 Ephriam RenifF settled with his family on the S. ^ N.E. J 
Sec. 19, and afterward entered the same. It was in this year that Hi- 
ram Anderson settled on the N.E. J of S.E. J Sec. 33. The jumping 
of his claim subsequently caused quite an excitement among the rulers 
of the prairie. Bull, the offending party, lived at Dixon, and when it 
was known that Anderson's claim had been "jumped," the "Claim 
Society," consisting of all the settlers within several miles, turned out 
en masse, and going to Dixon well armed demanded the person of Mr. 
Bull. There were about sixty-five in the party, and the "jumper" 
was easily taken. While on their way back to the claim Sheriff Camp- 
bell interviewed the party, and concluded an agreement with them by 
■which Bull was turned over to him. This was on the condition that 
the contestants should meet on a certain fixed day, and that the 
deed of the "forty" in dispute should be returned to Anderson, who 
was to pay the first cost of the land. The summary treatment em- 
ployed in this case had the desired effect, and settlers in this region 
were not troubled again in a similar way. In 1844 Alpheus Crawford 
came to the Knox Grove settlement, and bought from widow Pratt a 
claim of eighty acres on the S. ^ of Sec. 13 for $75. At this time sev- 
eral families had settled at the grove. Daniel Pratt, Levi Camp and 



246 HISTORY OK LEE noUNTY. 

J. B. Barton were early settlers here. Tlie same year Prescott Bartlett 
claimed the S. i of N.W. i and the N. i of S.W. i Sec. 20, 
and hnilt a log house on the same. Silas Renift' settled where he now 
lives, on Sec. 20, and claimed about half a section. He entered only 
160 acres, the N. i of N.E. i Sec. 20, and the S. i of S.E. i Sec. 17. 
In this year (18i4) John Betz settled on the S.E. ^ Sec. 33, and in 
1845 Hoffman settled on the S.W. ^ of the same. In 1846 Bartholo- 
mew Theiss made a claim of 120 acres on Sees. 29 and 30, where 
Godfrod Theiss lives. In 1844 R. P. Hubbard settled and claimed the 
N.W. i of N.E. i and N.E. i of N.W. i Sec. 17. H. N. Er.skine set- 
tled the " Kapser place," on Sec. 35, at an early day. 

In the year 1844 was the land sale at Dixon. That 3'ear is known 
to this day by old settlers as the wettest season on record, from May 
until August. But few of the settlers were prepared to pay for their 
land, and consequently they formed themselves into societies for the 
protection of their homes, until they could raise the money necessary 
to pay for the land they had claimed. The circumstance mentioned 
above had the effect of deterring speculators from abroad. Many farms 
were secured tlirough Mexican land warrants on the market here soon 
after the close of the Mexican war. Many good farms were bought 
with these by men who could not have raised the cash to buy from the 
government at $1.25 per acre. But little land had been bought from 
the government before these warrants appeared, but within five years 
after nearly all was sold except that held by the Illinois Central Rail- 
road Company, and this was sold verj^ soon. 

In an early day wolves were plentiful, and are not yet extinct. In 
1848 Alpheus Crawford and others killed a bear north of Knox Grove 
which weighed 400 pounds. 

For many years after the settlement of this region prairie fires 
were the scourge of the settlements. Many are the thrilling incidents 
related of their ravages. Mrs. Baird relates her experience in fighting 
one when Mr. Baird was away from home. She whipped it until she 
was completely exhausted and had suffered greatly from the heat of 
the fire; and all the time expecting it would sweep their house and 
entire personal effects. Early in October, 1845, the settlers were 
visited by one of these fires. It is described by one of the early set- 
tlers in nearly the following words : " After dark my family noticed 
in the southwest the light of a fire so far off that it seemed it would 
not reach them before morning. That night a family of emigrants 
from Tennessee were camped in their wagon on a small piece of 
breaking near my house. About midnight my wife was aroused by 
loud knocking and other noise. Upon getting up she found a girl 
about twelve years old nearly frightened to death. (This girl was the 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 247 

only one ot" the emigrants not sick.) Going out of doors she saw the 
whole country southwest and west in a blaze of fire, some of which 
was thirty feet high. She started for the nearest house, which was 
half a mile distant, and aroused the inmates, and then a quarter of a 
mile further to another dwelling, where all were sleeping. These parties 
all had property that would have been destroyed had they not been 
warned. Upon returning home she found the worst danger over, the 
main fire having passed a little northwest of the building and break- 
ing. Her husband, who was in Chicago at the time, found on his 
return the entire prairie burnt over.'' 

Nearly all of the early settlers teamed to Chicago more or less till 
the Illinois Central road came through. Produce was cheap, but this 
was the only way known to raise a little money. Often would they 
return home with a few trifles, the gross profits of an eight or ten days' 
trip. Little or nothing was taken for expenses, and often would a man 
be gone a week or two without entering a house. They would often 
go in companies of ten or more ox-teams, generally entering the city 
in the morning and coming out at night, thereby avoiding hotel bills. 
For a good load of wheat or dressed-pork but a few dollars would be 
realized. Often the driver had to unhitch his team and carry his load 
out of a slough on his back, and not unlikely this interesting process 
would have to be several times repeated during one trip. The farmers 
also went a long distance to get their milling done. For several years 
they went to Greene's mill, at Dayton, and to other points on the Fox 
river. 

But little was seen of the Indians by the settlers of Sublette. Old 
Shabona, however, with his followers, was an annual visitor for several 
years, passing, as he did, across the town on his way from his reser- 
vation, in DeKalb county, to the swamp near Walnut grove, in Bureau 
county. Shabona was a noble red-man, and on account of his friend- 
ship shown the settlers in the Black Hawk war, became very much 
endeared to them. 

The first post-ofiice was that of Brookfield, at Daniel Baird's house, 
started about 1840. 

In 1841 O. Bryant burned a kiln of brick on the northwest corner 
of Sec. 35. In 1850 a certain Beck built a blacksmith shop on or near 
the site now occupied by Dorsey Scott's shop. Richardson, Daniel 
Baird, Thomas Tourtillott, and Morrison, just over the line in May 
town, kept taverns in an early day. 

Township Organization. — Soon after the organization of Lee 
county the west half of Sublette, and what is now Ma}', were known as 
Bureau precinct; the polls were held at the house of Daniel Baird. 
The east part of the township was incorporated with a part of Brooklyn, 



248 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

with their voting place at Knox Grove. In 18-19 the count}' was di- 
vided into townships. This town was first called Hanio. The railroad 
company having named their depot Sublette, it was desired to have the 
name of the township correspond, and consequently a petition was sent 
in the winter of 1856-7 to John V. Eustace, representative in the 
Illinois legislature. The name was accordingly changed to Sublette. 
This name was first employed, it is said, because of the frequent sub- 
letting of the grading of the road in this vicinity. The first town 
meeting was held on the second Tuesday in April 1850, "for the pur- 
pose of electing town officers, dividing the town into road districts, and 
for the transaction of other business." Alpheus Crawford was chosen 
moderator and Daniel Baird clerk for said meeting. A tax of 12^ 
cents on everv §100 of taxable property was voted to be assessed and 
collected. Stock was prohibited from running at large from Xoveni- 
ber 15 to April 1 of each year. The first election resulted in the 
choice of Daniel Baird for supervisor, Henry Porter clerk, Whitlock 
T. Porter assessor, Silas D. Rcnift" collector, Daniel Pratt overseer of 
the poor, Hiram Anderson and W. H. Hamblin liighwa}' commission- 
ers, Samuel Averill and Thos. S. Angier constables, Alpheus Craw- 
ford and Andrew Bertholf justices of the peace. The town was di- 
vided into nine road districts two miles square. April 17, 1851, the 
highway commissioners ordered that district number " 10" Jje formed 
out of the east half of Sees. 20 and 17, and the west half of sections 
16 and 21. At an election held in the school-house in district "3" 
April 6, 1852, forty-six votes were cast for supervisor, forty-seven for 
assessor, forty-five for collector, and forty-seven for town clerk. It was 
voted that the next annual town meeting be held at the house of Dan- 
iel Pratt, at Knox Grove. In 1854 the annual meeting was held at 
the house of Daniel Wilcox on Sec. 15, and in 1855 at the house of 
Daniel Maxwell. At this meeting §1,000 was voted for the erection 
of a town-house in the village of Sublette. Thomas Angier, H. Benton 
and Prescott Bartlett were appointed a committee to report a site for 
the same. At a special meeting held in December, Thomas Angier, 
John Tourtillott, S. Renift* Thomas Fessenden and Horatio Benton 
were appointed a committee to build a house one story high, and of a 
size to correspond with funds voted for that purpose. At a meeting 
held in 1858, §150 was appropriated to bridge Bureau creek at the old 
army trail. At the annual meeting in 1860 a fence law was passed de- 
claring what should be considered a legal fence, whether of wire, rails 
or boards. In 1860, ]5() votes were cast for the supervisor, and the 
same number for town clerk, 152 for assessor, 147 for collector. In 
1866, 177 wa.s the highest vote cast for any office: Silas Reniff" was 
unanimously chosen assessor. For justice of the peace T. Angier re- 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 249 

ceived all but one (176), and A. L. Wilder the same number tor town 
clerk. In 1881 about 220 votes were cast. The supervisors of Sub- 
lette have been : Daniel Baird three years, S. Peterson one year, T. 
Aiigier eighteen years, Albert Linn one year, Jonathan Peterson three 
years, John Theiss, five years, G. M. Crawford one year. The justices 
of the peace have been T. Angler thirty-one J'ears, Alpheus Crawford 
six y-ears, A. Bertholf one year, James Brewer one year, W. F. Wilder 
one year, A. B. Linn eight years, Daniel Barton three years, Isaac 
Clink one year, N. W. Smith twelve years. Silas D. RenifF was 
elected assessor of Sublette in 1854, and e.xcept three years has assessed 
the town ever since. A. L. Wilder with one exception has held the 
office of town clerk since 1864. 

Tiie village of Sublette occupies parts of Sees. 9, 10, 15 and 16. 
The Illinois Central railroad buildings, a depot and.a warehouse on the 
northwest corner of Sec. 15, were built in the summer of 1854. 
Daniel Cook built the first dwelling house the same winter. In the 
following summer A. L. Wilder built a small store, in the back part of 
which he lived. Jesse Hale began his store about the same time. 
George A. Richmond put up a house, and did a flourishing business 
in the sale of lots. Mr. Swartwout built the same fall a part of the 
bouse which he finished the next year, and lived in the winter of 
1855-6. Frank Bartlett built what is now the Catholic parsonage in 
the fall of 1855 and moved into it the same winter. Paul Lindstraum 
built a shanty the same fall and began his tavern, which he completed 
the next year. Doctor Smith built a part of his present residence and 
got into it in December. Hugh Carr came in the dead of winter and 
rigged up an old barn in which he lived a short time. " Uncle Aba " 
Hale came in 1856, also the families of James Colvin and Robert Ash. 
J. B. Barton came the same year and opened a drug store. There are 
now fifty-seven families in the village, doing a good business. The 
Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and Catholic churches are located 

here. ,, 

-r' 
Suhlette Lodge, No. 3Jf9, A.F. and A.M. — The dispensation was ' , 

issued to Thomas S. Angier, W. D. Tourtillott, Jacob D. Tourtillott, 

James Tourtillott, Daniel Barton, B. F. Berkley, and Prescott Bartlett, 

and the first meeting was held January 31, 1860. The charter of the 

lodge was issued October, 1860, to Thomas Angier, W.M.; W. D. ..-' a/ 

Tourtillott, S.W.; Jacob D. Tourtillott, J.W.; James Tourtillott, secre- jj^^^^ -,_ 

tary ; Daniel Barton, S.D.; JB. F. Berkley, J.D.; Daniel Baird, treas- ^ x^.. ,c <,^ r 

urer; H. C. Chapman, and N. J. S wartwout. At first meetings were (^.^''^-^ CiX^ 

held in the rear of Jesse Hale's store, and subsequently on the second '' 

_^our of the school building. In 1870 the members of the lodge put 

up a building at a cost of $2,500. The first meeting in the new hall C 



250 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

was held August 16, 1870. The lower part of their building is rented 
for store purposes, and is now occupied by Frank Thompson. The 
present membership of the lodge is tiiirty, five of whom are non-resi- 
dent. The present officers are Joseph H. Ayres, W.M.; Joel S. 
Cook, S.W.; Henry Paris, J.W. : E. W. Patten, treasurer; T. S. 
Angier, secretary ; 01i%'er A. Wood, S.D. ; William Obernaur, J.D. ; 
Lafayette Long, tyler. 

Cemeteries. — There are several burial places in the township. Tlie 
most important of these are the one at the Catholic church in See. 32, 
and that in Sec. 4 on the land of N. and J. Peterson. In the first 
nearly a hundred have been buried, all Catholics, and some from a 
considerable distance. In both, manv of the old settlers are buried, 
one of whom, in the latter, is Jonathan Peterson, sr. Near here on 
the N. W.^ of Sec. 3, are several graves. Near Knox Grove is a small 
cemetery in which Daniel Pratt and others of the earlv settlers of 
this vicinity are reposing. Several interments have been made near 
the Catholic church in the village of Sublette. Daniel Baird was 
buried on the farm which he last owned. This is the "eighty" en- 
tered by E. Reniff. Besides these there are a few other small burial 
places within the town. 

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. 
Many of the first settlers here were church members, and conse- 
quently religious meetings date from the beginning of society here. 
They were of a very humble and unpretentious style, and in keeping 
witii the spirit of the time. Few went, we apprehend, to display 
finery — if any there were to display ; nor did the}' have churches of any 
kind for many years in which to worship. Primitive dwellings or rude 
school-houses were their only temples, and in these did they often 
meet to sing their songs of praise and oflfer their devout prayers to a 
Father whose guidance they sought. The first ciiurch organization in 
Sublette was that of the Baptists. This was effected April 18-43, in 
Jonathan Peterson's log house. There were at first thirteen members: 
Jonathan Peterson, sr., and his wife, Jonathan Peterson, jr., Sylva- 
nus Peterson and his wife, Nathaniel, Mary and Hope Peterson, Jon- 
athan Eells, Hubbard Eells and his wife, Joshua Rogers and his wife. 
Meetings were held in the log school in this vicinity as soon as it was 
built; previously from house to house. This was the central or mother 
organization for quite a large adjoining region, and was known as the 
first Baptist church of Palestine Grove. Meetings were held alter- 
nately on opposite sides of this grove for the mutual accommodation of 
those who lived widely apart. Some of the members of this society 
became by letter members of the Baptist church of Amboy at its or- 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 251 

ganization. In 1854 meetings were first held in Benton's Hall, on See. 
16, about half a mile west of the site of the church in which they now 
assemble, and here they continued till 1858, when, in November, they 
dedicated a church edifice in the village of Sublette, on Main street, 
erected at a cost of $5,000. The first pastor was Rev. Henry Headley, of 
La Moille. Jonathan Peterson, sr., was the first deacon, and "Warren 
Hills, the second. Sylvanus Peterson was the first clerk. Pastors have 
been : Charles Cross, E. O. Whittaker, J. H. Morrison, A. S. Denison, 
O. D. Taylor, Albert Guy, A. S. Merrifield, H. C. Yates, K. R. Coon. 
Jonathan Peterson and A. L. Swartwoiit are the present deacons, and 
A. J. Rogers is clerk. The society has a membership of about 120, is out 
of debt, and owns a parsonage worth $2,000. The Sunday-school of 
the church is in a flourishing condition, and is superintended by Abrain 
Swartwout. 

Met/wdist Episcopal Clnireh. — The first Methodist organization 
within the limits of the township was at tiie house of Levi Camp, at 
Knox Grove, about thirty-five years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pratt, 
Mr. and Mrs. John Skinner, Mr. and Mrs. Vertrees, Joseph, Miriam 
and Sarah Vertrees, Mrs. Levi Ellsworth, Mrs. Dr. Heath, Mrs. John 
Clink, Joseph Knox and his family, were early members; also Mr. and 
Mrs. John Barnes, Albert Linn and his wife. Skinner Pratt and his 
wife, Mr. and Mrs. Wood. These parties were then living around or 
near Knox Grove. Nearly all of them were first members. For quite 
a number of years the society was supplied by circuit preachers. Elder 
Julian was a very early preacher in this vicinity. Milton Hana and U. 
P. Golliday were others. For several years meetings were held in the 
town hall at the village of Sublette. W. H. Smith was one of the 
first pastors at the " Hall." In 1870 a church was built and was dedi- 
cated in 1871. The ministers of the church since have been : F. F. 
Farmiloe, Wm. A. Cross, Philo Gorton, T. C. Youngs, E. Brown, W. 
H. Records, and M. C. Smith (supplied). The ofiicers of the church 
at present are W. W. Ireland, W. R. Long, C. Brown, John H. Gen- 
try, trustees; W. R. Long, Mrs. W. W. Ireland, C. Brown, E. Lewis, 
Mrs. Joel Cook, Statira Crawford, stewards, and Ida Ireland, recording 
steward. But very few of the early members are left, they either 
having died or moved away. 

Congregational Church. — The organization of this society was ef- 
fected April 20, 1871. Rev. E. Baker was the first pastor. Meetings 
were at first held in the town hall. The officers were : John Meth- 
ven and Elias Purdy, deacons ; Levi Mead, clerk ; Russell M. Brown, 
treasurer. There were about thirty original members, among whom 
were John Methven and wife, Mrs. Walter Morse, Mrs. Jane Ells, 
E. Purdy and wife, Russell Brown and his family, Wm. Brown and 



252 HISTOKY OF LEE COLNTY. 

wife, H. C. Chapman and wife, Levi Mead and wife. A few weeks 
after the organization of the soeiet}' a church was begun, wliich cost 
al)oiit $5,000. The officers of the church are E. Purdy, jr., and Chas. 
Katch, deacons ; Edward Fessenden, John Tourtillott and E. Purdy, 
jr., trustees; Chas. H. Ingals, treasurer E. Purdy, clerk. The first 
Sabbath-school was superintended by Russell Brown, under whom it 
flourished. Mr. Edward Fessenden is the present superintendent. 

Chxirch of the Evangelical Association of North America. — This 
society built their church in 1864, on the N.W. J of Sec. 35, at a cost 
of $2,<>00. This is a branch from the church of the same denomina- 
tion at Perkins' Grove, Bureau county. The services are all in Ger- 
man. The preachers who officiate at this writing are the Revs. Woehr 
and Fry, this being in the Perkins Grove circuit and Mendota district. 
The Sabbatii-school in connection with the church has an average 
membership of about 55. J. C. Speilman is the superintendent. The 
trustees are Messrs. Barth. Richert and Speilman. The membership 
at present consists of a dozen or more families. 

Roman Catholic Church. — The organization of this church was 
effected in the fall of 1848. Meetings were first held at the iiouse of 
Bartholomew Theiss. Among the first families of the churcii were 
the Steins, Katzenbargers, Theisses, Beckers, Smiths, Lauer, Krebs, 
and others. Rev. N. Steele was the first priest. In 1853 a church 
was built on Sec. 32, on land owned by A. Stein. A parsonage was also 
built. This burned in 1869, since which the church has not iiad a 
regular priest. The Catholic church built in the village of Sublette in 
1868 is a branch of this, also the German Catholic church built a few 
years ago in May township. Only seven of the original members are 
left, and meetings are held in the old church only a 'iew times a year. 

Schools. — The school land was sold about 1850, and the town was 
soon divided into ten districts. On each of these is a good school- 
house. There is also a school in connection with the Catholic church 
at the village. As early as 1841 there w-as a Sunday-school started in 
the Tourtillott neighborhood. This was not in connection with any 
church. The prime movers in this work were Father Tourtillott and 
Mrs. Angier. It was not continued more than a year or two. The 
first school was in a log house on Tom Fessenden's farm ; the next 
was in a slab building on the farm of Thomas Tourtillott. This was a 
structure used at first for preemption purposes, and was never intended 
for a school-house. It was afterward known as the " sheep pen." 
Maria Codman, of New York, was the first teacher here. Tlie next 
school in this vicinity was taught in the winter by Joseph Carey in 
Mrs. Tourtillott's house; and the ne.\t of any importance in Mrs. Rich- 
ardson's house bv John Bacon, about 1850. Tiie third school in the 



SUBLETl'E TOWNSHIP. 253 

town of Sublette was in the log school-house on Sec. 5. Mrs. Clute, 
sister of Jonathan Peterson, tauglit tlie first summer school here about 
1844. The winter school held here was for several years quite impor- 
tant, being well attended by an advanced class of students. 

WAR RECORD. 

Sublette has a war record of which her people are justly proud. 
According to the population and area, it seems almost incredible that 
so many men should have been furnished within the short space of 
four and a half years. From the beginning to the close of the great 
civil war Sublette sent fathers and sons into the service, till her ener- 
gies seemed all but exhausted. When the great struggle was nearly 
ended, and the town shorn of its strength, a number of men were 
hired ; nearly all of them from outside of the township. The quota 
of troops for Sublette was 204, fourteen of whom were veterans. Of 
the veterans who first enlisted from within the township but two 
were afterward hired, the others having volunteered their services. 

The Lee County Guards. — Designated as Co. F, 13th Inf., was 
mustered into the military service September 20, 1878, by Maj. W. G. 
Coulter, with a membership of sixty-one men, which augmented till, 
at its annual inspection and muster, March 31, 1879, it numbered 
ninety-eight, and 103 at the annual inspection and muster, March 31, 
1880; thirty-four more than any other infantry company in the State 
of Illinois. 

The Guards have been the recipients of many invitations to par- 
ticipate in public demonstrations and ceremonies, among which were 
decoration of soldiers' graves by the citizens of Mendota, May 30, 
1879 ; the Guards being escort for procession, and were handsomely 
entertained by the city. 

They encamped with the 3d reg. I.N.G., at Freeport, July 3, 4 and 
5, 1879, being entertained by tiie public. They encamped four days 
with the 1st brig. I.K.G., in September 1879, at South Park, Chicago, 
at which time eighty-one men reported for duty. On November 5, at 
a reception tendered Gen. Grant by the citizens of Mendota, the 
Guards had the honor of being the first military company to receive 
and escort tlie general in Illinois after his tour around the world. On 
July 4, 1880, at a celebration in Amboy, they escorted the procession 
and were guests of the city. Having accepted an invitation to attend 
the twenty-fifth annual fair of tlie northwest, held at Sterling, Sep- 
tember 14, 15, 16, and 17, the company was entertained with princely 
hospitality b}' the management of the association. At this time it 
escorted Gen. Grant and other gentlemen of national reputation, 
among whom were Gov. Cullom and Gen. Logan. On account of 



254 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

their discipline and military precision strangers mistook the Guards 
for soldiers from the regular army. The commissioned officers are 
Chas. H. Ingals, captain; William Deter, first lieutenant; Phillip H. 
Schwab, second lieutenant. A large proportion of non-commissioned 
officers and a number of privates were soldiers in the late war. The 
rank and file, by their persistent and determined effort to excel, have 
succeeded in attaining proficiency and excellence in military discipline 
and tactics for which they have, without an exception, received com- 
mendation and profuse compliments from the assistant superintendent 
general whenever paraded for inspection, and are now rated as one of 
the best companies of the Illinois National Guard. 

Its property- is valued at s4r,000, secured without outside assistance 
(except about SlOO). It consists of an iron-roofed armory, which 
contains drill-room, gun-room, officers' quarters, dining-room and 
kitchen, and is one of the best in Illinois. 

The organization is a grand success, and an honor to itself, the 
locality in which it exists, and the county it represents. 

The armory is 40x96 feet, one and two stories high. Musical 
instruments, colors, munitions, etc. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Jonathan Pktkrson, farmer, Sublette, is one of a family of three 
boys and eight girls. He was born in Truxton, Courtland county. New 
York, in 1812. His parents, Jonathan and Doretha (Smith) Peterson, 
were born in Franklin county, Massachusetts. His mother was of 
Irish descent. He was reared a farmer, and enjoyed the benefits of a 
common school education. He came west in 1836 via the Erie canal, 
Lake Erie, and across Michigan afoot to Chicago, where he stopped one 
week; thence to Ottawa, La Salle county. Here he spent the winter 
of 1836-7, whence he come directly to Lee county in the following 
spring, and settled in Lee Center township, near its southern boundary, 
nearly opposite his present home in Sec. 4, Suhlette,having moved across 
the line about twenty-five years ago. In the fall of 1837 Mr. Peterson 
went back east and was married to Percis Avery, of Connecticut. 
With his bride our subject came to his western home in the spring of 
1838. In these early days Mr. Peterson hauled much produce to Chi- 
cago ; in 1840 he took up a load of wheat, and brought back his parents 
and their family (except one sister), who had come on from the east. He 
has had five children : Francis Augusta, born April 1S3!>, was a gradu- 
ate of the first class of the state normal school, Normal, Illinois; was 
married July 1862 to E. A. Gastman, her classmate, and now a prom- 
inent educator and principal of schools, Decatur, Illinois. She died in 
the winter of 1863. Before her marriage she taught in Normal and 



SUBLEITE TOWNSHIP. 255 

Decatur. Alice M., born in the fall of 1840; in March, 1863, married to 
W. F. Hoyt ; died of consumption in the latter part of 1863. Mr. 
Hoy t is now residing in Clinton, Iowa. Emeline W. was born in May 
1842, second wife of A. J. Biddle, her second husband, a native of In- 
diana, and a veteran of the Union arm}' in the late rebellion. Myron 
J. was born in April 1844. In September, 1862, he enlisted at Dixon in 
the 75th Hi. Vols.; was wounded at Perryville, and was sent back to 
the hospital at New Albany, Indiana, reentered his regiment June 
1863; was in the T5th 111. Vols, until the close of the war. Myron 
was in the following engagements: Chickamauga, Chattanooga, with 
Sherman to Atlanta, and back with Thomas to Tennessee. In 1873 he 
took up a soldier's claim in Nebraska, where with his wife he is now liv- 
ing. Walter A. was born in April 1852, is married and living in Wis- 
consin, having gone to that state in March 1881. The subject of this 
sketch has twice been supervisor of Sublette,having held that office three 
years. In an early day he was elected justice of the peace for Lee 
Center township, but did not qualify for the office. He is a repub- 
lican and a deacon of the Baptist church, of which he and his wife are 
prominent members. Mrs. Peterson, daughter of Elisha and Percis 
(Pease) Avery, was born 1811. Her father was born in Massachusetts, 
her mother in Connecticut. Her ancestors on both sides are a long-lived 
race. Her mother's grandfather was born in Ireland, her father's peo- 
ple were from England. Her uncle, Walter Pease, aged ninety-eight, 
is living on the Connecticut river, near Hartford, where seven genera- 
tions of the Pease family have lived. He is active yet and walks all 
over his farm. Her grandfather and grandmother on both sides lived 
to be over eighty years old. At ouq time her father had four widowed 
sisters, all more than eighty years old, living in Hartford, Connecticut. 
Mr. Biddle, the son-in-law of Mr. Peterson, is an industrious, self-made 
man. He left his home when he was eleven years old, and began for 
himself He was a lumberman twelve years in Indiana. He has 
farmed in Lee Center township ; is a republican and a member of the 
Baptist chnreh. He was born in 1835. 

Charlotte (Field) Baied was born in Worcester county, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1811. Her mother, Martha Hitchcock, was born in 1868, 
and her mother's mother and father were born in 1742 and 1740 respect- 
ively. The name of the latter was David. Mrs. Baird has a brother 
and a sister: Setii, born in 1802, living in Massachusetts, and Adeline 
O. (Mrs. Baldwin), born in 1807, is living in La Salle county, Illinois, 
with Elmer Baldwin, her husband, and author of a history of La Salle 
county. Charlotte Field was married in December 1832, to Daniel 
Baird, born in Tioga county, New York, in 1806. Mr. Baird was rear- 
ed a merchant and had a common school education. He came to La- 



256 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Salle county in 1836, via Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago. Mrs. Baird 
and her sister came in the fall of the same vear, via the Ohio and St. 
Louis. In 18311 Daniel Baird and his family came to Lee county, 
Sublette, and settled within a few rods of where Elijah Austin now 
lives, on the old mail route from Peru to Grand Detour; he took up a 
claim for a large tract of land. Then there was no house between his 
place and Troy Grove, thirteen miles southeast, in La Salle, and only 
one between there and La Moille. Here was the tirst post-office in Sub- 
lette, called Brookfield, and afterward Hanno. Mr. Baird was widely 
and favorably known ; he was the tirst supervisor of Sublette, and held 
the same office in 1858 ; he was county commissioner from 1844 to 1846 
inclusive. In his house the first town meeting for Sublette was held. 
Baird's first house contained two twelve-pane windows and a stairway 
to the second floor, and compared with the greased-paper-window and 
peg-ladder-log-house, was considered by some rather stylish. He died 
in March 1866, and was buried in the family burial-ground. His fam- 
ily are: Marianne, born in 1838 (Mrs. Henry Chapman), living in 
Sublette township; Caroline (Mrs. Newton Puinphrey), 1843; Seth 
F., 1846. The latter is married and living on the homestead in Sec. 
19, and with him Mrs. Baird is living. Newton Pumphrey is a tin- 
smith in the village of Sublette. 

William Dextek, farmer, Sublette, was born in Canada, December 
1831 ; he is the son of Elisha and Mary (Kane) Dexter, and tiie second 
in a family of eight. His mother, born in Ireland, came to Canada 
when she was about three 3'ears old. His father was born in New 
York state, aind several of his people were in the revolution. Elisha 
Dexter was a radical in McKiuzie's rebellion in Canada in 1837, and 
was in Michigan during the latter part of 1837. In 1838 he left 
Canada, after selling his farm near Toronto at a great sacrifice, and 
came to Illinois with his family. On their way tliey were all sick in 
Michigan, where his wife died. They arrived in Lee county in No- 
vember 1839, and settled about a mile east of Binghamton, where they 
staid a short time; from here they moved to May township, where, 
after a little, Mr. Dexter bought a claim from John Dexter, his uncle, 
who came to Lee county in 1835. In 1846 he left this place, moved 
to the central part of the township, and bought a claim of 200 acres 
now owned by Jake Baker. Mr. Dexter, sr., died about 1858. In 
1852 William Dexter married Martha Coleman, of Pennsylvania, 
whose people had come to Lee county about 1848. William had 
obtained a common school training, often going several miles to school. 
In 1858 he bought the W. ^ of S.W. ^ Sec. 4, Sublette, from Lewis 
Clapp for $2,400, having previously owned land and farmed in May 
and Lee Center townships. He has since bonght land in Sees. 8 and 9, 



SriJLETl'E TOWNSHIP. 'J0< 

and now owns over 200 acres. In August 1862 Mr. Dexter enlisted 
in tfie 75th 111. Vols., Co. E, Captain Frost, of Lee Center. During 
his entire service of nearl}^ three years he was off duty only five days 
(in regimental hospital). Mr. Dexter drove a team about three months ; 
drove an ambulance at Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Dalton, 
Resaca and Rome; here he was commissioned commissary sergeant of 
an army train, of which he had entire charge at Atlanta, and back 
with Thomas to Tennessee. He was discharged June 29, 1865. Mr. 
Dexter has nine children: Eliza, born 1853; Etta M., 1855; Emma, 
1857; Otta, 1861; William, 1866; Ira, 1868; John, 1870; Margaret, 
1872; Fred, 1874 (Martha, born 1S59, died 186i). Etta is a graduate 
of the Northwest College, at Naperville ; here Olta attended two years. 
Mr. Dexter has been nine years road commissioner, was chairman of 
the Garfield club of Sublette, is first lieutenant of the Lee county 
guards, and with his wife and four eldest daughters is a member of the 
Baptist church. 

Alpheus H. Cldsk, farmer, Sublette, was born in Bradford county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1829, and was brought up to farming. His parents 
were William and Rebecca (Hulburt) Clink. His father was born in 
New York, and was descended from German ancestors. His mother 
was born in Pennsylvania, and her grandfather was German, while her 
grandmother was Scotch. Of a family of six Alpheus was the third. 
He was educated at the common schools, and with the whole family 
came to Lee county in August 1843. His father bought a claim in 
Lee Center township from William Church ; lived here a few years, 
and was engaged much of the time in teaming to Chicago, chiefly for 
Geo. E. Haskell, store-keeper at Inlet. In 1848 the family came to the 
N.W. i Sec. 12, Sublette, and entered the same. About this time the 
eldest daughter, Mrs. Lucretia Sawyer, died. The yotmgest boy died in 
1854 of typhoid fever. In 1856 William Clink, the father, died of con- 
sumption, and was buried in Bradford cemetery, where the son and 
daughter had been laid. Margaret (Mrs. Canfield) died in Marshall- 
town, Iowa, in 1857. Isaac M. Clink is farming in Iowa. He is well 
known in this and Bureau county, having been a justice of the peace 
in both. In 1852 Alpheus Clink built an 18x20 frame honse on the 
sonth " eighty " of the homestead. He has since bought sixty acres 
south of that. In 1879 he erected a line dwelling, cost about $1,800. 
He was first married in 1850, to Julia A. Caniield, by whom he had 
one son, now living in Greene county, Iowa. His wife died in Decem- 
ber 1854. His second wife, Melissa M. Robinson, born in Ohio in 
1837, has given birth to five ciiildren : Nina (Mrs. John Ellsworth), 
born September 1856, William H., 1857, Frank E., 1859, Harry, Janu- 
ary 1869, and Sarah, December 1870. Mr. Clink is a republican. 



258 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Alpheus Crawford, tlic fatlier of Geo. M. Crawford, the subject 
of tliis sketcli, was born December 28, 1798, in Lucerne (now Brad- 
ford) county, Pennsylvania. His grandparents on iiis fatlicr's side 
were born and married in Scotland. His father and mother were born 
in Connecticut, and the parents of the latter were English. During 
the revolution his father belonged to a guard of minute men at New 
Haven, Connecticut, and he witnessed Bnrgoyne's surrender. In 1844 
Alpheus Crawford with a family of six children came west with a team 
and wagon via Buffalo, Lake Erie by boat, and across Michigan directly 
to Knox Grove, where seven or eight families were then living. He 
bought of widow Pratt, for §75, a claim of theN.E. ^ ofS.W.^Sec. 13, 
and a " forty " just east of the same. There was a log house on the 
place, and about seven acres were broken. He is still living here. 
Geo. M. Crawford, born December 19, 1S25, was the second in a family 
of seven. His mother was Marsha Skinner, born June 1S03. George 
received a common school education and in the spring of 1845 took a 
claim of the E. i of N. W. J Sec. 13, and an " eighty " east of the same. 
In the spring of 1849 he built a frame liouse, partly with lumber hauled 
from Chicago with a team. He was married the same year to Mrs. 
Lydia A. Dewey, daughter of Levi Camp, an old settler at Knox Grove. 
This lad}' died in 1852, and in December, 1859, Mr. Crawford married 
Maria J., daughter of Stephen Clink, an early settler in Bradford town- 
ship. Three children are the oH'spring of this union : Milo H., born 
October, 1861 ; Nerval M., born October 1863, Clara M., May 1870. 
In 1862 Mr. Crawford bought of Daniel Pratt the N.W. J o'f S.W. 
^ Sec. 13, at $30 per acre. He has also purchased the W. i of N.W. 
i Sec. 13, at $58 per acre. In 1868 he built a house at a cost of $2,000, 
and a barn in 1877 at a cost of $1,200. Mr. Crawford is a republican, 
and his wife is a member of the Congregational church. 

Edw.vki) M. Lewis, wagon-maker and blacksmith, Sublette, was 
born in Broom county, Massachusetts, December 1844. He is the son 
of Joseph W. and Elsie (Shutts) Lewis, the latter of German descent. 
His father was from Vermont, and was a carpenter by trade. Edward 
was the eldest of four children, of whom two are now living. He 
worked on a farm until he was nineteen years old. In the meantime 
he obtained a common school education. He came with his j»arentsto 
Lee county in 1845, first to Nachusa, thence in 1853 to Amboy, where 
they have since had a residence. He learned carriage wood-work of 
H. Sweet, of Amboy. Was married in 1S6S to Sarah Tate, born of 
English parentage in 1851. Two bo^'shave been born to them: How- 
ard, in 1871, and Henry, 1876. Mr. Lewis began in Sublette in 1869. 
He owns property to the value of about $1,000 and is doing a good 
business, chiefly wagon and carriage repairing. He is a republican, a 




''^' ■•*-,. 








"\ ■'^'' 





^^ 



DEC EASED. 



SUBLEITE TOWNSHIP. 261 

member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church, and belongs 
to the Lee county guards. His wife is a Baptist. 

Nelson F. Swaetwodt, farmer, Sublette, brotlier of Abram Swart- 
wout, was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, in 18-i4. He attended 
the Lee Center Academy as well as a commercial school ; enlisted at 
Dixon, October 1864, in the 34th 111. Inf.; went into Tennessee, was 
first engaged at Nashville, and was there wounded. After being in the 
hospital a month and spending another at home on furlough, he was 
sent via New York to his regiment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, 
skirmished a little in this vicinity, and was mustered out July 12, 1865, 
at Louisville, Kentucky, having previously witnessed the grand review 
of Grant's and Sherman's armies at Washington. Mr. Swartwout has, 
at different times, been engaged in teaching school. He was married, 
October, 1869, to Amelia Nettleton, of Massachusetts. They have three 
children : Walter E.., Mina L. and Nellie A. His farm of 170 acres in 
S.W. J of Sec. 3 is well tilled and valuable. Mr. Swartwout votes the 
republican ticket, belongs to the Sublette Baptist church, and is a frank, 
outspoken man. 

Abram L. Swartwout, farmer, Sublette, was born October 20, 1841, 
in Rock Island county, Illinois. He is one of four children of Nelson 
J. and Abagail Ricker Swartwout: Abram L., Nelson F., Frank E. (de- 
ceased), and Hattie (Mrs. Wright). His father came to Illinois from 
Otsego county. New York, about 1836. His mother was born in San- 
gamon county, Illinois. After living in Lee Center township about 
ten years the family moved to Sublette in 1855. The senior Swart- 
wout built here, and was the first lumber dealer and grain buyer in 
Sublette. He had built the first blacksmith shop in Lee Center town- 
ship. This was on the old Chicago road from Dixon. Mr. Swartwout 
hauled lumber from Chicago to build his house in Lee Center. Frank, 
nine years old at his death, was killed by a horse in Sublette in 1856. 
Abram L. Swartwout received an academic education. He enlisted 
September 21, 1861, in Co. D, 34th 111. Inf., at Springfield, Illinois. 
He went into Kentucky, came up with Buell's command at Shiloh the 
second day of the fight, afterward went to near Chattanooga, then fell 
back to Louisville when Bragg threatened Cincinnati. He was cap- 
tured about the time of the engagement at Perr^'ville, but was soon 
paroled. Early in 1863 was again in service. At Liberty Gap, June 
1863, he was brigade inspector's clerk ; was captured at Chikamauga, 
and was a prisoner seven months in Richmond and Danville, Virginia. 
June 10, 1864, Mr. Swartwout joined his regiment on the Atlanta cam- 
paign. He was mustered out Se])tember 1864, reenlisted March 1865, 
in the4th U. S. Veterans, Hancock's corps. During most of his latter 
service he was a detailed clerk in the war department. Finally mustered 
16 



262 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

out April 1866. Mr. Swartwoiit was married to Carrie E. Thayer, of 
Massachusetts, September 1866. He settled on the homestead, where 
he now resides, has-ing previous!}' been one year in business witli A. 
L. Wilder, in Sublette, and two years in the grocery business in Men- 
dota, Illinois. He now has a farm of 240 acres. Sec. 4, S.E. J and S. ^ 
of N.E. ^. His family are Frank A., Editli L. and Hattie May. He 
is a prominent republican, a deacon of the Sublette Baptist church, 
quartermaster sergeant of the 12th I.IST.G.and withal an intelligent, un 
assuming gentleman. 

Chas. H. Ingals, farmer, Sublette, son of Charles F. and Sarah 
(Hawkins) Ingals, was born March 11, 1846, in Lee county, Illinois, 
and was brought up to farming. Besides going to the common schools 
he took a partial course in the normal sciiool at Normal, Illinois. He 
enlisted at Dixon in 1862, but was rejected because he was too young 
and too small. In the fall of 1863 he entered Co. A., 75th 111. Inf., 
went with his regiment to Tennessee, from Chattanooga to Atlanta, 
was with Sherman at the capture of Atlanta, came back with Thomas 
to Tennessee, was in the engagements at Franklin and Spring Hill, 
November 30, and at Nashville in December 1864. Mr. Ingals was 
then detailed by the medical directory to the 1st division of the 4th 
Army Corps, was transferred to the 21st 111. reg. in June 1865; went 
to New Orleans the next month, and thence, in August 1865, to San 
Antonio, Texas, where he remained until he received orders to be mus- 
tered out. From January till June 10, 1865 he was in the ofBce of 
the medical director}'. He was afterward in the provost guards, 4th 
corps army headquarters, and the provost marshal general's office at St. 
Antonio, which position he held until the expiration of his service, De- 
cember 25, 1865. In May, 1865, Mr. Ingals received a sergeant's com- 
mission. He was in the engagements atlvenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree 
Creek, Atlanta, Nashville, Franklin, and others. He is now captain of 
Co. F., 12th Inf. Illinois national guards (see Lee county guards), also 
commander of Lee county post No. 65 of G.A.R., headquarters at Am- 
boy. Mr. Ingals is a republican, and belongs to the order of Masons. 
His farm of 200 acres is in Sec. 10. His residence is about half a mile 
from the village of Sublette, and was built in 1870 at a cost of $3,400. 
Previous to his settlement here he was engaged in mercantile business 
at Rocky Falls, Whitesides county. Was married in March 1871, to 
Mary I. Morse, who came with her parents from Massachusetts to Illi- 
nois in 1869. She was born in Natick, Massachusetts, December 10, 
1854. The offspring of this marriage are five children : Herbert F., 
Grace M., Neva May., Walter F. and Fred. M. Mr. Ingals is a tiirifty 
farmer and an enteqirisiiig citizen. He has an attractive home with 
beautiful environments, and seems to enjoy life. 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 263 

Sherman L. Hatch, father of Charles L. Hatch, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Cavendish, Windsor county, Vermont, in 1807. 
He was the son of Sherman and Caroline (Lovell) Hatch, of the same 
place. His grandfather on the father's side lived in Hartford, Con- 
necticut, and his mother's father was one of the earliest settlers in Cav- 
endish, Vermont. His father owned a small farm and was a hatter. 
Sherman was the oldest of twelve children, of which only he and four 
sisters are living. He received what was then called a common school 
education, and in the spring of 18.37 came west to Chicago, thence to 
Milwaukee, and from there to Jaiiesville, Wisconsin. From there, 
with seven others, he went down the Rock river in a boat, stopping at 
Rockford, Dixon and Prophetstown. Mr. Hatch remained over night 
in Iowa, opposite the mouth of the Rock, and then next day started 
up the river to Dixon, and arrived there in June. From there he 
went to Charles F. Ingals', who had settled in Lee Center in 1836. 
On his way he stopped at the house of Mr. Wliittaker, Lee Center, 
the only home seen since he left Dixon. Mr. Hatch came to Sublette, 
Sec. 7, in the southwest part of which was an abandoned claim and 
an unfinished log house, which he occupied and completed. He re- 
turned in the fiill of 1837 to Vermont, and married Lucy Brown in 
the spring of 1838. Returning to his claim he found it occupied. He 
appealed to the squatter tribunal ; the decision was that he (Hatch) 
should paj' $150 to the occupant in consideration of tillage and other 
improvements made during his absence; or if Hatch chose, the occu- 
pant might pay him $125 and retain possession. Our subject paid the 
$150, and reentered his humble dwelling. During the summer of 
1838 mother earth was the first floor of his cabin ; the second, consist- 
ing of split rails covered with corn stalks, was for company. Mr. 
Hatch claimed a halfsection of praiuie and 240 acres of timber in May 
and Sublette townships; but when the land was sold he bought only 
an eighty (in May town), having loaned considerable sums of money 
which he could not collect. He has since bought the W. ^ of N.W. J 
Sec. 18, Sublette, and soon after the E. ^ of the same, where, in 1846, 
he built a 16x20 frame house, and in 1852 he built a brick house and 
a large barn; the lumber for the latter was all hauled from Chicago. 
Mr. Hatch lost his wife in November 1876; all of their four children 
are married : Harriet L. (Mrs. Gardner) was born December 1839 ; 
Caroline L. (Mrs. James Garrett), December 1840; Julia A. (Mrs. J. 
W. Latta, Dixon), December 1845; Charles L., 1848. The latter was 
married in 1874, to Catharine Barse, of Detroit, Michigan. Their 
family are Lucy M., born April 1875, and Harry L., May 1877. Mr. 
C. L. Hatch has recently bought land in Sees. 17 and 18, adding 
to the large tract only partially described in this sketch. He taught 



264 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

scliool two winters; he is now living on the homestead. He is a dea- 
con of the Sublette Congregational church; his wife is a Unitarian. 
His father is a republican, and in an early day was a captain in the 
Vermont militia. 

Joel Cook, farmer, Sublette, was born in Otsego county, New 
York, in 1828, and was raised a farmer. He came west with his peo- 
in 1845, learned the carpenter and shoemaker trades in Lee county, 
though he had worked at the latter a little in the east. He went over- 
land to the Far West in 1850, was in California and Oregon nearly 
four years, came back, and married Emily Strickland, of Pennsylvania, 
in the fall of 1855, her parents having come to Lee county in 1849. Mr. 
Cook bought eighty acres of land from his brother John for $1,700, and 
went to farming, the next spring, in the S.E. ^ Sec. 8. He built a 
16x24 house. He has since purchased 110 acres in Sees. 5 and 9, 
at a cost of $4,000. In 1875 Mr. Cook put up a liouse at a cost of 
$1,800. His family are Lacon, born in 1863, and Katie, born 1871. 
His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a repub- 
lican and a Mason, but was formerly an Odd-Fellow. In an early day 
he used to go to Chicago much with an ox team ; once he was gone 
forty days. In the meantime, however, he took some emigrants out to 
Iowa. Daniel Cook, father of the above, was born in New York, on 
Van Rensselaer's grant, in 1802. He was the second in a family of 
seven. He had five uncles killed in the revolution. His parents, 
Simeon and Polly (Baldwin) Cook, moved to Pennsylvania when he 
was three years old. He went to school only about two weeks, but 
w-as taught at home. He married, in 1823, Phojbe Rouse, and lived in 
Pennsylvania until he came west. Their family consists of four chil- 
dren living : Samuel, born 1824 ; Joel, born 1826 ; John J., born 1830 ; 
Lydia, born 1836. On his arrival ip Lee county with his family in 1845, 
Mr. Cook, during the first winter, lived with Daniel Trip at Inlet creek ; 
the next year on Thomas Fessenden's farm, after which he settled on 
the S.E. ^ Sec. 8. For this John J. Cook had a warrant, having 
been a soldier in the Mexican war. John is now living in Council 
Bluffs, Iowa. Samuel was in the late rebellion, and received injuries 
at Perryville, from which he has never recovered, though he was not 
in the engagement. He is now living with his family in Cherokee 
county, Kansas, and is engaged in farming. Mr. Cook and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The former is an Odd- 
Fellow, and the latter belongs to the Rebeccas. Mr. Cook was an old- 
time democrat, but voted for Abe Lincoln, and has since voted the re- 
jniblican ticket. He can remember seeing the soldiers of the war of 
1812, in which was one of his cousins. He and his wife are now liv- 
ing with their daughter, Mrs. Scorteld, in Sublette. 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 265 

Wm. W. Ireland, farmer, Sublette, was born in Harrison county, 
western Virginia, in 1826. He is the son of Jonathan and Eliza 
(Boring) Ireland, both of Marj'land. He was brought up to farming, 
his father's occupation, and received a common-school ediication. His 
people moved to Clinton county, Ohio, when he was a year old ; here 
they lived a few years ; thence to Bureau county, Illinois, where his 
father bought a claiui. William Ireland came to Sublette in 1850, and 
bought of Stiles and Eustace for $130, a warrant for the S.W. ^ Sec. 
23. The same year he bought twenty acres of timber. He now owns 
215 acres of land, having bought the last in 1876. For several years 
Mr. Ireland lived with his brother on the N.W. J Sec. 23. He built 
on his own land in 1857, was married in the fall of 1856 to Sarah Ver- 
trees, who was born in Indiana in 1833. They have had seven chil- 
dren, live of whom are living: Theodore F., born September 1857; 
Ida E., born December 1858 ; Delia J., born August 1860 ; Miriam 
A., born March 1862 ; Fay, born September 1865 (died April 1880) ; 
Willie, born March 1864 (deceased) ; Chas. A., born 1868. In poli- 
tics Mr. Ireland is a liberal republican. Mrs. Ireland is a member and 
officer of the Sublette Methodist Episcopal church. She taught school 
in an early day in the vicinity of Knox Grove, named after her mother's 
people, who were early settlers there. Her great-grandfather Knox 
came from Scotland, and settled in North Carolina. Her father's father 
was in the war of 1812. Her mother's grandfather (Brooks) was all 
through the revolution. John Knox, her uncle, when above fifty years 
old went with three sons and a son-in-law from Lee county, Missouri, 
into the federal army of the rebellion. He died in the hospital at 
Nashville. One of the boys, wounded at Allatoona. Georgia, went 
home, and was replaced by his youngest brother. None of the other 
four ever returned from the battle-fields. 

Emekson W. Patten, railroad agent, Snblette, was born September 
25, 1826, in Greenwich, Hampshire county, Massachusetts. He is the 
youngest of four children of Calvin and Laura (Warrener) Patten, 
Mrs. R. H. Millen, of Amboy, being the eldest. His father was from 
Connecticut; his mother was born in Massachusetts. There is a tra- 
dition that three Patten brothers came from Scotland very early in 
the history of our country, one landing near Boston, one near New 
York, and the other in Rhode Island. " Great Uncle Billy " Patten 
was a revolutionary hero, and until he was almost a hundred walked 
annually to Taunton, Massachusetts, a distance of eight miles, to draw 
his pension. Emerson Patten was raised a farmer, and lived in his 
native town till 1853 when he came west to Amboy. Here he dealt 
in books and jewelry, but chiefly in real estate, losing heavily in the 
latter business in 1858. He lived in Amboy till 1873 ; was one year 



266 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

in Freeport, Illinois, and in 1874 came to Sublette, where he has 
since been emploj'od by the Illinois Central Railroad Co^lpan3^ He 
was married in the tall of 1859 to Lucy E. Morse, born in New York. 
Three children are the fruit of their marriage: Alfred E., born Decem- 
ber 186-i; Calvin E., November 1866; Lena, September 1860. Mr. 
Patten is a Mason and a republican, and since he was nineteen years 
old he has belonjjed to the Congregational church. 

Alfred L. Wilder, merchant, Sublette,was born in Conway, Frank- 
lin county, Massachusetts, in 1825. He is the son of Joshua and La- 
vina (Long) Wilder, of the same county, and his mother's mother was 
a revolutionary pensioner. He was raised a farmer, staying with his 
father till he was twenty years old ; and was educated at the Shel- 
burne Falls Academy, Shelburne, Franklin county, in which town both 
his parents were born, and he lived from his early 3'outh. In 1854 
Mr. Wilder came to Chicago; he clerked one year in Putnam county, 
where he was married to Mrs Elvira Hewitt, of Franklin county, 
Massachusetts, born in 1826. In 1854 he bought land in Iowa. In 
1855 he settled in Sublette, and built a store. Mr. Wilder is now do- 
ing a large business, carrying a stock of about $10,000. He occupies 
the store began in 1855, to which he has added from time to time, 
the last improvement in 1877, and which is now worth about $3,000. 
His house was built in 1865 or 1866 at a cost of S2,500. His children 
are: Wni. A., born 1856; Nellie M., 1858, married T. F. Ireland, son 
of W. W. Ireland, and is now living in Mills count}-, Iowa ; Raymond 
A., 1862. Both sons are working with their father in his business, a 
general dry-goods, grocery, boot and shoe trade. William is married. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilder, the parents, are members of the Baptist church. 
Mrs. A. L. Wilder's father, Horace Benton, a native of Massachusetts, 
who has lived in Sublette since 1855, is in his eighty-sixth year, and 
possesses remarkable mental and physical vigor for one so old. 

Mrs. Harriet L. Gardner, daughter of Sherman L. Hatch, and 
widow of Dr. Francis B. Gardner, was born .i the homestead in De- 
cember 1839. She went to the common school biit three months ; 
was sent to Lee Center and Janesville, Wisconsin, to school, and com- 
pleted her education at a private school in West Chester county, New 
York. She taught school a few terms, and was married to Mr. Gard- 
ner in 1861. He had received his education at the Bridgewater, Mass- 
achusetts Normal school, and was a graduate from the Cincinnati Ec- 
lectic Medical School. He afterward graduated from a homoeopathic 
school in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Gardner was born in February 1822, 
in Swansea, Massachusetts. His father was a sea-captain, and Francis 
was the youngest but one in a family of ten. lie settled in Sublette 
in 1861. He had been in California most of the time since 1849, 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 267 

working mines or practicinir medicine, liaviniy returned three times 
from that country. In 1863 he bought from Elder Morrison the 
house where his family are living in the village of Sublette, a little 
west of the Baptist chui'ch. At that time he purchased two lots, 
since increased to five acres of farm land. His heirs now own in May 
and Sublette townships to the amount of 160 acres. Two boys and a 
girl are the fruit of his marriage : Seraphine, born July 1862 ; Frank, 
March 1864; Charles, November 1865. In November, 1880, the doc- 
tor met a cruel and unexpected death ; he was tossed by a bull and fell 
on tiie back of his head, from the eifect of which he died the third day 
after the accident. He was a hearty, rather stout man, and had never 
experienced any sickness worth mention. He and his wife were Epis- 
copalians, though the latter recently united with the Congregational 
church, there being no Episcopal church in Sublette. He joined the 
Masons about a year before he died ; he was a brother of Dr. Charles 
Gardner, an early settler in Nachusa township. 

Frank Thompson, hardware merchant, Sublette, was born in 
La Salle county, Illinois, in 1853. His father, John B., was born in 
Ohio in 1825 ; his mother, Clementine Eastman, in Maine in 1822. 
Tiiey came west in 1844:, lived about a year in Bureau county, then 
settled in La Salle county, Ophir township, where Mr. Thompson took 
up a claim. In 1853 he took a contract to grade a part of the Illinois 
Central railroad between Amboy and Sublette; he came to Sublette 
in 1867. Frank Thompson is one of a family of three boys and two 
girls. He was raised a farmer, and was graduated from the Valparaiso 
(Indiana) Commercial School. For a time he was a clerk in Amboy; 
went with his eldest brother, in the si)ring of 1875, to California, where 
they worked a mine. Frank came back in the winter of 1876-7, and 
began in the hardware business in Sublette in 1878, under the firm 
name of F. A. Thompson & Co. He now has a stock of $2,500. 
Mr. Thompson was made postmaster at Sublette, February 1881. He 
is a Baptist, and a metn^.'er of the Lee county guards. He was mar- 
ried October 28, 1880, to Stella S., daughter of James Dexter, and 
sister of Mrs. William Wilder. 

Peescott Baetlett, farmer, Sublette, was born in Conway, Franklin 
county, Massachusetts, August 19, 1821. His father, born in 1789, 
was a tanner by trade, and raised a company during the war of 
1812. His mother, Xarcissa Robinson, was born 1787. Mr. Bartlett 
came west in 1844, to Du Page county, Illinois, and soon after to 
Sublette, taking a claim of a quarter-section on Sec. 20, a part of 
which is now owned by H. C. Chapman. After living here about five 
years he went to Bureau county and bought a farm. He now owns and 
lives upon the E.^ Sec. 17, Sublette, having bought it in 1850 from 



268 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

William Erskine for $500. In 1868 he built a fine residence of 
Batavia stone at a cost of $12,000. Having passed through Texas and 
Arkansas in 1855, he became convinced that war was imminent; he 
studied cavalry tactics in the winter of ISOO, and in the following 
spring began to raise a cavalr}' company. He took several horses from 
his own farm, giving one to a hired man as an inducement for him 
to enlist. Mr. Bartlett enlisted in June 1861 ; was sworn into service 
August 7, and received a ca])tain's commission in Co. C, 7th 111. Cav. 
The company, when mustered, numbered about ninety-eight, about 
twenty-five or thirty of whom were from Sublette; the rest chiefly 
from Mendota, Amboy, and Lee Center. They went first into Mis- 
souri, thence through Kentucky and Tennessee, early in 1862. In 
September 1862 the 7th cavalry was encamped at Tuscumbia, Ala- 
bama, at which time Co. C was detached as special escort to Gen. 
John M. Palmer, in .which service they continued until January 1864. 
They were in all the hard fighting of the Rosecrans' campaign, the 
battle of Stone River being their first general engagement. They did 
gallant service at Missionary Ridge, and were in much skirmishing, 
especially at and near Nashville. Capt. Bartlett was six weeks presi- 
dent of a military commission at Memphis. That he was not pro- 
moted during his service was from no lack of merit. He escaped 
promotion more than once through accidental circumstances, over 
which he had no control. To his worth as a true soldier many freely 
testify. He was married January 4, 1849, to Caroline Whitney, born 
in Warren county, Ohio (her father was from Maine, her mother, 
Ohio). Of their eight children four are living, the others having died 
young: Silas Wilton, born March 1853; Eugene P., born March 1858; 
Howard, born November 1865 ; Cora May, born March 1869. Wil- 
ton, was admitted to the bar in May 1881. Eugene is a master pen- 
man. Both have attended school at Normal, Illinois, a considerable 
time. Mr. Bartlett has been a stirring, industrious man and has seen 
mnch of the world. He has traveled widely in the purchase and sale of 
horses, having gone to Boston and Providence several times, for the 
latter purpose. In an early day he was elected constable, and was a 
deputy under sheriff Campbell at the time of the famous "banditti" 
prosecutions. He is a Mason and a staunch republican. Mr. Bartlett 
has always been a generous, public spirited man, identifying himself 
with every progressive movement. But for lack of space many an 
interesting anecdote might be related illustrative of his enterprise in 
civil life and his willingness to assume responsibility during his mili- 
tary careei-. 

EnwAKu Fkssexdex, farmer, Sublette, was born April 4, 1839, in 
Lee county. The Fessendens were among the very early settlers of 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 269 

the Massachusetts colony. His father, Thomas Fessenden, was born in 
Fitzburg, Jfew Hampsliire, February 1, 1805, and was raised a farmer, 
being the son of William and Rebecca Fessenden, whose family con- 
sisted of three sons and four daughters. One of the latter, Mrs. Joel 
Jewett, settled with her husband on Sec. 18, a few years after Thomas 
and his family settled in Sublette. Mr. and Mrs. Jewett are both dead. 
In 1830 or 1831 Thomas Fessenden married Sarah Pearsons,born June 
13, 1804. With his brother-in-law, Addison G. Bragg, he came west in 
1834, passing through Chicago, Peru, Illinois, and down the Illinois 
river to St. Louis, returning in the fall of the same year. In 1837 with 
his wife, three children, and his brotiier William, he came west again, 
directly to Lee county. They lived three months on the Blunt place, 
in Amboy township; thence to Sublette, where they settled, William 
on Sec. 7, where John H. Long lives, and lived there till about 1852, 
when he sold to J. B. Wyinan. Thomas settled on Sec. 8, and lived 
there till 1869. Selling out to his sons, he went to Missouri for his 
health, and thence after three years to Santa Barbara, California, where 
he now resides. Of the family of Thomas Fessenden but four of eleven 
are now livinsr. Three died in infancv. The names of the others are 
Frederick A., born December 2<J, 1830 (died at the homestead Decem- 
ber 7, 1862); George F., January 24, 1833; Frances J., December 1, 
1835 (deceased November 16, 1867); Edward, April 4, 1839; Austin, 
October 7, 1842 (died June 22, 1862); Emeline and Caroline,twin sisters, 
May 24, 1844 (Emeline died February 5, 1866) ; Warren G., Decem- 
ber 14, 1846. George is living witli his wife and two daughters in 
Kansas, whence he went from Lee county in 1878. Caroline (Mrs. 
Benj. Dexter) is living in Santa Barbara, California. All of the boys, 
except the youngest, served tiieir country in the late rebellion. War- 
ren entered the 104th 111. Vols., in tiie one-hundred-days service. 
Edward and George enlisted in Co. E,75th 111., September 1862. George 
was with this company until he was mustered out, June 12, 1865. He was 
in the fighting at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, with Sher- 
man through Georgia to the sea, and around to Richmond. Edward 
was transfered to the Veteran Reserve Corps, July 1863. Was at El- 
mira and Buffalo, New York, and afterward, except two months, was 
at Camp Douglas, Chicago, until he was mustered out, July 1865. Tlie 
subject of this article was married February, 1862, to Harriet E. Dex- 
ter, youngest daughter of John Dexter, the first settler in Amboy 
township. Their family consists of three ciiildren living : Thomas E., 
born September 1862 (deceased January 1863); Francis D., born 
August 1867; James H., born January 1871; Stella, born July 1873. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fessenden are members of the Congregational cliurch. 
Mr. Fessenden sold iiis farm, the old homestead, in the spring of 1881, 



270 HISTORY OF LKE COUNTY. 

and is going to California to reside. He is the last of the famih' in 
Sublette, and like all the rest is a republican. He will be greatly 
missed by his nei<ihbors and friends, who have long known him as an 
upright and conscientious man. 

Waeeen Clarke, carpenter, Sublette, was born in Medfield, Nor- 
folk county, Massachusetts, February 22, 182.5. His lather, Jacob Clarke, 
was born in 17t'2 and died in 1865; he was of Scotch ancestry. His 
mother, Cyntha Ann Morse, born in 1795, is still living. His father was 
a fifcr in the war of 1812 ; he was a first cousin of the celebrated Lowell 
Mason, of Boston, to whose singing-school Warren went when a j'outh. 
Warren Clarke learned the carf/cnter's trade when eighteen years of 
age, having previously worked at shoemaking, his father's trade. He 
came west in 185i to Mendota, Illinois; worked live years in a foun- 
dry there, and, except two years in the insurance business, he has since 
followed carpentering in Mendota and Sublette, having moved to the 
village of Sublette in 1877. While in Mendota he did many first- 
class jobs, building the west side school-house, besides many of the 
finest stores and dwellings. He has been a Mason since 1862, and be- 
longs to the oi'der of I.O.O.F. He has always been a republican. 
Mr. Clarke has been twice mari'ied : first, 18-11>, in Vermont, to Julia- 
etta L. Aldrich, by whom he had two children : a son, born February 
1852 (deceased 1854), and a daughter, January 1857 (now Mrs. Allen, 
Mendota, Illinois). In 1876 he married his second wife, Melphia 
Stearns, of Sublette, his first having died in 1873. The fruits of this 
second marriage arc two daughters: Mary, born June 15, 1877, and 
Lina Stearns, December 1878. 

John D. Touutillott, farmer, Sublette, was born June 26, 1827, 
in the town of Howland, Penobscot county, Maine. His father, 
Thomas Tourtillott, born in Orino, Maine, April 1786, was of French 
descent. His mother, Hannah Douglass, was born in Hancock coun- 
ty, Maine, April 1797, and was of Scotch ancestry. His grandfather 
was a " Ilevolutioner." His parents were married in Howland, Maine, 
September 20, 1826. This was the second marriage of Thomas Tour- 
tillott, Charlotte Inman, by whom he had eight children, being his 
first wife. By his second wife he had seven children, of whom John 
is the eldest. In 1839 the Tourtillotts came west in two wagons 
drawn by three liorses. There were fourteen in the company, and the 
journej' occupied seventy days. They stopped at La Moille, Bureau 
county, and in the following year, 18i0, came to Sublette and settled 
on Sec. 31. Here the senior Tourtillotts lived till 1808, when they 
ceased housekeeping and went to live among their children. Hannah 
Tourtillott died March 19, 1878, at the residence of her son-in-law, 
Joseph Hodges, two miles north of Sublette. She had reached the 



SUBLETTE TOWNSHIP. 271 

ripe age of nearly eiglitj-one years ; she had seen her family grow up 
and settle, some near her and others in Kansas, Iowa, California and 
elsewhere. She survived only one of her children, a son who died 
October, 1876. She was a devoted christian mother, having experi- 
enced religion at the age of seventeen. "She possessed an extraor- 
dinary self-sacrificing and sympathetic spirit for her family." In the 
following year, December 8, 1879, she was followed by her aged 
companion, who, in the ninety-fourth year of his life, went to meet her 
in the " better land." When twenty-three years of age he united with 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and " lived for many years an active 
and zealous member, enforcing both by word and example the holy re- 
ligion he professed." John Tourtillott, the only one of his family left 
in Lee county, received a common school education, and was married 
October 5, 1856, to Mary Jane Dexter (deceased October 1878). Four 
children are the fruits of their wedded life: John Fremont, born 
July 1857 (deceased October 1858) ; Thomas A., September 1858 ; 
Ella Mary, July 1862; and a deceased infant, born October 18G4. He 
went with his family to California in 1869, with some view of remain- 
ing there, but returned in 1871. He is now living on the homestead 
on Sec. 31. In politics he was an old-time whig, but he has been a 
republican since the organization of that party. He and his family 
are members of the Congregational church. 

Newton Stanaed, farmer, Sublette, was born in Madison county, 
New York, November 1819. His father, Libeous Stanard, born in 
Vermont, was a fanner. His mother, Luceba Fay, was born in Con- 
necticut. They had a family of twelve, ten of whom are living. The 
father was in the war of 1812, and was at Sacket's Harbor some time 
in the fall of 181:0. Libeous Stanard came west with his family in two 
covered wagons to Perkins' Grove, Bureau county, to which Newton 
and his brother had come the year before. The family were six weeks 
on their way. They bought 160 acres of land, timber and prairie, 
from the widow of J. Kendall, some of which they afterward entered. 
In 1842 the mother and one son died with typhoid fever. The father 
survived till October 1859. Newton Stanard was married in Novem- 
ber 1844, to Emily Reniff, who was born in New York state in 1823. 
Her parents, when she was an infant, moved back to Massachusetts, 
whence they came west. In the spring of 1847 Mr. Stanard bought 
from John Dement the S.E. I of Sec. 19, Sublette, and settled there. 
He hauled lumber from Chicago and built a house 24x30, with an 
addition 16x16. This was then one of the best in that vicinity, and 
is still in good condition. His family are : Charles, born February 
1846; Ora, December 1852; Irvin, February 1857; Laura E., Sep- 
tember 1859 ; Adella, May 1861. They have all enjoyed good edu- 



272 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

cational advantages, Ora being a graduate from the college at Xaper- 
ville, Illinois. Charles enlisted, October 1864:, in the 75th 111., Co. E, 
and was mustered out October 1.5, 1865. He was in the Hood campaign 
in Tennessee, and saw his tirst fighting at Xashville. During the lat- 
ter part of his service he was in Texas. He is married and living in 
Sublette; has two children. All but one of the family ot Newton 
Stanard belong to the Baptist church. Of the first family mentioned, 
three own property in Bureau county, two of whom are living there. 
The rest are widely scattered. 

Seth F. Baied, farmer, Sublette, was born September 1846 ; son of 
Daniel and Charlotte (Field) Baird, early settlers in Sublette town- 
ship. He received a common schooling and took a commercial course at 
Aurora, Illinois ; was married June 12, ISTO, to Amanda S. Thompson, 
of Lee county, who had come from West Virginia with iier people the 
previous year. She died July 27, 1873, leaving two children : Carrie 
A. and Robert Daniel (deceased infant). Mr. Baird was again mar- 
ried, February 4, 1875, to Martha A. Rees, of Indiana. She has given 
birth to one child : William M., born May 1876. The family are now 
living on the old liomestead on Sec. 19. They are Methodists. 

Chas. D. Hubbard, painter, Sublette, was born in Lee county, May 
4, 1846, and is the youngest son of Royal Prescott Hubbard, who was 
born in Sunderland, Mass., September 1805. The mother of the lat- 
ter, Lavinia Prescott, was one of a family of Prescotts noted in Ameri- 
can history, and who trace their lineage to a certain James Prescott, 
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, of England. Moses Hubbard was 
the father of Royal P. Hubbard, who is the eldest of a family of thir- 
teen, only four of whom are living. In 1827 he sailed from New 
York in company with forty-one young men from Connecticut and 
Massachu.setts, and settled in Macon, Georgia, where he engaged in 
mercantile business till 1835, wiien he had to tleefor his life, iiavingtoo 
freely expressed his sentiments in regard to the atrocities of slavery. 
This was the first abolition excitement tliere, and the mob surrounded 
the home of our subject a few minutes after he left it and fied to 
Charleston and out of the South, of course losing all his property 
there. In 1838 he came to Princeton, Illinois, and in 1844 to Sublette, 
settling on Sec. 17. In 1842 he married Mary (^Boring) Berkeley, a 
widow with four children, by whom he had four more, all of whom 
are living. Their mother died May 13, 1S81. When the rebellion 
broke out Mr. Hubbard, having seen all the horrors of slavery, told 
his sons to " pitch in and clean them out." All of them, four in num- 
ber, went into the service, and the father also offered his life, but was 
rejected because of physical disability. Chas. Hubbard enlisted in the 
75th 111., Co. E, Captain Frost; was in the battle of Perry ville. In 



SUBLKTTE TOWNSHIP. 273 

this engagement Co. E lost eleven killed, twenty-six wounded and two 
prisoners. He was in the fighting at Stone river, and under Hooker 
at Lookout Mountain ; was at Crawfish Springs as a flank in the battle 
of Chiekamauga ; was at Missionary Ridge, and with Sherman to a 
little below Atlanta. Came back with Thomas to Tennessee, and was 
in the fighting at Nashville and Franklin. He was mustered out June 
12, 1865, without a wound, and having won the reputation of being a 
splendid soldier, being especially noted for his intrepidity and love for 
foraging. He was married August 26, 1871, to Lida K. Anderson, of 
Dixon. Their issue are: Louis P., March 1873; Mary G., August 
1875; John, June 1878. Mr. Hubbard is living near the village of 
Sublette. 

James Black, farmer, Sublette, was born January 1823, in the 
province of Leinster, Ireland. His parents, John and Charlotte (Pilk- 
ington) Black, had a family of seven children, and James Black was 
educated for the ministry of the English Episcopal church at Trinity 
College, Dublin, leaving that institution when he was about to take the 
degree of A.B. About lSi3 his father sold his property in Ireland to 
go to Australia, but in consequence of a wreck off Cape Good Hope he 
returned to his native land with his family and three or four thousand 
pounds, the remnant of his property. Remaining a few years in Ireland, 
he came to America with all his family except the eldest son, and 
settled in New Jersey, where he and his wife both died, and where 
their youngest daughter is now living. James Black was married, 
1850, in New Jersey, to Sarah Wynne, by whom he has had ten children, 
eight of whom are living : "William, born January 1853, Lottie (now 
Mrs. Levi Mead, Astoria county, Iowa), Susan, John, Jane (deceased, 
aged eleven years), Sarah, James, Hattie, George (deceased, infant), 
Edith. Mr. Black came to Lee Center township about 1853, and in 
1860 to Sec. 1, Sublette, he and his brother buying 182 acres in the 
N.W. i of same. Here he has since lived. The family are members 
of the Congregational church. 

C. M. MiLLEE, butter and cheese maker, Sublette, was born in the 
Rhine province, Prussia, November 28, 1854. He was the eldest child 
of K. and Anne (Michels) Miller, who with their family came to Win- 
field, Du Puge county, Illinois, in 1864. The subject of this notice 
received a common education in the English and German schools. Mr. 
Miller has been thoroughly schooled in the cheese and butter business, 
having been employed by several of the best manufacturers in the 
famous Fox river region. In 1873 he began in La Fox, Kane county, 
under Potter & Baker, and afterward in the same vicinity for H. L. 
Ford. He was subsequently employed by Martin Switzer at St. 
Charles, same county, making the first cheese in his factory there, and 



274 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

also in Batavia by H. A. Bogardns, wholesale dealer in butter and 
ciieese, Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Miller began to manufacture for himself 
in Cook county, Palatine Grove, thence to Sublette in the spring of 
of 1881, buying the factory built by George Pulling. This establish- 
ment when completed will have cost about SSi^OO. A boiler and 
engine have been put in and a milk pool is contemplated. Mr. Miller 
is making both butter and cheese, shipping chiefly to Chicago. He is 
governed in his sales by Elgin prices, and his business is steadily 
increasing and promises soon to be a leading industry. 

OuvEE A. Wooi>, farmer, Sublette, was born in Bolton, Massachu- 
setts, June 1833, son of Amariah and Rachel (Atherton) Wood, born 
May, 1S07, and February, 1811, respectively. Both of his parents are 
of English descent, his mother having descended from one of four 
brothers named Atherton who came to Massachusetts at an early period. 
Oliver "Wood is the oldest and the only snrvivoi; in a family of four 
sons and three daughters. The latter all died young in the east ; one 
son died an infant. The rest of the family, Oliver, George and Frank, 
received a good education lor the times. In 1851 the familv came to 
Sublette and settled on Sec. 30, where Oliver and his faniih* are 
living with his parents. George was killed at Chickasaw Bayou, near 
Vicksburg, December 18('i3. Frank died in the hospital at Nashville, 
January 1864. Oliver Wood enlisted in the 75th III., Co. E, in 
August 1862. He was seriously wounded in the battle of Perryville, 
and was mustered out January 8, 1863, having been confined in hospital 
from October, 1862, till January, 1863, at Perryville and Louisville, 
Kentucky, and New Albany', Indiana. His wound was a serious one, 
the ball passing entirely through his abdomen, and from its effects he 
has suffered more or less ever since. Mr. Wood married, August 18o3, 
Climena Hubbard, daughter of Royal Prescott Hubbard. Their sons, 
George Frank, born October 1865, and Leon A., October 1869, con- 
stitute their family, having lost their two daughters in infancy. Mr. 
Wood is a Mason aTrd"'aTi'"0dd-Fellow, and with his family belongs to 
the Congregational church. He owns the homestead of 120 acres. 

John C. Spielmann, farmer, Mendota, was born in Hesse Darm- 
stadt, Germany, March 9, 1830. His parents are John and Mary 
(Sinner) Spielmann, and he is the only survivor of their four children. 
In 1847 he came via New York directly to Lee county with his father 
and mother, who are now living with him. They settled on Sec. 34, 
buying a claim of 30 acres from a Mr. Kenney. They now own a 
valuable farm in Sees. 34 and 35, and in Bureau county opposite. In 
1871 they built a fine residence on Sec. 35, on the Chicago road. In 
1858 Mr. Spielmann married Julia Naumann ; they have no children, 
but they have reared two adopted ones: Julia Kinnenberger, who was 



SUBLE'lTE TOWNSHIP. 275 

married in 1879, to Julius Alber, now living in Iowa; and George 
Higgins, aged fifteen years. John Spielmann, jr., is a self-made man, 
having received the most of his education in the German tongue. 
From 1854 until 1869 he was a circuit preacher in the church of the 
E.A.U.A., but quit these duties on account of bodily iniirmities. He 
has preached in Cook, La Salle, Tazewell, Peoria, Kankakee and other 
counties in this vicinity. He is a man of unimpeachable character, 
and is better known in Bureau than in Lee county. 

Jacob Richert, farmer, Mendota, was born in Alsace, Germany, 
November 1835 ; son of Jolm and Anna C. (Staub) Richert, and is 
the fifth in a family of four boys and three girls. In 1854 he came to 
New Orleans with Peter Richert, his eldest brother, thence to Lee 
count}- in the fall of 1854, stopping in Indiana during the summer. 
Jacob worked around for several years, and in the spring of 1861 
bought 80 acres in Sec. 36 from John Fry, jr., at $21 per acre. In 
the same year he enlisted in Co. B, 62d III. Inf. This regiment was 
mustered at Geneva, Illinois, and departed late in the fall of 1861 for 
St. Louis, thence to St. Joseph, where they staid about two months. 
From here they were sent to Tennessee, by the way of Quincy and 
Cairo, Illinois, crossing the Mississippi at Quincy on the ice. The 
regiment came up at Fort Donelson just as the rebels surrendered, 
and were iinder Grant at Shiloh, losing there 260 of their number 
in killed and wounded. Previously Mr. Richert had been detailed as 
a guard with prisoners to Springfield, Illinois. He was in the battle of 
Corinth, where his regiment staid till they were sent to Pulaski, Ten- 
nessee, in the early winter of 1863. From here Mr. Richert was sent 
home to recruit, remaining home five months and returning with as 
many recruits. He reentered the 52d in the Atlanta campaign in 
June 1864, and was engaged in twenty days, hard fighting and skir- 
mishing. He was mustered out at Rome, Georgia, October llB64, not 
having received a scratch during his faithful service. In December, 
1864, he married Mary Butz, of May township, and seven children 
now gladden their home: Frederick, born December 1865; Mary, 
born February 1868 ; George B., born April 1870 ; Sarah, born Aug- 
ust 1873 ; Clara, born September 1875 ; Emma, born January 1878 ; 
Simon, born September 1880. Mr. Richert now owns the S.E. J Sec. 
36, having bought the west half of the same from Michael Bitner at 
$45 per acre. There are good buildings on the place, and its owner is 
now enabled to enjoy the fruit of his toil. He and his family are mem- 
bers of the Evangelical church. Mr. Richert is a republican. His 
father has been to Illinois three times,. once remaining four years, and 
returned to his native land for the last time in 1876, and died in 



276 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Baden while on the way. For many years he had lived among his 
children, and had a strong attachment for the sea. 

Christian Biestek, farmer, Sublette, was born in German}', Han- 
over county, December 1831. His parents, Fred and Caroline (Weber) 
Biester, had a family of three boys'Hiid one girl. His father was seven 
years in the German army. Our subject came to America in 1855, 
via Baltimore to Chicago, where he stopped two years ; tlience to Lee 
county, Illinois. Here he worked out for several years as a farm- 
hand. In 1867 he bought eighty acres in Sec. 8. He has been in- 
dustrious and careful, and now has the deeds for 236 acres of valuable 
land, upon which he erected a fine dwelling in 1873. He went back 
to Germany in the fall of 1861, and was there married, March 1862, to 
Dora Miller, whom he had known in childhood. They arrived in 
Chicago in March 1862. Their family are: Louis, born January 1863; 
Henry, November 1865; Ernest, ]Sovember 1867 ; Dora, December 
1869; Mary, June 1871; Anna, May 1873; August, December 1874. 
The family belonged to the Lutheran church. Mr. Biester is the only 
one of his family that came to America. Mrs. Biester's mother came to 
America in 1868. The latter has a son in Dakota, a daughter in Min- 
nesota, and three daughters, all married, living in Lee county. 

John H. Schwoiib, fanner, Sublette, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, 
Germany, Maj' 1, 1813. He was six years in the German army. In 
1847 he came to America with his family of a wife and five children. 
He settled on Sec. 34 in the town of Sublette, and now owns a farm of 
170 acres there. He first bought thirty acres on which was a log 
house, on the north side of the " Chicago road," on land now owned 
by Conrad Speilman. When twenty-five years of age he married 
Margaret Kiilil. Their children are: George, Conrad (enlisted in 
Co. B, 52d 111. Yols., and was killed at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia) ; 
Philip, Mary, Henry, Katherine, Eva and Margaret. George, Henry, 
Mary (^Mrs. Keichart) and Margaret (Mrs. Boeler) are living in Clay 
county, Kansas, and Katherine (Mrs. Thomas Boettcher) in Mendota. 
Eva (Mrs. Baoer) is now living with her husband on the homestead. 
Sehwoub belongs to the Evangelical church, and his life shows that he 
is a true disciple of Ciirist. In politics he was an old-time democrat; 
but voted for Fremont and Lincoln, and has since been a republican. 

Fkkderick Oberheljian, grain-buyer, Sublette, was born in War- 
ren county, Missouri, in 1844. His father, Frederick, and his mother, 
Christine (Knoepker), came to Missouri, the former in 1833, the latter 
in 1838. Frederick was the eldest in a family of eleven children. 
His father was a farmer and he was reared to the same business. His 
grandfather was a German soldier, and was in the battles of Leipsic, 
Waterloo, and others. Mr. Oberhelman was sent to school but little, 




% 






SUBLEITE TOWNSHIP. 277 

in all not more than twelve months, and never to an English school. 
During the war of the rebellion he was five years in the Missouri 
State Militia and Home Guards. In 1866 he married Mary E. Betz, 
daughter of John Betz, an early settler in Sublette. None of their 
children have lived ; they have one adopted daughter. Mr. Oberhel- 
man began farming in 1867 on Sec. 22, and continued in the same till 
1871, when he went into the business of buying and shipping grain in 
the village of Sublette. In 1874 he built an elevator, which with his 
engine cost him $5,000. He also deals in coal and lumber, and till re- 
cently dealt in live-stock. His business is prosperous, he having paid 
out as much as $100,000 in one year. He and his wife belong to the 
Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics he is non-partisan. 

Elijah Austin, farmer, Sublette, was born in upper Canada, 
January 1820. His father, Norman Austin, and his mother, Sarah 
Landers, were natives of Connecticut. His ancestors were " Revolu- 
tioners," and his father served in the war of 1812. In the fall of 1837 
Elijah Austin went to Sandusky, Ohio, thence with wagon to the 
present site of Galesburg, Illinois, passing through Aurora and Mon- 
mouth, then only the germs of towns ; lived in Knox county till 1840, 
when he went back east. Returning to Knox county', he lived there 
till 1846, thence to Princeton. In 1849 he made a claim on Sees. 
17 and 18, of 152 acres. In 1859 he bought from Henry Hannon 80 
acres formerly owned by Daniel Baird, who lived on the old La Salle 
and Grand De Tour road, where Mr. Austin now resides. The latter 
owns a large farm in Sees. 17, 18, 19, and a few acres in Sec. 20, 
besides a hundred acres in Sec. 30. In 1843 Mr. Austin married 
Sarah Burton, of Hancock county, Illinois. They have a family of 
seven children living. Abagail, born December 1843 (wife of Nelson 
Van Fleet, Kansas, son of an old settler in Aurora) ; Mary, born 1845 
(Mrs. Joseph Doane, died in 1868) ; Burton, February 1848 (married 
October 1876, has two children and is farming in Sublette); Elizabeth, 
May 1850 ; Melissa, September 1852 ; Jane, March 1855 ; Frances A., 
September 1866; Minnie R., April 1871. The last two are by his 
second wife, Catherine Austin, to whom he was married September 
1863. Elizabeth (Mrs. Blair) is living in Brooklyn township. In 
politics Mr. Austin is an ex-republican greenbacker, formerly a free- 
soiler. He is a Mason, a genial neighbor and a kind father. 

Silas D. Reniff, farmer, Sublette, born 1816, in Tioga county. New 
York, is the son of Ephraim and Betsey (Wesson) Reniff, both born in 
Massachusetts. His grandfather on the father's side was a Scotchman. 
Ephraim Reniff was a fanner and had a family of eight children. In 
1843 he came west, and settled on section 19, where Seth Baird lives. 
The following year Silas Reniff came out and claimed a half-section of 
17 



278 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

land, one half of which he afterward entered. Tiiis was a 160 in 
Sec. 20, where he now lives. He owns 2-iO acres of well improved 
land, upon which tliere are good buildings. In 1849 Mr. Eenifi' was 
married to Laura Angier, only sister of Thomas Angier. Their issue 
is a son, Ernest, born September 1855 ; he married Mary Chamberlain, 
May 1876, by whom he has two boys, Ernest and Laurie, born No- 
vember, 1877, and June, 1880, respectively. Mr. Reniff has been a 
very energetic business man, and is now active for one of his age. 
For many years he has been a general stock dealer and he is now 
shipping to Chicago. For twenty-seven years he has assessed the town 
of Sublette, and has been twent}' years school trustee. Before coming 
west he was eight years a teamster to Boston, driving an eight-horse 
team about a hundred miles to and from that city. Then and for many 
years after he was an athletic and daring man, and one with whom it 
was not safe to trifle. He is a staunch republican and a perfectly 
reliable man. His father died about 1855 and his mother a few years 
later. 

Thomas S. Angier, farmer and magistrate, Sublette, was born 
1822, in Fitzwilliam, Cheshire county, New Hampshire ; he is the son 
of Abel and Laura (Holmes) Angier, born 1797 and 1801 respectively. 
His grandparents were born in New England, and his great-grand- 
father Amidon was in the revolution. His mother died when he was 
eight years old, and his father seven years later. Thomas, the only 
son in a family of two children, received a common school education ; 
was married in 1838, to Fannie, daughter of Benjamin B. and Grata 
(Whitney) Morse, who was born in New Ham])shire in 1821. Her 
ancestors, Whitney and Morse were " Revolutioners," and the latter 
was in the war of 1812. Mr. Angier, with his wife and one child, 
came west to LaMoille, Bureau county, Illinois, in 1840; thence to 
Sublette, Lee county, tiie following spring, settling on the N.E. i of 
Sec. 31, having bought it the year before. Of a family^ of ten children 
only three survive. In the summer of 1861 his eldest sons, Abel, 
born in 1838, and Leander in 1841, enlisted in Co. D, 46th 111. Vols. 
In the winter of 1861-2, before their regiment went south, both were 
taken sick with diphtheria. Though two others of the family died at 
this time, they recovered, and were witli Co. D till the fall of 1862, 
when both were in the hospital at Memphis; there Leander died in 
September. Abel did not again enter the service, and died of con- 
sumption in 1873. Ambrose, third in the family, is married and living 
on the homestead. In 1874 Mr. Angier moved to the village of Sub- 
lette, where he has since lived. He is a man in whom the people have 
entire confidence, having held some office ever since the organization 
of the township. In 1851 he was elected justice of the peace, in 



AM BOY TOWNSHIP. 279 

whicli capacity he has acted ever since. He lias been eighteen years 
supervisor of Sublette township, and much of that time was chairman 
of the board of supervisors. Besides these he has held other offices ; 
he is consequently well acquainted with the development of this town- 
ship, and to him the writer is indebted for much valuable information. 
Mr. Angier is a republican and a Mason, and may be very appropri- 
ately styled " the oracle of Sublette." 

Philip Fauble, farmer, Sublette, was born in Lee county in April 
1851. His father, John Fauble, was an early settler in Sublette and 
acquired a large property. His mother is one of the largest tax-payers 
in the county. In October, 1877, Philip Fauble married Barbara 
Pope, of Bureau county. Their family : George L., born June 1879, 
and Katie, December 1880. He has a farm of 200 acres in Sec. 32. 
This is known as the William Tourtillott farm. In 1880 Mr. Fauble 
built a fine barn at a cost of about $1,400. He has a good house and 
a large orchard. His wnfe owns a quarter-section in Brooklyn town- 
ship. They are members of the Evangelical church. Our subject 
received a common school education ; he is a strong republican and 
a man of pleasing address. 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 

SETTLEMENT. 
A Frenchman named Filamalee is said to have been the first white 
settler in Palestine Grove and in the present limits of Amboy town- 
ship. Some of the earlier settlers remember his shanty about a mile 
south of Rocky Ford, and have not forgotten the mortar made in a 
burr-oak stump in which he pounded his corn for bread, and which re- 
mained for a long time as a relic to mark the first pioneer settlement. 
He belonged to that unsettled class who were never content to live in 
any region except where savage dominion was weakening to dissolu- 
tion, and civilized footsteps chased hard upon the departing race. He 
could not bear the sight of regular occupation and improvement, and 
as soon as the tide of immigration set in he moved farther away into 
the mediate solitude between the red and the white man. In his 
eulogy upon Daniel Boone the poet Byron spoke not less truly of all 
his congeners when he said, 

" ' Tis true, he shrank from men even of his nation, 

When they built up unto his darling trees; 

He mov'd some hundred miles off, for a station, 

Where there were fewer houses and more ease. 

The inconvenience of civilization 

Is, that you neither can be pleased, nor please. 

But where he met the individual man, 

He showed himself as kind as mortal can." 



280 IIISTOHY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Tlie first permanent settler was John Dexter, wlio emigrated from 
Canada in the spring of 1835, and made a claim on the north side of 
Palestine Grove, and on the N.W. ^ Sec. 13. Here he built a cabin 
about twelve feet square, and then went on as fast as he could to add 
other improvements to his home; in the meantime looking anxiously 
but waiting patiently for others to come into the neighborhood. It 
must not be thought that he was a solitary inhabitant ; on the contrary, 
he had near neighbors east of him at Inlet Grove. But the spring of 
1836 brought the second settler, and Dexter, it may be supposed, 
began to feel that this could not much longer be regarded as the 
frontier. The new arrival was James Doan and his young wife, now 
Mrs. O. J. Fish, of China township. He made his claim south of the 
Inlet, on the place now better known as the Joseph Lewis farm, from 
having been owned by the latter from 1845 till a recent date. He 
was from Berrien count}', Michigan, but had been raised in Indiana. 
His father, John Doan, was a North Carolinian. The latter and his 
daughter Jemima came with his son, the trip being made by the 
family in a Pennsylvania wagon drawn by three yoke of oxen. James 
Doan had visited this place in October 1835, and selected his own as 
well as a claim for his father and another for his brother Joseph. 
After a patch of sod corn had been planted John Doan and his 
daughter returned to Michigan, and in the following autumn the 
whole family came to their new home. Until their arrival the days 
passed wearily, and the season was one crowded with painful discon- 
tent to Mrs. Doan, and for long weeks at a time she saw no other 
white person than her own husband. The Indian-trail from Council 
Bluffs to Chicago lay only a little way off to the south of their cabin, 
and the camping ground of these roving bands was on the Blunt 
farm. Large bodies of them often stopped there ; and the Shabbona 
Indians came nearly as often into the neighborhood to hunt. 

Andrew Baintek, brother-in-law to James Doan, arrived in the 
spring of 1837, and took the claim where Seneca Strickland lives, on 
the Sublette road. His second house, a frame dwelling, was the one 
which has been improved and is now occupied by Benjamin Tread- 
well. The next and most important addition to the infant community 
was Asa B. Scarles, who arrived in October 1837, with a horse-team, 
from New York, and was accompanied from Peoria by Benjamin 
Wasson, another New Yorker, who had been here the year before and 
taken a claim on Sees. 14 and 15. Mr. Searles located the S. ^ Sec. 14, 
on which, several years later, he laid out the village of Binghamton. 
Nathan Meek was living in the vicinity of Rocky Ford as early as 
1837. His name will recall to the old settlers many suspicious cir- 
cumstances and an unsavory reputation, all suggesting the operations 



A.MBOY TOWNSHIP. 281 

of the banditti. His " corn-cracker," situated three miles down the 
stream, was the first mill for grinding in Lee county. He sometimes 
attempted to make flour, but it was always of execrable quality. 

On Mr. Searle's first arrival he found a saw-mill in operation at 
Rocky Ford, owned by Timothy Perkins and Horace Bowen, and 
when he finally came with his family, on Christmas eve in the same 
year, it had become the property of a man named Lee. Ho kept it 
awhile and sold out to Mason ; the latter died, and it passed into 
the hands of John Van Norman, from whom it was purchased in 1848 
by F. R. Duteher. A log-dam spanned the stream, and the mill was 
run by a "flutter" wheel. One Mitchell was millwright. 

James Blair and his sons "William, Winthrop, and Edwin were 
pioneers of 1837. The latter has the old homestead on Sec. 29. The 
same year John S. Sawyer and four sons erected a cabin south of the 
Illinois Central shops. Sawyer sold a part of his claim to Joseph 
Farwell in 1841, and the rest to Joseph Appleton. 

Alexander Janes also became a resident, but the next year sold his 
claim to Chester S. Badger and moved to Bureau county, where he 
acquired wealth and an honorable reputation. Mr. Badger was from 
Broome county. New York, and came to Illinois and worked at mill- 
wrighting during the season of 1837, and returned home in the fall ; 
the following year he and his son Simon settled in this township, and 
in 1839 Warren, another son, arrived, bringing the mother and her 
two daughters Sarah and Roena. In the autumn Warren returned to 
his native home, remaining there until 1842, when he came west ao-ain 
and resided in Amboy township until his death in 1861. Chester 
Badger, a younger son, drove through from New York alone with a 
two-horse team in 1840, and has been a resident here since. The 
Badgers located their homesteads about a mile and a half east of 
Amboy. Henrj' Badger came in 1849, and has always lived in Bing- 
hamton. The senior Badger brought hardwood lumber from Frank- 
lin Grove and built the first frame house in the settlement. A party 
consisting of John C. Church, Curtis Bridgman and his sons Curtis 
and Urial, and Wm. Hunt, the three last unmarried men, arrived in 
midsummer of 1838. The senior Bridgman returned to Steuben 
county. New York, in the following autumn and brought the remainder 
of the family. Mr. Church selected a claim one mile south of Amboy, 
but in 1841 sold to Jacob Doan, wlio immigrated from Ohio that year, 
and secured another where he is now living, adjoining the northern 
limits of the city. Wm. Church settled here a little later the same 
season that his brother did ; he lived in this vicinity until twenty years 
ago, when he removed to Iowa. The year 1838 must be credited with 
another valuable citizen in the person of Martin Wright, from the 



282 HISTORY OF LEE COUXTY. 

Bay State, who lived in the remote northeast corner of the townsliip. 
He was a large-hearted, liberal-minded, just man, and enjoyed in the 
highest degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He 
served them as assessor, and many years as road commissioner, and 
died about a year ago. His widow survives. Harvey A.xtell settled 
in the southwest corner of the township; Frederick Baldwin on Sec. 
10, wiiere James Luce lives; and Ransom Barnes opened the Isaac 
Gage farm. The two latter were from the Empire State, and the 
three belong to 1838. 

Frederick Bainter came into the Doan neighborhood in the same 
season. John Fosdick settled at Lee Center a year earlier, and worked 
at his trade of blacksmithing, assisted by James Doan, another crafts- 
man, until tlie next s])ring, when the shop was moved to Doan's. This 
was the first smithy in Ambo}' township. After a residence liere of 
three years, Fosdick went back to Lee Center. Doan and Frederick 
Bainter afterward carried on blacksmithing sometime together; the 
former invented and the two manufactured the first scouring plow ever 
used in these parts, but for some reason Doan's efforts failed to secure 
a patent. He visited Washington for that purpose as early as 18il or 
1842 ; si.x or seven years later he sold his interest to his partner, and 
in 1849 went to California, where in 1853 he was murdered. To the 
pioneers the mention of this scouring plow will bring back the recol- 
lection of the hardships and inferiority of farming in those days, when 
the wooden moldboard plow and the wooden tooth harrow wore the 
standard implements for preparing the ground for seed. The harvest 
was gathered with the hand sickle, a diminutive instrument which very 
few of to-day could recognize, and the cradle, a great improvement on 
the back-breaking sickle, which is now hardly more to be seen. Then 
the grain was spread upon the ground in a circle and tramped out 
with horses or oxen ; the winnowing was done in the wind, which, 
thanks to the open prairie, was seldom too low to be available at any 
moment ; and next followed the really romantic part of the season's 
work — hauling to Chicago, a hundred miles, the grain which brought 
but thirty or forty cents per bushel. Pork commanded from §1.25 to 
$2 per hundred. It will not escape attention that the virgin soil when 
once subdued, a task to accomplish which was no light labor with the 
tools then in use, produced good crops with little care. It has been 
said that to " tickle it with a plow it would laugh with a crop," and 
"Chet" Badger affirms that " tickling" was about all it received. It 
must have been so if he could plow five acres a day with an ox team. 
In less reverent sections of the country such treatment of the soil 
would be called " deviling." 

The trip to Chicago consumed eight or ten days, the net results of 



AJIBOY TOWNSHIP. 283 

which were a few sparing comforts, — perhaps a pail, a pound of tea, a 
little coffee and some "factory," a few nails, a barrel of salt, and occa- 
sionally a jag of lumber ; but rarely did one journey suffice to purchase 
so many needful articles. Will the reader suppose that these early 
settlers were chained to a hard lot ? Far from that was their condition. 
Although they were mostly poor and toiled hard, yet their surroundings 
were such as to take the sting from poverty ; for there was no " society " 
with its absurd conventionalities, and they found that labor stimulated 
an appetite devoid of fault, and inclined them always to health and 
refreshing slumber. 

" tall, and strong, and swift of foot were tbey, 

Beyond the dwarfing city's pale abortions j 
Because their thoughts had never been the prey 
Of selfish care or gain ; the wilds were their portions. 
No sinking spirits told them they grew gray. 
No fashion made them apes of her distortions. 

***** 
Motion was in their days, rest in their slumbers; 
And cheerfulness the handmaid of their toil; 
Nor yet too many, nor too few their numbers ; 
Corruption could not make their hearts her soil. 
The lust which stings, the splendor which encumbers, 
With the free pioneers divide no spoil." 

All within a radius of many iniles were neighbors; friendship and 
equality prevailed, and selfishness was as rare in those times as the 
noble qualities we have named are in these. Mutual dependence fos- 
tered a spirit of true sympathy, and every hand was ready and never 
forgot to assist, either in the smaller or the greater offices of kindness. 
No man or woman could excuse himself or herself from neighborly 
acts, nor would they Iiave done so if they could. Such meanness 
would have been equivalent to banishment from the community. 
Neither was hospitality limited to friends, for it would not then have 
been hospitality, but it was extended even to the stranger, whom they 
greeted with thrilling welcome, smiles of joy, goodly cheer, and for 
whom they made a ready place of comfort at their glowing hearth- 
stones and plain, but tidy boards. In the broadest humanitj' they 
asked, "Who is my neighbor*" Not like "a certain lawyer," " will- 
ing to justify himself;" but to answer only as the unhampered soul in 
its natural vigor can, just as the Great Master taught. The desire to 
secure emigrants was very great, and every inducement in the form of 
entertainment, and assistance to find claims, was tendered to those who 
proposed to become actual settlers ; and some went so far as to divide 
their own claims to secure near neighbors. It should be recorded of 
Mr. Searles that he was conspicuous for his efforts in this direction. In 
a i'ew years population became comparatively numerous. Work on 



284 HISTORY OK LEE COUNTY. 

the old Central railroad was an instrument which added not a little to 
the increase. The failure of that mammoth enterprise left some 
laborers too poor to get away, while otiiers were too much pleased 
with the country to depart. 

It would be impossible to give a complete list of the early settlers, 
but some not yet spoken of may be mentioned. 

In 1839 Cyrus Davis and his son Cyrus A., Massachusetts men, 
improved a home on the S.E. J Sec. 15 ; this land is now Wyman's 
addition to Amboy. In 1840 John Hook and his brother William 
and their parents, all from Maine, located tlieir home at Rocky Ford 
in the month of February. Aaron Ilook, another son, had emigrated 
to Bureau county two years before. Reuben Bridgman began an im- 
provement on Sec. 10 in 1840. Joseph Farwell came in 1841 and 
settled on the N.E. ^ Sec. 22. On this tract the original plat of Am- 
boy was located. Jesse Hale arrived in 1841 ; and Samuel Bixby, a 
" Green Mountain Boy," emigrated from Steuben county, New York, 
in 1844, and bought the claim of Joseph Gardner. Lyman Bi.xby 
migrated to these parts the same year. 

Joseph Appleton came to thecountry asearh- as 1841 or 1842; sub- 
sequently he returned to his native state of New Hampsiiire, married, 
and in 1844 brought his family and settled on the E. i of N.W. ^ Sec. 
22. This is now Giison's addition to Amboy. Josiah Davis, brother 
to Cyrus, improved the W. ^ of N.W. ^ Sec. 22 about the same year 
of Appleton's final settlement. 

Frances H. North way removed to this township in 1844 and entered 
the S.E. i Sec. 3. Orres Adams came with his family the same year, 
also David Searles and Alvan H. Thompson. Hiel Lewis reached this 
place from Pennsylvania in 1842, and Miles and Joseph in 1845. 

In 1846 Seth W. Holmes entered the E. i of S.W. i Sec. 9, where 
he has since resided. Elijah and Warren Hill joined the settlement 
in the same year; and Henry C. Shaw came to Binghamton and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of the Doan plow. 

The Hills established themselves on the school section, which, by 
the way, was all sold for sixty cents per acre. 

In 1849 John M. Blocher settled north of Amboy, where the Shaw 
heirs now live. The Blunt farm was opened ver}- early by a man 
named Hawley, who stayed a short time and then removed to another 
neighborhood. 

SQUATTERS' ASSOCIATION. 

Until the fall of 1844, when the first land sales were held at Dixon, 
the inhabitants of Amboy township (the reader will understand that 
for convenience we use names by anticipation) were squatters. The 
country had been surveyed into townships but not into sections; and 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 285 

when the last survey took place a general rectifying of lines occurred ; 
not unfrequently the partition divided a claim in twain, and then 
would follow a trade with a neighboring squatter, one or the other 
perhaps taking up a new location. 

It does not require much penetration to discover that anterior to 
this time, in the absence of all regulations for maintaining themselves in 
their homes, there would not have been wanting vexatious sources of 
disagreement, which would have ended in confusion, if not in some- 
thing worse. As the individual disposition is to infringe private as well 
as public rights, so the spontaneous movement of a communit}' is toward 
the general security by opposing and restraining the smaller with the 
collective force. Nine years elapsed from the first permanent settle- 
ment of the township till the land came into market; during the first 
two years, and until immigration began to assume some importance, 
the danger from trespass or claim-jumping was too small to excite 
notice, but in 1837 the people in this vicinity banded together with 
those having a common center at Inlet Grove, for mutual protection, 
and the settlement of disputes respecting claims. Somewhat later the 
Palestine Grove Association was organized, and held its meetings at 
Sherman Hatch's and Wm. Dolan's. All necessity for it having 
ceased, in 1847 it was discontinued. The people were everywhere 
thus organized into associations, with meeting-places convenient to 
their locality. These were every one independent of the other, but as 
their objects were kindred, each was at all times ready to help enforce 
the authority of a neighboring organization on call. They were known 
as "Grove Associations," and the assemblies were called "grove meet- 
ings." Fi'om a few fragmentary papers, relics of the Inlet Society, for 
whose use we are indebted to the courtes}' of Ira Brewer, Esq., of 
Bradford township, we are able to present a partial yet tolerably clear 
view of the powers assumed, the business transacted, and the manner 
of procedure adopted. The earliest document, the constitixtion, the 
original draft of which is in the handwriting of Joseph Sawyer, bears 
date at " Inlet, Ogle county, Illinois, July 10, 1837," and the sub- 
scribers, sixt3'-six in number, set forth their purposes in the following 
preamble : " The encouragement that congress gave to the pioneers of 
this country stimulated the present inhabitants to sacrifice property 
and ease, and commence a long and fiatiguing journey in order to better 
themselves and their offspring, — not only to encounter the fatigue of 
a long and expensive journey, but also the privations to which they 
were exposed in consequence of the scarcity of the comforts of life, as 
well as the inclemency of the weather in open log cabins. Everything 
considered, we think it no more than right, just, and honorable that 
each man should hold a reasonable claim, and at the land sales obtain 



286 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

his lands at congress price." They express their willingness to be 
governed by rules and regulations based upon equity, and adopt a code, 
a summary of the chief features being that they " voluntarily agree to 
join together in defense of their honest claims as far as prudency and 
honorable principles dictate," and declaring that those which "have 
been established in the Grove shall be considered honest claims and 
defended as such.'' Provision was made for a committee of tive to be 
chosen by the inhabitants to decide " in regard to the honest right and 
title to claims" ; for the rejection of one or more of the committee by 
either contestant, and for the removal of the entire committee for 
cause at the pleasure of the citizens. A clerk kept the " proceedings 
of the Grove," which were to be free for the inspection of all concerned. 
Every rightful claimant was to be respected and defended as though 
he had a warranty deed for his land. The seventh and last article is 
in these words : 

"Any person holding a claim must do $25 worth of work on said 
claim within six months from the 10th of instant month or his claim 
shall be forfeited,. unless sickness or something reasonable prevents." 
On March 16, 1839, a committee to which had been assigned the duty 
of reporting amendments, addressing the "grove," say they "believe 
it to be important that you not only live up to the spirit of the consti- 
tution formed in 1837, but that you amend it, and adapt it to a denser 
pupulation." Already contemplating a dense population, and not yet 
2,000 inhabitants in the whole county ! But then ideas are only com- 
parative. As amended, the constitution further provided for an annual 
meeting on the third Saturday of March each year, at which the presi- 
dent and clerk were to be elected ; it enjoined upon the latter officer 
the duty of giving members seven days' notice of special and annual 
meetings, and the calling together of the committee to hear evidence 
in contested cases, wherein two or more individuals pretended to rights 
in the same claim, and granting to either party the right of ajipeal from 
the decision of the committee to the society whose determination was to 
be final. The boundaries of the association were defined as extending 
" south half way from this [Inlet] grove to Knox, half way to Dixon, half 
way to Malugan, half way to Palestine and halfway to Franklin Grove." 
Claimants actually occupying and improving land were entitled to ))ro- 
tection in a claim of one half-section. Nothing was to be construed 
contrary to the laws of the state or of the United States. All lands 
within the bounds of the association not recognized by the records of 
the same as " claimed" were to be considered as unclaimed. Privilege 
was given to any person residing within the jurisdiction of the association 
to become a member and have his claims recorded. At a called meeting 
on the 2d a general registry of claims had been made. At the annual 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 287 

meeting on the 16th George E. Haskell was chosen president for that year, 
and Martin Wright clerk. The committee elected consisted of Ran- 
som Barnes, D. H. Birdsall, Ozro C. Wright, Daniel M. Dewey and 
Benjamin Whiteaker. At the regular election, March 20, 1841, Messrs. 
Haskell and Wright were again elected president and clerk respectively, 
and D. H. Birdsall, David Tripp, Daniel M. Dewey, Charles Starks 
and Sherman Shaw committee. The president and clerk were reelected 
in 1842, and once more in 1843. For the former year Daniel M. 
Dewey, Joseph Sawyer, Benjamin Whiteaker, Charles Starks, and D. 
H. Birdsall constituted " the committee for the grove"; and for the 
latter, Daniel M. Dewey, Charles Starks, Joseph Sawyer, Benjamin 
Whiteaker, and Lewis Clapp. 

A few extracts taken at random from their proceedings will convey 
a better idea of their administration of justice than any description can. 

March 2, 1839. " On motion a vote was called relative to Roswell 
Streeter's holding the lot north of the township line (being north of 
the one claimed by Sherman Shaw), and decided in the negative ; as 
also was the one east of this." 

"A vote was taken on the question whether Sherman Shaw should 
be allowed to claim one lot north of his present one, and decided in 
the affirmative." 

"A vote was taken whether Martin Wright should hold one 
quarter-section, being the two second lots lying north of the township 
line, and north of the two claimed by Whiteaker and Clapp, and 
decided in the affirmative." 

"A motion was made by George E. Haskell, and carried, that all 
claims now made which can be satisfactorily proved by marks and 
evidence be entitled to the protection of the Grove as if they were en- 
tered, until a plat is provided embracing the tract within the Grove's 
jurisdiction." 

A reconsideration of the vote in the case of Roswell Streeter was 
taken, and it was decided that he should not extend his claim one lot 
farther north. 

"Another vote was called to ascertain whether Sherman Shaw should 
have the lot contended for by Roswell Streeter, and decided in the 
affirmative." 

" Voted that Lewis Clapp should hold one hundred rods in width 
north of the township line (being north of his present claim), extending 
the length of one lot ; and that Ozro C. Wright should have sixty rods 
in width and be permitted to hold the second lot north of the town- 
ship line (being north of his present claim)." 

" Voted that Nelson De Wolf should be permitted to hold the claim 
of prairie that formerly belonged to Mr. Doge, but now forfeited." 



288 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

March 19, 1842.— "Voted that the claim of Samuel Wressell be 
forfeited ; also, that Samuel Cobel be permitted to take the same." 

Juh- 7. " The chairman stated tiie object of the meeting to be 
to take into consideration the difficult}' which had arisen between 
Benoni Hannum and Martin Eastwood in regard to a certain claim 
lying west of Benoni Ilannum's on the south side of the road." 

On motion the constitution was read by the clerk. 

" It was requested that Mr. Hannum make a statement in relation 
to the subject. 

" A motion was made and carried that Mr. Hannum become a mem- 
ber of the association, and his claim be recognized by the constitution. 

"A motion was made and carried that no member should withdraw 
from the society without leave of the association." 

January 21, 1843. — "The chairman stated the object of the meet- 
ing, namely, to take into consideration the adoption of such measures 
whereby we all may be protected more effectually in our claim rigiits. 

" Voted that a committee go to Di.xon and get a bond drawn for 
this purpose." Benjamin Whiteaker and D. H. Birdsall appointed. 

January 28. — "Article" read and unanimously adopted. Com- 
mittee of live, consisting of Daniel M. Dewey, Joseph Sawyer, Charles 
Starks, Daniel Frost, and Adolplius Bliss, appointed to circulate it for 
signatures. 

" Voted that those members who have signed the article may have 
the privilege of erasing their names at the next meeting, provided all 
the members of the association do not sign the same." 

February 2. — Committee to circulate bond reported and was dis- 
charged. New committee appointed, composed of Charles West, 
Thomas Dexter, Martin Wright, Joseph Sawyer, and William Church. 

February 17. — " On motion it was carried that Joseph Sawyer, 
Lewis Clapp, Charles Starks, Daniel Frost and Sherman Shaw be a 
committee to go and see those members of this association that have 
rot signed the bond, and obtain their signatures if possible. 

Tlie purport of this bond is to us as nmch a matter of conjecture 
as to the reader; but to throw some light upon it, as well as upon 
cognate points of interest, we copy the entire report, which was evi- 
dently made to the association about this time, or a little before. The 
chirography is that of Mr. George E. Haskell — a beautiful, lady-like 
hand. If anv evidence were wanting: to show the character of these 
early settlers in intelligence and scholarship, this report is all that 
would be required. 

"The committee appointed to inquire into and investigate the 
necessity and propriety of adopting some more etfectual means of se- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 289 

curing claims embraced witiiin the limits of this association, would 
respectfully submit the following report : 

"In the examination of the subject submitted to their investigation 
your committee canuot but revert to the principles that have given rise 
to this association, and operated thus far to continue it in existence to 
the security and happiness of tlie community which it embraces. 
Thrown together as its members have been from various states of our 
Union, and possessing all the traits of character peculiar to those who 
have been reared under difierent circumstances, it affords a happy 
illustration of the tendency of our republican institutions, in implant- 
ing, nourishing and keeping alive a spirit of equality and just regard 
for the rights of all, together with that predisposition to establish and 
maintain inviolate the social compact wherever the citizen of our 
country may be found. Actuated by this spirit, the inhabitants of 
this community early embraced the opportunity of bringing into prac- 
tical operation the principle of self-government, upon a point which 
legislative enactment could not reach, and which they have pledged 
their honor to support; and it is a source of mutual congratulation 
that thus far its tendency has been to produce the most beneficial 
results. The claims of all have been respected, and a just regard 
had to the growth and prosperity of the neighborhood, in the accom- 
modations aflbrded to all that wished to unite themselves to this com- 
munity in nearness of settlement. The plighted honor of the asso- 
ciation has been kept good, and from the indications around it would 
seem that all which was contemplated in the original organization of 
this compact is to be fully realized. Such is undoubtedly the case. 
But a change in our circumstances is about to take place. The rightful 
owner of the soil upon which we are located is to call upon us for his due, 
and that, too, at a period not far distant. Some, and it is to be hoped all, 
the members of this association will be able to answer the call and 
obtain a title to the land which they now claim. Under circumstances 
even of this character it would appear, perhaps, that the constitution 
adopted by this association might afford a sufficient guarantee for the 
rights and privileges of all, but a mature consideration of the subject 
has convinced your committee that such is not the case. In paying 
for land, whether at the general land sales or under the preemption 
law, the individual so paying receives his title to the same, which no 
right of the claimant can ever reach. This, of course, is a settled and 
incontrovertible point. Now it is well known and understood that 
there are individuals settled upon these lands embraced within the 
limits of this association, who by entering under the preemption law, 
in consequence of being located on one eighty of a quarter-section can 
carry the other with it, and thus deprive their neighbor of what, 



290 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

under the articles of our association, is considered justly his right 
to purchase of government. Again, many of the claims of the 
settlers are made according to imaginary lines, which, it is supposed, 
may be the lines established by the general survey, and will thus em- 
brace their claim in a certain section, quarter-section, etc., as the claim- 
ants themselves have marked them out. But respecting this there is 
great uncertainty. The survey may accord with the claim lines, and it 
may not. Instances have been mentioned, in the late subdivisions 
that have taken place, where townships in some cases have overrun 
and in others have i'allen short. Thus a particular number of a sec- 
tion, or its quarter-section, may embrace one man's claim and part of 
another's, and the certificate, instead of giving him what was his, gives 
him what belonged to another, and deprives that other of his right. 
These two difiiculties, it would seem, are the most important that pre- 
sent themselves to the consideration of this body at present, and to 
your committee they appear matters of consequence, and to call for 
some remedial action. If it be the case that anything ioterfere to pre- 
vent the settlers from obtaining a title to their just claims, which it is 
competent for this association to remove, it is but justice that its 
powers be exerted to that point. By its constitution all its members 
are entitled to call for such action ; for who can resist the conviction 
that ever}' member who has subscribed to it is pledged in his honor to 
assist in atYording his neighbor all the assistance consistent with hon- 
orable principles in securing his claim against the encroachments of his 
neighbor i And if that security ma}- necessarily extend to a legal 
obligation, to take efi'ect after the land sale, does not his honor here 
plighted require that he should cheerfull}' accede to it? It may, how- 
ever, be presumed on the part of some that if such be the case the 
honor here pledged may be a sufficient guarantee from the purchaser of 
another man's claim to render him a title when the certificate from 
government is procured. But your committee cannot come to that 
conclusion. The association, as it now stands, presents a bod}- of indi- 
viduals mutually dependent on each other; consequently what may be 
the interest of one must be the interest of all to a greater or less 
extent ; and as the life of this association is co-existent with the life of 
claims, it is only during that period that its members are privileged 
with an appeal to its principles or jurisdiction. The purchaser, then, 
with his title in his hands, acknowledges no respect but to the law 
which secures the soil, and may forever stand aloof from him who has 
trusted in vain to his honor. Again, experience plainly proves that 
power, when once obtained, is likely to be abused. The individual 
to-day surrounded by circumstances that constrain him to act witii pro- 
priety, and to deal out justice to all with whom he may stand con- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 291 

neeted, to-morrow, bj' a change of circumstances, may be ready to hold 
at bay all whom he had before respected. This principle in human 
nature, so generally applicable that any deviation from it is accounted 
an exception to a general rule, behooves men, as they regard their own 
peace and that of those around them, to guard well against it, and 
where or when can they be called upon more imperiously than in this 
association and at this time? It is a call not only to secure effectually 
a right, but to perforin a duty which respects the well being, future 
prosperity, peace and harmony of the social compact, of which each 
settler forms a part. To yonr committee it would seem that no reas- 
onable objection could arise in the mind of anyone to secure his 
neighbor by a legal obligation to take effect conditionally after the 
land sales may have taken place. This undoubtedly would prevent 
any disturbance whatever, and is so clearly predicated upon the golden 
rule that any man who might dissent Trom it, would seem not to be 
actuated by those principles; and if he could not now show himself 
willing to comply with them it cannot be considered safe to predict 
that he would at any time hereafter. It is therefoi'e recommended to 
this association that they adopt the following resolution : 

^^ Resolved, That the members of this association who may now 
have their claim limits marked and defined, be each separately and in- 
dividually required, as soon as it may be required of them by an ad- 
joining claimant, to enter into a bond with such adjoining claimant, 
conditioned that if he, the person so required, shall purchase or cause 
to be purchased of government any of the lands embi'aced within the 
adjoining claimant's claim lines, acknowledged and defined according 
to the customs of the grove association, he will convey by deed to such 
adjoining claimant (upon said claimant's furnishing the money to pay 
for the same to the government) all the land which he may have so 
purchased within his (the requiring claimant's) claim lines as above 
specified, within thirt}' days after such purchase. And further, that 
all those whose claim limits are not specifically defined shall immedi- 
ately proceed to have their lines clearly marked out according to the 
custom of this association, and enter into the bond as herein named 
and required of those whose boundaries are defined; and upon failure 
of any member to comply herewith he shall cease to be a member of 
this association, and shall no longer be entitled to its protection. All 
of which is respectfully submitted. 

" Signed, " Geoege E. Haskell, 

" Benjamin Whiteakek, 
"Joseph Sawyer, 
"Lewis Clapp, 
"Maktin Weight. 

^'Committee." 



292 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

This report and these proceedings give a very fair idea of the 
methods adopted by the inhabitants to protect each man in his riglitof 
possession to land, and the spirit wiiich animated and governed them 
in the exercise of their powers. Technically they were there without 
right — trespassers upon the public domain — yet doing in advance only 
that which was a gratification to the law and fulfillment of it, when in 
its tardy progress westward it should overtake "the star of empire." 
They had left bustling communities and cultivated homes behind, with 
the ambitious design of making other homes; and while, perhaps, in 
the long run they would increase their possessions, it was still as much 
a matter of complacent regard and calculation to the whole country as 
to them, inasmuch as could be seen in it a laudable growth of empire 
in wealth, settlement, and population. Civilized usage defends the 
natural right of ownership to the person first in possession, and the 
moral aspect of the situation which the early settlers assumed is a com- 
plete justification of the course they adopted and pursued. The 
government, indeed, owned the land, and was willing that it should be 
occupied ; but made no choice as to occupants, and would give title, 
when put in market, to whomsoever should first present himself as a 
purchaser. As regarded land and law the pioneers were in the con- 
dition of our first parents ; to the former they held on by sufferance, 
and of the latter experienced a distressing nakedness; but their pro- 
gramme contemplated not their own driving out, but that of the interlo- 
pers and speculators. Respecting the question of land — a very precious 
item of account since it meant home and all — they ]>romptly and wisely 
constituted themselves law-makers, judges, and executors of the law. 
From what has gone before we have learned how they discharged the 
two former functions ; and after we have gleaned a little light on the 
latter we may dismiss this topic. 

The making and expounding of law is not the most complex and 
difficult part of the governmental economy. " The proof of the pud- 
ding is in the eating;" and of the law in the administering. In mak- 
ing a claim to land the claimant was required to establish visible limits 
in some manner, as by staking out the tract, or plowing a furrow 
around it ; and to make some improvement, though this was often 
very slight, as evidence of good faith on his part to become an actual 
settler. This "law of the place" completely barred out speculators; 
for while a man was limited, as we have seen, to a claim of half a 
section, he was obliged to be a resident, though it was not essential 
that his land should be taken in a body, for he might have separate 
claims aggregating his allowance. 

New-comers were often inclined to despise and defy the authority 
of the Grove association, and to jump bona-fide claims. A display of 



«<^- ^'^i-l 




4$ i 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 295 

public sentiment was nsnally all that was required to convince an 
offender how hopeless was a single-handed contest with a thoroughly 
organized and determined commnnity. A committee of citizens would 
wait on liim and remonstrate in a firm but friendly manner, pointing 
out the rights of the prior claimant and showing him his own wrong. 
Very rarely would such treatment fail of the desired result, and then 
only when the subject was so obdurate as not to be susceptible to the 
kindlier influences, in which case nothing I'emained but to persuade 
him with literal water baptism for temporal purposes. The people 
were concerned in the preservation of peace and good order, and the 
practice of justice; but human nature being the same in all classes, 
climes, and ages, they could not escape the necessity of sustaining 
their home-made laws against the usual license and infraction ; and 
there is no reason to doubt that a great variety of devices, ingenious 
and sometimes violent, were brought into requisition first by one side 
in the commission of wrong, and then by the other in undoing and 
correcting it. 

A grotesque occurrence, exhibiting the spirit of the people, took 
place soon after the land came into market. A poor man named 
Anderson lived on a " forty " at Perkins' Grove. Perkins having a 
spite against him, as subsequently appeared, intei-ested a stage agent 
at Dixon by the name of Bull to enter Anderson's homestead. At 
once all except the moving cause became known ; and with calm, de- 
cided purpose the citizens collected one night about sundown at Rocky 
Ford, to the number of seventy-five, and turning their backs upon the 
illumination of a big bonfire as the shades of evening began to thicken, 
they marched all night with resolute tread for Dixon. Sheriff Camp- 
bell lived a mile or two out of the town, and they took the trouble to 
call at his house and inform him of the object of the expedition, and 
to assure him that there was no intention to raise a riot or inflict per- 
sonal injur}'. The design was to enter Dixon before the people should 
be up and stirring about much, to take Bull prisoner, depart to a con- 
venient place, and demand of him a conveyance of the land to Ander- 
son. The affair was well planned and executed. Just as day was 
breaking the motley cavalcade tiled into the sleepy town and sur- 
rounded the hotel. One of the strongest in the crowd had been de- 
tailed to wait in the bar-room until he should make his appearance. 
Presently Bull entered and stepped behind the bar; uo sooner had he 
done this than he was vigorously seized, but being also a strong man, 
and having the advantage of the counter, he was able to maintain a 
successful resistance until two more men were sent to the assistance of 
the first, when he was brought out promptly, thrown into the wagon, 
and driven off. The colored waiter, alarmed at the proceeding, leaped 
18 



296 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

into the street and rushed tliroiigli the town, brandisliing a big butcher 
knife and shouting " murder ! " The commotion brought the people 
out in sudden amazement and in all states of dress, and tarrying only 
long enough to grasp their weapons they started in hot pursuit on 
foot, mounted and. in wagons. The party with the prisoner wore 
soon overtaken, and the pursuers, in ignorance of their real design, 
made so excited and hostile a demonstration as to threaten imminent 
danger of bloodshed. At first Bull himself was not a little terrified, 
and implored an explanation ; being told his oflfonse he was speedily 
relieved, and able to convince the people that it was not through any 
improper motive that he had entered Anderson's land, and that he 
would at once cheerfully make it over to him. On reaching Slierifi 
Campbell's a circle was formed to keep back the Dixonites, Bull 
placed in the ring, and the preliminaries concluded by which Campbell 
became surety for the performance of Bull's agreement to convey the 
land to Anderson on terms of no small advantage to the latter. This 
was in the spring of 18i5, and was one of the most notable exploits 
under the old regime. 

BANDITTI. 
The boldest creations of romance are little more tlian feeble imita- 
tions of the actual. As an illustration of this the system of organized 
crime which inclosed this region from 1843 to 1850 is an examjile 
without a parallel. The history of the western country in the early 
stages of settlement is checkered with graceless characters who have 
prosecuted their desperate designs against the peace and safety 
of society, singly and in gangs; but no other band, we think, 
was so successful in inveigling into its toils an equal nunibei- 
of confederates, distributed over the land, scattered through every 
neighborhood, whose operations were so adroit and connections so 
skilltnlly concealed, and wiio secreted stolen property, counterfeited 
money, and harbored red-handed criminals with such clandestine suc- 
cess as to make the keenest vigilance for a while appear like a di'owsy 
god. The Green River bottoms in places were gloomy, tangled, un- 
known swamps, which even the most curious and adventuresome hunters 
had not explored. The immense Inlet swamp, and the larger Gieen 
River swamp in the southwest corner of the county and the north part 
of Bureau, were tryst ing-p! aces for the outlaws. Deep forests and 
rank vegetation covered them. The latter, a sink and den of horrors, 
was skirted by low and rambling hills, whose winding ravines were 
passes in all directions. The sparscness of population was also favora- 
ble to the commission of crime and the escape of criujiuals. Hiding- 
places were convenient and inimerous. A man found no difhculty in 
secreting himself in the tall grass in low places. The rider who pene- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 297 

trated the groves and marshes could elude pursuit; besides, friends un- 
known as accomplices, except to the robbers themselve?, kept watch 
for their companions, communicated information to them, hid and pro- 
tected, fed and warmed them and shared their plunder; and througli a 
period of long-standing danger and excitement were able to defy 
detection by the people, who were paralyzed with wonder and alarm 
at the boldness and i'rcqiiency of the crimes committed. Mysterious 
siglits and discoveries went unexplained. Strangers on foot, sometimes 
nionutcd, of singular or suspicions appearance, now with bushy wliis- 
kers and lonn; hair, wearing slouch hats, sugo'estino; dark and dangerous 
freebooters, again clad in spruce outfit, with tall beaver hats, and canes 
in hand, would be seen passing through the settlement. Children 
often came homo with stories of such men seen when driving up the 
cows at niglit. Faint trails were discovered, and secluded spots where 
animals had been fed and men had lounged while waiting; and at un- 
nsnal hours of night and in uncommon places the neighing of horses 
made women shudder, as they thought of the bandits at their work. 

Horse-stealing was but a recreation. Counterfeiting served well the 
purpose tp absorb idle hours. Atrocious murder, blood-curdling and 
cruel, was committed and expiated on the scaffold without a sign of re- 
gret by these hardened men. People locked their stables, barricaded 
their doois, and placed their wciipons within reach for instant use, not 
knowing what dieadful tragedy they might be actors in before morn- 
ing. Public helplessness to ferret out and bring to punishment the 
rufiians who set at naught ever^' form and semblance of law destroyed 
all sense of security. Suspicions were directed against some, and 
whispered about ; others were so vague that no man dared more than 
entertain them. Men stood in doubt, if not in dread, of neighbors, 
and no one could deny that a strange thrill pervaded his consciousness 
as if every man's hand was against him. 

This gigantic crime against the state is adequately treated of else- 
where, and we are confined, peiforce, to a relation of the local efforts 
made for its suppression. The operations of the gang embraced the 
whole Mississippi valley, but its depredations in this region were suf- 
ficiently startling to awaken among the people and keep in constant 
activity the liveliest apprehensions. 

Among the most daring of these were the robbery of Mulford in 
Ogle county ; McKinney, at Rockford ; Miller, at Troy Grove; George 
E. Haskell, at Inlet; the plot against the Dixon land office and the 
robbery of Frink, Walker & Go's stage ; the murder of Campbell, 
"captain of the vigilance committee " in Ogle county, by three of the 
desperadoes, two of whom, the Driscolls, were promptly lynched ; and 
the shocking murder of Col. Davenport at Hock Island, July 4, 1845. 



298 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Tlic active vigilance and cooperation of the whole coniinunit}' be- 
came immediately necessary. An attempted robbery near Inlet Grove 
implicated two of the principal citizens of the place, one of whom was 
the magistrate. These were arrested, and at the spring term of the 
Lee county circuit court convicted and sentenced to three years' im- 
prisonment in the penitentiary. Both died before the expiration of 
their tenri. Soon after the arrest of these men, in the autumn of 
1844, Charles West, another citizen of Inlet Grove (who was also the 
constable), was suspected of the robbery of the peddler Miller, at Troy 
Grove, and search being made some of the goods were found in his 
house. He was examined and committed for trial, but turned state's 
evidence and made what purported to be a full disclosure. His con- 
fession led to a number of searches and arrests, and considerable stolen 
property was recovered. Goods having been found in the house of an- 
other leading man at Inlet Grove, he was arrested (June 1845) and 
sent to the penitentiar}' for two years, but was pardoned and set at 
liberty after a few months. He had had a horse stolen, and while de- 
n3'ing any active participation in the robberies, or having profited" by 
them, he accounted for his guilty knowledge by confessing that the 
brigands had ])roposed to return his horse as an equivalent for his 
friendship, and that in his anxiety to obtain his property he had al- 
lowed himself to become criminally associated with them. He denied all 
knowledge of the goods found in his house; and it was and still is the 
belief that his wife and step-son were far more deeply involved than 
he. There were strong presumptions in his favor regarding the degree 
of his complicity, which led to his pardon. One of the methods by 
which the ringleaders extended their organization was to rob a man, 
then work on his sensibilities in this manner, and after he had once 
yielded in the least measure it was an easy matter to terrify the victim 
into their ranks by threats of exposure. 

Close upon these surprising developments at Inlet Grove the peo- 
ple organized themselves into a body, styled "An Association for 
Furthering the Cause of Justice," and adopted a constitution, the pre- 
amble to which exi)lains their motives and the necessity for their 
action. We acknowledge again our obligations to Mr. Ira Brewer for 
the original document, together with some resolutions and other pro- 
ceedings relating to the subject. 

" Whekeas, Sundry depredations have been committed upon the 
property of the citizens of this vicinity from time to time, and ap- 
pearances have plainly shown that Inlet Grove has been a resting-place 
and depot for the numerous rogues that infest the country; and where- 
as it has now become a settled point in our belief that there are those 
about us who are not only willing to aid and succor the thief that 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 299 

passes through in the hour of darkness with his ill-gotten booty, but 
also to receive it at his hands and to share the spoils; and whereas, 
from the peculiar character of our country, and the numbers associated 
in the shape of banditti, it has been heretofore and is still difficult for 
the officers of justice, with the individual assistance of the person 
robbed or suffering at their hands, to bring the offenders to justice; 
therefore we, the undersigned, have agreed to form ourselves into an 
association for the purpose of aiding any man that unites with us in 
attempting to regain his property unlawfully taken, to protect our- 
selves from all incursions of a villainous character, to assist the ofiicers 
of justice in taking rogues of all descriptions, and as much as may be 
to assist each other in maintaining good order in society, by keeping a 
constant look-out for all persons of a suspicions character, and we ac- 
cordingly pledge ourselves to each other to mutually exert ourselves as 
far as we are able to counteract the evils enumerated, as well as to 
bring about the good proposed." 

After providing for the customary offices of president, secretary and 
treasurer, and prescribing their duties, this instrument declares that a 
vigilance committee shall be appointed by the presiding officer, and 
defines it to be their duty " to receive from any member of the associ- 
ation any information relating to unlawful depredations made at any 
time upon the person or property of our members, and to report it 
forthwith to a person selected as chairman of said committee, whose 
duty it shall be to act in behalf of the society by communicating tlie 
information immediately to the officers of justice, and to obey any in- 
struction which may hereafter be given him by the association. The 
said committee shall elect said chairman, to be known to no one but 
themselves and the ofiicers of justice ; and he shall make his commu- 
nications to the said officers of justice as secretly as possible, in order 
to avoid the escape of a criminal or of persons suspected. Any mem- 
ber of the vigilance committee may report immediately to the officers 
of justice if he deem it advisable. 

"Article Fifth : A set of runners shall be appointed by the vigilance 
committee whose duty it shall be to start immediately in all directions 
that it may be supposed a rogue has gone, whenever anything shall 
appear to have been feloniously taken, or any mischief done to tlie 
property of our associated members, and to make all necessary 
search." Funds were to be raised by the subscription of members, and 
it is declared that they " shall consider themselves bound, by their sub- 
scribing to this constitution, to pay * * * as much as if they had 
given their note for value received," and they pledge themselves to pay 
to the treasurer on his demand as the vigilance committee require from 
time to time. 



300 HISTOEY OF LEE COUNTY. 

" Article Seventh. — We do hereby pledge ourselves inutiially to do 
all in our power for the detection of all rogues; that we will be vigi- 
lant, and whenever any suspicious person shall be around will forth- 
with report him ; whenever any property shall appear under suspicious 
circumstances, will give information respecting the same, either to a 
member of our vigilance committee or directly to the officers of 
justice; and will do all in our power consistently with our circum- 
stances in life to make any sufferer hereafter from their attacks as good 
as before. 

" Article Eighth. — Any person who is not of a suspicious character 
may become a member of this association by signing the constitution ; 
but if objections are made to him at the time of joining by any 
member, he shall be admitted only by a vote of the association, the 
majority' at all times ruling." 

In spite of their precautions it is said they did not succeed in keep- 
ing their ranks free from emissaries of the band, who thus got due 
apprisal of much that was going on. The e-xpulsion of any member 
who should aid or countenance the outlaws was declared among the 
powers of the association, with the supplemental provision that he 
should " share his fate with them." The chairman of the vigilance 
committee was to be selected by that committee from the members of 
the association, and was to be "known to no one but themselves and 
the officers of justice." Meetings were to be held yearly for the election 
of officers, and extra meetings were to be called by the vigilance com- 
mittee, each of whom was to "take bis share of notifying members of 
the association." 

"Article Twelfth. — We do hereby agree that our premises and 
buildings shall at all times be open and ready for search for missing 
property, and that any member of our vigilance committee shall at 
any time have liberty to search us our possessions without any legal 
process; and whenever we find any person unwilling to admit such 
search, the person so refusing it shall be considered suspicious, and legal 
measures shall be taken forthwith to search him and his premises, and 
be shall forfeit his membership in the association." 

This constitution was adopted November 4, 1844, and seventy-two 
well known citizens attached their signatures. Moses Crombie was 
elected president, Ira Brewer clerk, and George E. Haskell treasurer. 
The president appointed the following vigilance committee: Corydon 
R. Dewey, Sherman Shaw, George R. Linn, C. I. Hitchcock, Sylvanus 
Peterson, G. A. IngalJs, Harmon Wasson, and John C. Church. Some 
resolutions were passed referring to the disclosures made by the detec- 
tion of the first two oflfenders arrested at Inlet, pronouncing judgment 
upon the guilty ; and also declaring the future course of the associa- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 301 

tion toward all who should be found in criminal attitude. It is possi- 
ble now to remark only in general terms that the association rendered 
valuable service in the enforcement of the laws, and the final suppression 
of the band. The reader is bj' this time acquainted with the end pro- 
posed, and the means and methods adopted to accomplish it, and in the 
absence of detailed information it is enough to saj' that the sanguine 
aims of the organization were completely and speedily realized. The 
straggling records before us show that about the first of June, 1845, 
the community was thrown into fresh commotion, for on the 7th a 
meeting was held and George E. Haskell, C. I. Hitchcock and 0. R. 
Dewey were appointed to report resolutions, which were accepted and 
laid over for consideration to an adjourned meeting of the 10th. 
These show that on the 6th one of the leading bandits was in the set- 
tlement, and it is charged that " it is confidently believed that 

■ had a conference j'esterda}' with the thief that passed through 



the grove," and warning him to beware of the wrath of the people. 
This was probably when thej' surrounded and beat up the grove for 
Fox (or Birch) and the audacious outlaw in gentlemanly garb and 
with walking-stick in hand coolly passed two citizens on the highway 
who were stationed to intercept him and prevent his escape. Tlie}' 
did not recognize him, and were so thoughtless as not to detain him. 
On another occasion one of the gang, riding a stolen horse, was 
chased into the grove; but he escaped and left the people balancing 
between excitement and disappointment. 

The last person arrested in the neighboi'hood and convicted was the 
one referred to in the resolution, and it was only a few days afterward 
that he was taken in custody. West's confession, we find, has brought 
him into danger from another quarter, for the association declare that 
" it is well known that the life of Cliarles West has been threatened," 
but '* we are determined to protect the said Charles West at all events, 
and that if his life is taken we will take measures to avenge his death," 
and much more on the same point. They dedicate themselves to more 
eflScient work by proposing to improve their communication with the 
people of Dixon and the settlements at the groves, and thus increase 
the facilities for arousing the country quickly; to appoint a special mes- 
senger to assist [in giving immediate notice to the members in an 
emergency, and by instructing the vigilance committee to meet forth- 
witii to prepare "for the sutnmer campaign," and to continue their 
meetings frequently and regularly. 

Here, as in all assemblies, men advocated moderate or extreme 
measures, according as they were of radical or conservative temper. 
The resolutions in question bear marks of a threatening impatience, and 
we should not have been surprised if after having been so much harried 



302 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

with dangers and apprehensions the people had put their denunciations 
in more impetuous words. Dr. Adams, a prominent member, and, bv the 
way, a democrat, whose inflammable nature needed not such fuel as the 
situation furnished, advocated the resolutions in a strong speech, and 
proclaimed himself in favor of hunting the brigands like wolves. The 
Rev. John Cross, than wliom no milder mannered man broke the bread 
of life, opposed these views in a neat and softening speech, deprecating 
violence, and expressing hope that the people would preserve their 
reputation for obeying the laws. Dr. Adams arose to reply, with fiery 
indignation stamped on every feature. In a bitter retort he reminded 
the reverend gentleman that he might be a consistent stickler for the 
law if he would give absolutely none of his time to running off negroes 
on tlie underground railroad. Tiie range was close, the shot deadly, 
and the preacher could not recover. The resolutions passed. 

This organization was a necessity of the time, and the only feasible 
adjunct to the arm of the law, which, without its aid, was utterly 
powerless. It numbered in its ranks all the better citizens, who ad- 
dressed themselves with energy and resolution to the business of pro- 
tecting the community from theft and murder. The execution of tho 
Hodges, the Longs, and Young, crushed the head of the anaconda. 
Alarms ceased, and peace reigned once more. 

ORGANIZ.\TIOX. 

Lee county adopted township organization in ISi'J, and the first 
election under this new form of local government was in the following 
spring. Anterior to this date Amboy was divided between the flank- 
ing precincts on the east and the west. When the township was 
christened a number of names were proposed, but none gave satisfac- 
tion until Miles Lewis suggested the name of Amboy, which was re- 
ceived with unanimous favor, and adopted. The first annual town 
meeting was held on Tuesday, April 2; Joseph Farwell presided as 
moderator, and Joseph B. Appleton was elected clerk. Polling places 
were at school-houses and private residences until Amboy was built, 
when the town meetings were for several years iield in Farwell Hall. 
John Dexter was an early magistrate. His way of doing business was 
not uncommon in his day on the border, but appears novel to his suc- 
cessors of this period. Complaint had been made against a man for 
assault and batterj', and he fined him three dollars; the constable whis- 
pered in the justice's ear, when he said he would change the fine, and 
imposed that amount on each the complainant and the defendant, and 
divided the costs between them. 

The subjoined list of township officers does not include tiie whole 
number, but the principal ones that can be made out from the records 
and other sources with certaintv: 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 



303 





SUPERVISOR. 


TOWN CLERK. 


ASSESSOR. 


COLLECTOR. 


1850. 


David Searles. 


J. B. Appleton. 


Martin Wright. 


A. H.Thompson. 


1851. 


David Searles. 


J. B. Appleton. 


Cyrus Bridgman. 


A. H.Thompson. 


1853. 


Moses Lathe. 


J. B. Appleton. 


Lot Chadwick. 


A. H.Thompson. 


1853. 


F. R. Dutcher. 


James Andruss. 


E. M. Blair. 


A. H.Thompson. 


1854. 


Simon Badger. 


J. B. Applelon. 


A. H. Thompson. 


Zanthe Reed. 


1855. 


J. B. Appleton. 


J. M. Davis. 


Stephen Stone. 


Julius Hale. 


1856. 
1857. 


H. Wasson. 
H. E. Badger. 








Josiah Little. 


Cyrus Bridgman. 


W. B. Andruss. 


1858. 


H. E. Badger. 


C. D. Vaughan. 


Cyrus Bridgman. 


W. B. Andruss. 


185!). 


H. E. Badger. 


C. D. Vaughan. 


J. M. Davis. 


W. B. Andruss. 


1800. 


H. E. Badger. 


C. D. Vaughan. 


J. M. Davis. 


W. B. Andruss. 


1861. 


J. M. Davis. 


C. D. Vaughan. 


Simon Badger. 


C. D. Sears. 


1862. 


Josiah Little. 


C D. Vaughan. 


D. H. Crocker. 


Isaac Edwards. 


1863. 


Josiah Little. 


W. B. Andruss. 


C. D. Sears. 


J. E. Whiting. 


1864. 


H. E. Badger. 


\V. B. Andruss. 


C. D. Sears. 


J. C. Church. 


1865. 


H. E. Badger. 


W. B. Andruss. 


C. D. Sears. 


Isaac Edwards. 


1866. 


H. E. Badger. 


W. B. Andruss. 


J. C. Church. 


J. S. Baker. 


1867. 


H. E. Badger. 


W. B. Andruss. 


David Crocker. 


E. P. Walker. 


1868. 


Isaac Edwards. 


Chas. P. Ives. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


Chas. W. Bell. 


1869. 


Isaac Edwards. 


Chas. P. Ives. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


E. E. Chase. 


1870. 


F. R. Dutcher. 


Chas. P. Ives. 


D. H. Crocker. 


Michael Carroll. 


1871. 


Chester Badger. 


J. T. Tait. 


D. H. Crocker. 


J. R. Patterson. 


1873. 


F. R. Dutcher. 


J. T. Tait. 


D. H. Crocker. 


0. F. Warriner. 


1873. 


Chester Badger. 


C. E. Ives. 


D. H. Crocker. 


M. Carroll. 


1874. 


Chester Badger. 


C. E. Ives. 


D. H. Crocker. 


M. Carroll. 


1875. 


Chester Badger. 


C. E. Ives. 


D. H. Crocker. 


Ira Smith. 


1876. 


Chester Badger. 


C. E. Ives. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


E. E. Chase. 


1877. 


Chester Badger. 


W. P. Barnes. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


Isaac Edwards. 


1878. 


Isaac Edwards. 


D. F. Strickland. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


Oscar Spangler. 


1879. 


Isaac Edwards. 


L. L. Staup. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


Ira Smith. 


1880. 


Isaac Edwards. 


James Mead. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


N. B. Koontz. 


1881. 


Isaac Edwards. 


Geo. Kiefer. 


Lee Cronkrite. 


W. J. Edwards. 



Badger and Ives resigned in December 1874, and Channey D. 
Sears and James T. Tait were appointed to the respective vacancies. 
Again in April following they resigned their offices. In both cases 
these resignations were owing to complications of the township arising 
from certain outstanding railroad bonds. 

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. 

The first road laid throngh the township connected Grand de Tour 
and Peru; the second one ran from Inlet Grove to Prophetstown, 
Binghamton and Eocky Ford lying on the route. Main street in 
Amboy is identical with it, and the large cottonwood trees which flank 
it to the right and left of the Congregational church were planted by 
the hand of Joseph Farwell to mark its course. 

The old Central railroad, on which the state in a crazy freak squan- 
dered over a million dollars, was surveyed and partly built through this 
township. The charter was first granted to Darius B. Holbrook, but be- 
fore he had organized a company the legislature repealed it, and included 



304 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

this work in the s^'stem of public improvements undertaken by the state 
in 1836-7. After the public credit failed he obtained a renewal of Lis 
charter, with a grant of all the work that had been done. Dr. Harri- 
son, of Peru, took a contract to build part of the line, and sent a force 
of laborers here in the fall of 1841 to renew the grading which had 
been begun four or five 3'ears before and worked upon at intervals after- 
ward. He started a bank in Peru and issued circulation ; but one day 
somebody went down and demanded specie for his paper, and was re- 
fused. When news of this reached the gang of men up here they 
dropped their tools, and the sun never rose on a resumption of the 
work. Harrison's paper was in the hands of people in this section, 
where it has remained so long that its "staying qualities" are fully and 
forever established. It was known as "Bangs' railroad money," and 
is a reminiscence of "wildcat" banking, and of the old Central 
"wildcat" improvement. Remains of the old work are yet visible. 

The only resemblance ever borne by the present Central railroad to 
the former was in the name. Stephen A. Douglas procured the re- 
lease of Holbrook's charter, and was the author of the measure which 
brought this grand enterprise into successful existence. Congress 
passed the bill in 1850, and the next winter the Illinois legislature in- 
coiporated the company. The survey was completed in 1851, and the 
succeeding 3'ear construction l)egan. The division from Mcndota to 
Frecport was formally opened for traffic February 1, 1855. The first 
train reached Amboy early in November 1854. 

The construction of the Chicago, Amboy & Upper Mississippi 
railroad was loudly agitated at one time; a charter was procured and 
the survey direct from Amboy to Chicago made in 1856. under the 
direction of Col. R. B. Mason. No stock was taken and the under- 
taking failed. But direct communication with Chicago was an object 
having many attractions, and was sure some time to furnish the 
triumphant argument for a road. The situation was improved when, 
at the session of 1868-9, Alonzo Kinyon, a member of the legislature 
from Lee county, obtained from that body a charter for the Chicago 
& Rock River railroad, which was to extend east from Rock Falls 
and intersect the Central at Calumet. On the organization of the 
company in May 1869, Mr. Kinyon was elected president. Amboy 
township was asked to take stock in the road to the amount of $100,000, 
and on July 26, 1869, voted to do so, polling 517 votes in favor of the 
proposition, to 92 against it. On March 30, 1870, the contract for 
building the road was awarded to a New York company. It was to 
be finished by the 1st of January following; but on July 28, the work 
having made little headway, the contractor was relieved at his own 
request, and the construction relet to Hinckley & Co. Still little was 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 305 

done, and in September it was announced that Messrs. Wicker, Mick- 
lin & Co., of Chicago, had contracted to complete the road within a 
year, from Cahimet to Eock Falls, and witliin two j'ears from Amboy 
to Bureau Junction. The last rail was laid between Amboy and Rock 
Falls January 4,1872; and on Wednesday, June 19, the road was 
finished to Paw Paw. Some of the towns between Amboy and Rock 
Falls that had voted to take stock failed, when that division of the 
road was built, to transfer their bonds; and on tiie election of the new 
board in January, the contractors, holding the larger amount of stock, 
were able to reorganize the board of directors to suit their purposes. 
This board, in June, sold the first mortgage bonds to the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad Compan3^ In July it was decided 
to extend the time for the completion of the road one 3'ear, and in the 
meantime to make temporary connection with the Chicago & Iowa 
railroad at Shabbona. To the people of Amboy this was the certain 
knell of all their hopes, for it told in action, which is said to speak 
plainer than words, that the road was a failure, that it would not be 
completed as originall}' proposed. But Amboy had shouldered the 
elephant by delivering the bonds. She enjoyed a season of great ex- 
pectations, thinking that the headquarters of the company would be 
established here, and dreaming of machine shops, and how Amboy 
was to become a city of furnaces and forges; for all this had been 
guaranteed in the language of the most eloquent promises. The pic- 
ture was dazzling. 

The first regular passenger train went over the road Wednesday, 
October 16, 1872. The road now connects with the trunk line at 

Sandwich. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school-house in Amboy township was built of logs in the 
year 1839, and situated on the Sublette road, just south of the railroad 
crossing. Lucy Ann Church was the first teacher. Men were employed 
in winter and women in summer. Leonard Pratt, John Carey, Ira Hale, 
David Hale and Charlotte Doan taught in this house. After the Wasson 
school-house, the second in the township, and a frame building, was 
erected in 1845, the former was moved farther south and put up near 
the Lewis homestead. Here Roena Badger and Roxy Wasson taught for 
many years, and the}' seemed, in fact, to be the principal dependence of 
the community for summer teachers. John Scott, an able pedagogue, 
who died afterward in California, taught first in the Wasson district. 
The Misses Badger and Wasson, H. E. Badger and Lyman C. Wheat 
were also earl}' teachers in the same place. John C. Church, who was a 
director, tells an anecdote on himself with considerable relish. He had 
hired Wheat to teach, and the latter, as a matter of course, invited 



306 HISTORY OF LEE roiJNTT. 

him to visit the school. Cluirch replied in his positis'e way: "I hired 
you to keep the school, and now I want you to do it." But, passing one 
afternoon on his way home from Binghampton, he thought he would 
drop in to see how teacher and pupils were getting on. The grammar 
class was called, and a book was politely handed him. Now, Mr. 
Church never studied grammar but half a day in his whole life ; but he 
made immense progress in that short time. It used to be the case that 
the less one had studied grammar the more positive he was that it was 
of no utility, and in order to respect his positiveness he had to convince 
himself that he knew a good deal on the subject. But not so with a 
ready learner like Mr. Church. That half-day's ramble with Lindley 
Murray among nouns and pronouns and their fellows of speech had 
disclosed imponderable mysteries to his view; but he still has a lurk- 
ing recollection that the subject was "dry." The teacher and the 
class got into a protracted dispute involving some question on the 
lesson, and to settle it the former appealed to Mr. Church, whose 
diplomatic answer was, " You are correct ; that is the way it should be 
parsed." This response killed the controversy " as dead as a door nail." 
That night he told "Wheat of his shrewd escape, and was complimented 
no less for his foresight in avoiding the part of principal in the argu- 
ment than for his ability to use all that he had learned in half a day's 
study of grammar. 

In an early day an irregular select school was kept at Rocky Ford. 
Amboy township now comprises ten districts, and in 1879 the total 
school expenditures were $8,284. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The frontier itinerant was a truly divine laborer. Courage and 
industry were the preeminent virtues of his activity. His circuit 
embraced what would now seem an incredible extent of country, and 
he did well if he served all his appointments once every month. To 
defy distance and weather was a regular habit. He usually traveled 
on hoiseback, carrying, in capacious saddle-bags, a small bible, a liymn 
book, and a homely luncheon. Often he would ride thirty miles to 
preach a funeral sermon, and forty or fifty to marry a couple for three 
dollars. But he did not scorn privations and overcome obstacles for 
money ; it was a pleasure to be about his Master's work. He grew 
strong in view of the great field and the waiting harvest, and his soul 
was animated by the simple joy and hearty salutations which the warm 
hearts of the people always expressed at his coming. But before cir- 
cuits were formed the zealous messengers of the truth rode through 
the wilderness visiting the scattered settlements and carrying the heal- 
ing news of the Good Shepherd. His arrival was the signal for word 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 307 

to go forth like a swift joy in every direction to summon together the 
hungry souls. Meetings were held in the cabins, and in God's first 
temples, the groves. On these occasions full hearts rendered thanks 
to God for the preservation of life and health of the minister of peace, 
and the hardy settlers from the abounding dangers of the exposed 
frontier, and appealed in earnest invocations for his continued grace 
and precious mercy, and deliverance from the distemper of the soul — 
sin. Then, with the service over, he departed on his rugged journey, 
refreshed with the hospitality of his fiill-souled entertainers, and laden 
with the provisions which the thoughtful housewife had prepared for 
his comfort, bearing on his head their blessings, and followed by silent 
prayers for his safety and return. 

The first minister around whom the early settlers gathered for 
gospel instruction was Father Gorbus, a Methodist preacher well ad- 
vanced in years, who came from Indian creek. At this early period 
denominations exerted no influence; congregations were composed of 
every sect and those who represented no sect, all feeling and acknowl- 
edging a common necessity for worship. Father Gorbus received his 
pay in provisions, such as potatoes, and meat, and flour. 

Mone}' was not plentiful. It was a commodity little seen, and for 
man}' years commanded an annual rate not less than twenty-five per cent. 

As an instance of the dearness of money and the cheapness of 
stock, produce, and labor, F. H. Northway says he tried to redeem his 
note for $3.75, in the hands of a neighbor, by offering a yearling steer, 
two shoats weighing 125 pounds each, and two days' work. This was 
declined, and he was sued. 

A German Baptist, Father Hetchler, came very early, perhaps was 
next to Father Gorbus. It is thought that Eev. Curtis Lathrop, a 
Methodist, was the third, and that Father White, another Methodist, was 
the fourth ; but regarding order we do not profess any certainty. 
Elder DeWolf was an educated Episcopalian, who settled on the Chi- 
cago road, between Dixon and Inlet Grove, but after a few years re- 
turned to the east. In 1843 the Eev. Donaldson, from Dover, who 
preached here at times, assisted in organizing the first Congregational 
church in Lee county, at the house of Deacon Moses Crombie. This 
was called the " Congregational Church of Palestine Grove," and the 
members worshiped several years at the Wasson school-house. The 
Eev. John Morrell, the first pastor, was followed b}' the Eev. Inger- 
Boll (father of Col. Eobert G. IngersoU), and he was succeeded by the 
Rev. Joseph Gardiner and the Eev. Mr. Pierson. About 1849 this 
congregation removed its place of worship to Lee Center, and changed 
the name of the society to that of the new locality. From this the 
present Amboy society has descended. What is known of the first 



308 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Methodist society is recorded in tlie sketch of Binghamton. Another 
very early organization was tlie Palestine Grove Baptist church, but 
we are not able to state what year it took regular form. The Rev. 
Charles Cross, now living in Aniboy township, became the regular pastor 
in 1847, and filled the pulpit some time. The membership was located 
on both sides of the grove, and when Amboy and Sublette were built the 
society naturally broke in two, and the parts gravitated to these towns. 
The records were retained by the Sublette division. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints obtained a foot- 
hold and a large membership at an early date. The first preacher to 
come was William Anderson, who got permission to preach in John 
Hook's house. Traveling preachers came along at intervals, and some- 
thing of a band was formed, which grew to considerable proportions in 
a short while. Any reference to this sect will lead us to tell the story of 
the prophet's arrest in this township. His wife, before marriage, was 
Emma Hale, sister to Alva Hale, of Sublette, and David Hale and 
Mrs. Benjamin Wasson, of Amboy. In tlie community were acquaint- 
ances of Smith's boyhood, and one at least. Uncle Asa Searles, had 
been a school-fellow. Occasionally Smith visited his friends in the 
vicinity of Palestine Grove, and the presence of his followers, who 
numbered some of the most respectable families, made his journeys here 
doubly pleasurable. At sneh times he always preached, and the people 
came to the log school-house situated on the Sublette road, a few rods 
south of where the railroad is, to listen to his vehement oratory. 
It is more than y)robable that his visits were prompted by other motives 
than pleasure and duty, for when the saints were driven in vengeance 
from Missouri, the leaders, including the prophet, were tried before a 
drum-head court-martial and sentenced to be shot for treason, but were 
saved from this mobbish proceeding b}- the humane intervention of 
Gen. Doniphan, who afterward became justly celebrated for his brilliant 
achievements during the Mexican war. These men were held in 
custody for trial, on charges of theft, arson, treason and murder, but 
escaped and came to Nauvoo. In the autnmn of 1841 the governor of 
Missouri made a requisition on Gov. Carlin, of this state, for the deliv- 
ery of the fugitives. A writ was issued, but being soon after returned 
unexecuted. Gov. Carlin again placed it in the hands of an officer, and 
Smith was this time arrested. He was taken before Judge Douglas, 
who was then sitting on the supreme bench, and discharged upon a writ 
of habeas corpus, " upon the ground that the writ upon which he had 
been arrested had been once returned before it was executed, and was 
functus officio." The next year the governor issued a new writ, and 
" STuith was arrested again, and was either rescued by his followers or 
discharged by the municipal court [a Mormon tribunal] on a writ of 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 309 

habeas corpus." In liis " History of Illinois," Gov. Ford has given a 
circumstantial relation of these arrests, and we follow bis account, in- 
jecting sucb further particulars as we have reason to believe are authen- 
tic. In June, 1843, the governor of Missouri renewed his demand for 
the arrest and surrender of Smith, and according!}' "a new warrant, 
in pursuance of the constitution of the United States, was issued, and 
placed in the hands of a constable in Hancock. This constable and 
the Missouri agent hastened to Nauvoo to make the arrest, where 
they ascertained that Joe Smith was on a visit to Rock river. 
They pursued him thither, and succeeded in arresting him in 
Palestine Grove, in the county of Lee." Mrs. Smith was here visiting 
her relations, and the prophet, as was natural for him to do, had joined 
her, and had spoken once at the log school-liouse, in a Sunday discussion 
with a Methodist preacher named lieadly, regarding the authenticity 
of the " Book of Mormon." The next day he was called upon by 
tiiese two men, and on being told that they had a warrant for him, lie 
forcibly undertook to contest their ability to make him prisoner. " He 
was full six feet high, strongly built, and uncommonly well muscled," 
and with the two united against him the struggle that followed was a 
desperate one. He was at length overpowered, but not till all bad re- 
ceived bruises enough to show that each had been in the ' tiiickest of 
the tight.'" 

This episode occasioned the wildest excitement; the people sus- 
pected the legality of the arrest, and were not sure that it was not a 
ruse to get him away where he could be made the victim of insult and 
violence. A crowd followed to Dixon to insure fair play, and finally 
consented for the captors to depart with their prisoner'withont oppo- 
sition. "The constable immediately delivered his prisoner to the 
Missouri agent, and returned his warrant as having been executed. 
The agent started with his prisoner in the direction of Missouri, but 
on the road was met by a number of armed Mormons, who captured 
the whole party, and conducted them in tlie direction of Nauvoo. 
Further on they were met by hundreds of the Mormons, coming to 
the rescue of their prophet, who conducted him in grand triumph to 
his own city." A writ of habeas corpus was sued out of the municipal 
court "composed of Joe Smith's tools and particular friends," and by 
this court he was discharged. A year later he and his brother Hiram 
were basely murdered by an infuriated and cowardly mob ; and as soon 
as the twelve apostles who were absent on missionary work, could 
return, they, with Brigham Young at their head, usurped the govern- 
ment of the ciuirch. Numbers of Smith's followers had become dis- 
affected before his death ; the ranks of these were now augmented by 
considerable accessions, and a schism of no little importance was the 



310 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

result. Many of those who withdrew liad to make their escape secret- 
ly to save their property, and they formed the nucleus of the reorgan- 
ized church, whicli abjures polygamy. By these the claim is made 
that tiie prophet was not a patron of spiritual wifeism, but this is not 
to be at once admitted. 

Aaron Hook, who had lived at Nauvoo and been ordained an elder, 
returned to Rocky Ford to take up his residence; he sometimes 
preached, and was an influential man among those of his faith. About 
the time of the hegira to Salt Lake, William Smith, a brother to the 
prophet, came among the saints at the Ford and organized a branch. 
He claimed to be a lepresentative of the younger Joseph, son of the 
pro])hct and a mere lad, and that it was his duty to rule and direct the 
people uiitil the latter should assume the first place, or prophetship, in 
the church. Smith remained here awhile preaching and extending his 
congregation until it numbered no fewer than sixty souls. The com- 
pany was swelled by arrivals frotn Ohio and other places. Aaron 
Hook fitted up his house with a hall which was used for their services. 
They laid out a town on the ridge north of Rocky Ford, and at one 
time there was talk of building a temple, but the conception was never 
carried out. In course of time Smith got into bad odor with outsiders, 
and was once arrested for bigamy, but was not convicted, and in a 
little while he removed to otiicr parts. The branch he had established 
lost its energy after his departure. Besides the Hooks, Edwin Cadwell 
who came to the township in 1848, and is still living here, has been a 
leading and respected Mormon. Wentworth Blair, Stephen Stone 
and his father, and David L. Doan belong to the same category. 

The further history' of the sect in this place is uneventful until the 
year 1860, when, on April 0, the anniversary of the founding of the 
church, the annual conference assembled in Ambo\% with representa- 
tives from the different branches in Iowa, Michigan, and this state; 
and Joseph Smith, jr., of Piano, was solemnly installed prophet and 
high priest in the old Mechanics' hall. Two conferences are held 
annually; for several years the spring gathering met at Amboy and 
the autumnal meeting in Iowa. Conversions and additions to the 
church have been made at different times, and the society has a mem- 
bership of about forty. Joseph Smith, jr., who is a highly respected 
man, resides at Piano, where the headquarters of the church are 
established and the publications issued. Removal to Iowa is decided 
upon for this year. 

BINGHAMTON. 

This town was laid out in the S.E. ^ of Sec. 14. T. 21 N., R. 10 E. of 
the 4th P.M., in April 1818, by the proprietor, Asa B. Searles, and 
named in honor of the city of that name, county seat of Broome county, 



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AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 311 

New York, from which county a large number of the tirst settlers in 
tliis vicinity emigrated. Some lots were at the same time laid off on 
the S.W. J of Sec. 13 for "Warren Badger as part of the town. Mr. 
Searles built and kept the Binghauiton House, and also erected a store 
and took Edward Waters into partnership. Henry Porter bought them 
out, and he in turn sold to the Union Comjjany, a cooperative concern 
run on the stock principle and conducted by James H. Preston. 
While Mr. Searles was keeping public house, Robert G. Ingersoll, the 
now celebrated orator and infidel, then about sixteen years of age, was 
his man-of-all-work on the premises a full year. The Ingersoll family 
lived in the neighborhood three years from about 1846; the father was 
Congregational minister, and he and the boys, John, Ebon and Bob, 
farmed some on rented land. The latter, we are told, was a live boy, 
full of fun and stories. In 1844 a flouring-mill, the first built in Lee 
count}', was raised here by John Dexter and the Badger brothers, 
Warren and Palmer. The latter was crushed and killed by a bank of 
earth falling upon him, and his place in the partnership was taken by 
Chester Badger. In 1858 he (Chester) and his brother Henry pur- 
chased the property, and in the following winter introduced steam 
power. On Thursday' night, July 18, 1872, it was burned to the 
ground, and the proprietors sustained a loss of $6,000, the sum of 
$8,000 being covered by insurance. It was at once rebuilt, and Chester 
Badger sold his interest to H. E. Badger & Son, «ho operated it until 
its late destruction. It was struck and set on fire b}' lightning in the 
evening of July 21, 1881 ; the value of mill and stock was $16,000, 
with an insurance of $6,000. This mill was furnished with all the 
modern improvements, was run both b}' water and steam, and its de- 
struction was not only a heavy loss to the owners, but a serious one 
also to the community. 

James Doan set up a plow factory, but after a year sold to Freder- 
ick Bainter; and in 1846 another was started by the Shaws and 
Churches. In 1851 H. E. Badger entered into partnership with 
Bainter, but they soon dissolved, and the next year the manufacture 
was continued by Henry and Chester Badger, while Bainter carried on 
another shop. In 1854 James Dexter built a saw-mill. David Crocker 
and David Searles, partners, and Warren Badger were storekeepers not 
before mentioned. Besides the " Binghamton," there was another 
place of public entertainment known as the "Reed House." The 
town had two custom blacksmiths, a shoemaker, one wagon shop and 
a carding machine. After the mail and stage route was changed and 
the postoffice removed from Shelburn to Binghamton in 1850 this 
became a brisk place of trade and manufacture, whose crowded hotels 
were an index of the great travel by this route. 
19 



312 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

About 1S40 a Metliodist class was organized in this settlement, and 
among the original members were Joseph Dean, Curtis Bridgman, 
Andrew Bainter, aaid their wives, and Aunt Betsy Doan. Frederick 
Baiiiter, Joseph Lewis, Henry E. Badger and their wives were leading 
members. This society was in the Lee Center circuit, and in 1851 
they erected a house of worship in this town. When Amboy sprang 
into existence H. E. Badger purchased the building, and another was 
reared in the rising city. That was used a few years and then sold to 
the district for a school-house. 

Binghainton is situated a mile east of Amboy, and certainly it 
was not expected that she would never languish like all old-time towns 
which the modern system of travel has failed to rescue from decay, but 
nevertheless she has carried herself proudly in her desolation. The 
only business interest of which she is not now bereft is the plow fac- 
tory of "W. L Fish, if we e.xcept the Amboy Drain Tile and Brick 
Works erected the present season by Wightwick & Stone less than half 
a mile north of the place. These works represent a growing and im- 
portant industry, which is destined to exercise an influence in the de- 
velopment of wealth beyond all calculation. The main building is 
50x100 feet, two stories high, and the facilities for burning include 
four of Tiffany's patent square, down-draft kilns, all under one roof, so 
arranged as to utilize the waste heat of the kiln while cooling in firing 
the next. Tiffany's Centennial Tiffany Brick and Tile Machine is the 
one used for moulding, and this is propelled by a Siamese Twins Du- 
plex engine of twenty-horse power. The fixtures are all of the latest 
pattern, and comprise some very recent novel and valuable improve- 
ments. Messrs. AVightwick & Stone intend to operate the year I'ound 
by means of steam drying in winter, which will give their factory a 
capacity of 2,000,000 tiles annually. Additions to their works are to 
be made in the near future. 

The first interment in the cemetery at this town was Patience, wife 
of A. B. Searles, who died December 19, 1846. The place was used 
as a common burial lot until March 1856, when the Binghamton 
Cemetery Association was formed, and a piece of land bought from 
Mr. Searles and put under fence. Three soldiers of the late war are 
buried here: Otis Bridgman, who enlisted at Amboy, May 1861, in 
Co. C, 13th 111. Vols., served three years, and died of disease contracted 
in the service; John Bainter, whose enlistment was the same in all 
respects, was mustered out January 15, 1S64, and died from the same 
cause March 24; and John Lewis, who enlisted in Co. G, 39th 111. Vols. 
(Yates' phalanx), at Amboy, in August 1861, served on the Peninsula 
campaign, was discharged, and died November 22, 1864, of disease 
contracted in the army. 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP, 313 

ROCKY FORD AND SHELBURN. 

This place was one of the earliest settled in the township, and for 
many years was the central point of interest. The ford has made it a 
crossing-place from time immemorial. The Indian trail from Council 
BluflFs to Chicago crossed here ; and in the time of the Black Hawk war 
the command under Maj. Stillman forded the stream at this point on 
their way to gather laurels at Stillman's Run. Timothy Perkins is 
generalh' credited with having been the first permanent settler. In 
company with Horace Bowen he erected a saw-mill which passed suc- 
cessively into the hands of Lee, Mason, Van Norman, and Dutcher. 
Van Norman was a relic of the Patriot war in Canada (1836-8), where 
he suifered imprisonment, but escaping in the summer of 1837 reached 
Dixon. He took a contract of grading on the old Central railroad at 
this point, which brought him here as a resident. The Peru and 
Galena road, which passed this place, was a stage route some years, 
and after the completion of the canal was a highway of heavy traffic 
and travel. In 1848 Frederick Dutcher bought the property from 
Daniel Mason and Horace Stump, and the next year platted the village 
of Shelbnrn, making the creek divide it through the center. Imme- 
diately on laying out the place he erected a small distillery on the 
south bank, and in 1853 added a store. He was followed a 3'ear after- 
ward by Jacob Doan, who put up another store. A few houses were 
built, and eventually the town came to be one where a very large busi- 
ness was transacted. The large flouring-mill and distillery combined, 
whose erection was begun in 1856 by the Shelbnrn Manufacturing 
Company, of which Mr. Dutcher was president, was the main feature 
whicli kept the place alive. The structure was built of stone, the 
mill proper being 60x60 feet, four stories high, and the distillery 
40x140, two and one-half stories. The dam was of masonry, and the 
cost of the whole property §65,000. The late Col. Wyman was a 
prominent member of this company. In 1859 an explosion threw 
down part of the south wall of the building, and projected the boiler 
thirty rods, landing it south of the creek. John Bentley, the engineer, 
was seriously injured, and the loss was $4,000. About ten years after- 
ward the building was destroyed by fii'e. 

Postal facilities were obtained after a few j'ears, but at first the 
nearest post-office was at Dixon. Asa B. Searles was the first postmas- 
ter in this township, and was appointed by Amos Kendall about 1840. 
The office was kept at his house. His second incumbency was. under 
Polk at the time he was keeping store at Binghamton. He resigned^ 
and was succeeded by Warren Badger. The first north-and-south 
route of travel through this section was from Galena to Peoria, via: 
Dixon, but it was at 'length changed to Peru. In 1842 it became a 



314 HISTOUY OF LEE COLTS'TY. 

mail-route, and the carrier, a Dtitciiiiia!i, made tiie trip on horseback 
every week witiiout failure during the year, stopping at John Hook's 
Monday nights as he went north, and Friday niglits as he went south. 
The next year Frink & Walker put on a line of stages and carried the 
mail, and about two years after that Andruss & Di.xon started an oppo- 
sition line. The Shelburn post-office was established, with Mr. Dutcher 
as postmaster, but in the rivalry between this place and Binghamton 
the latter procured the removal of the office, and the diversion of the 
stage-route to that point. This was too mortifying to be endured, and 
about as soon as it could be done the office was renewed under the 
name of Equator. By the removal of buildings and loss by fire and 
flood Shelburn has nearly disappeared. 

CITY OF AMBOY. 

This embowered little city, second in size in Lee county, contain- 
ing nearly 2,500 inhabitants, is situated in the Green River valley at 
the intersection of the Illinois Central and the Rock River branch of 
the Chicago, Burlington & (Juincy railroad, and is overlooked from 
nortli and south by beautiful stretches of country which gradually 
rise to elevations of almost seventy feet. The first beginnings on the 
site of this place were made in 183S by John Sawyer, who built a 
cabin on the bank of the creek ; and Cyrus Davis, who erected another 
just in front of where the Baptist church stands on Mason street. 
Davis built the first frame house, which was begun in the fall of 1845, 
and finished the next spring. This stood in the street when the town 
was platted, but was moved to the east side where it is still used as a 
dwelling. Sawyer sold his claim to Joseph Farwell and Joseph B. 
Appleton. Farwell came in 1841 and built where Lucius Clark's resi- 
dence stands on the corner of Main street and Adams avenue, and his 
farm was the N.E. ^ Sec. 22. Appleton settled here permanently in 
1844, but first came as an unmarried man two or three years prior to 
that date. The homestead is situated in the west part of the town. He 
built the second frame house. Josiah M. Davis and his father Joel, 
who settled here about 1848, lived close to the western limits. 

This city is the offspring of the Central railroad. In the early 
summer of 1851 the surveying parties under the chief engineer, Ros- 
well B. Mason, took their several stations on the line and immediately 
began preliminary operations. T. B. Blackstone, whose name has been 
given to one of the streets in the original town, had charge of the 
squad employed between Dixon and Bloomington. In December 
1852 K. F. Booth, for several years afterward a resident of Ambo}', 
came to this place at the head of a small party whose business was to 
direct the work on this part of the route. A company, distinct from 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 315 

the Illinois Central Railroad Company, but composed in part, if not 
wholly, of stockholders in the latter, purchased and owned the land for 
the village plats along the road. They bought the Lay farm for a 
depot and station two miles above here in the direction of Dixon, 
which was subsequently sold to a conductor named Cole. They gave 
out word that the company would erect machine shops at that point ; 
a few loads of stone were hauled there, and the place named Kepatau. 
If there was ever any real intention of making a station and building 
shops there it was of very brief duration. H. B. Judkins came down 
one day, and securing the company of a certain influential citizen, went 
to Farwell, and pretending to be a returned Californian, said he want- 
ed to buy a stock-farm, and a bargain was forthwith made for the 
" Farwell slough farm," as old settlers had named it, for $13 per acre. 
John B. Wyman, assistant superintendent of the road, hastened to buy 
out Cyrus Davis, and then Farwell was given to understand that if he 
had any wish to secure himself he should lose no time in doing it, 
and he accordingly purchased the farm from his son-in-law, Curtis 
Bridgman. The land company made a deed of trust to Messrs. 
Ketchum and Gray ; and Col. Mason, who was superintendent as well 
as chief engineer of road, acted as their attorney. 

In June, 1853, Michael Egan was sen± to this place to commence the 
mason work on the station buildings, and in the autumn of the same 
year D. S. Clark was put in charge of the carpenter work. Some time 
during the season Mr. Booth prepared the plans for the machine shops, 
and Mr. Egan laid the foundations and pushed the construction with 
his characteristic energy throughout the following winter. In the 
spring the walls of the passenger house were up and the building 
inclosed ; in course of the summer both that and the freight house 
were completed, and before winter the machine shops were in a 
forward state of progress. Most of the other shops which the company 
now have were built in the following year, 1855. 

The year lS5i was the natal year of Amboy. In January or Feb- 
ruary a Frenchman b}' the name of Meyer, under the directions of Col. 
Mason, came and laid out the town, completing his survey March 24. 
On July 26 the first bonds for deeds were executed. John L. Skinner 
was the first purchaser of lots. He paid S600 for the northeast corner lot 
on Main street and East avenue, now occupied by the Badger building. 
On this he began the erection of the Orient House in the fall of 1854; 
in September, 1855, it was completed, and opened to the public by 
the Lee brothers, who were proprietors one year under lease. Charles 
W. Bell, who had been grading on the road nearl}' a year, in August, 
1853, came here with his family and opened a boarding-house for rail- 
road men in a mammoth, barn-like shanty belonging to the company, 



316 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

and which had been erected near the spot where the Baptist church 
stands. On January 21 this caught fire and burned down, but was 
immediately rebuilt by the company. When Mr. Bell settled in the 
place Cyrus Davis had moved away ; Appleton was on the homestead ; 
Farwell was about to move, or had just moved to his new purchase; 
Alvan H. Thompson was living at his old home where Superintendent 
Jacobs resides; and a transient family occupied the Davis dwelling. 
These comprised the population of Amboy, which, by the way, was 
not yet surveyed and christened, except some railroad employes who 
could not at that time be regarded as settlers. Isaac Edwards, who 
graded seven miles of the railroad, settled temporarily south of the 
Inlet this year. 

By the following spring K. F. Booth, D. S. Clark, and Michael 
Egan were occupying residences with their families; and from this 
time the place made rapid growth after the nervous fashion of western 
towns. The "live Yankees" began to pour in, and their partiality 
for the location at once decided the complexion of society. All availa- 
ble room was speedily secured; every shingle covered a boarder, and 
the demand for lodgings was as unfortunate as Oliver Twist's crv for 
" more." The science of storing away was grasped and learned, and 
every house was crammed to its utmost capacity from ground to garret. 
Boxes and trunks were piled one above another against the walls to 
make room to spread the tables for meals, and for the beds upon the 
floors at night. This was nearing first principles, still these people 
found more pleasures than hardships, for virtuous freedom may always 
be enjoyed, and never so much as when those who voluntarilj' come 
together with a common ])urpose have more wants than privileges to 
divide. " Roughing it," never unmixed with a certain excitement, had 
its fascinations, and was encountered with a relish. Busy thoughts and 
hands and light hearts brought health and zest to every individual, 
and when people came together, as they often sought and had occasion 
to do, fo}' and mirth were siiontaneous and uncoiifined. Amusements 
were not wanting; and though rude and simple, they served the 
goodly end of recreation, and kept men from base employments. 
Dancing, the favorite, was indulged with the fondness (jf early days. 
After supper was over and dusk had come, the room was cleared of 
chairs and tables b}' piling them up out of doors, and from that time 
till morning was nigh the cheerful voices of the violin and flute were 
blended in the pleasing strains of the Fisher's Hornpipe, the Arkansaw 
Traveler, and other familiar pieces; and Virginia reels and other 
figures were executed by never wearying feet. The already quickened 
energies of the people took a new impulse in the whirl of labor and 
business into which everybody plunged with an absorbing ambition 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 317 

for the fruits of industry and improved opportunities. Men came 
with their families, and failing to find lodgings, hastily put up rough 
shanties to guard them from the weather, until more durable buildings 
could be erected ; and as a matter of feet the earliest structures, though 
designed to be permanent, were raised in the briefest possible time, 
and were not of the most substantial character. 

The original plat of tlie town was on the N.E. ^ Sec. 22, the Far- 
well farm. Wyman's addition was next laid out on the S.W. ^ Sec. 15, 
tiie Cyrus Davis farm, J. B. Wyman, H. C. Purple, and others, being 
the proprietors. Farwell surveyed a part of his land into lots, and 
Giison & Ransom, of La Salle, bought an undivided half of Apple- 
ton's land and laid off Gilson's addition. A lively strife at once ensued 
among these rival interests. Wyman was selling residence property, 
and having a brisk trade. The land company was disposing of busi- 
ness lots on Main street and East avenue, and it seemed almost fated that 
the center of trade would be in that locality. The interest of the other 
parties lay in drawing the town, or an equal share of it, to the west 
side. To compass this end, in the spring of 1855 Giison & Ransom 
erected the Exchange block, a large wooden structure divided into six 
or seven business compartments below, and a number of offices and 
dwelling-rooms above. This occupied lots Nos. 2, 3, and 4 in block 
14, Gilson's addition. At the same time Farwell built the hall which 
bore his name, on lot 8, block 7, north side of Division street. No 
building associated with the early history of the town will call up such 
a variety of recollections as Farwell hall ; for it was at once public hall, 
polling place, school-house, and everybody's meeting-house. For a 
while the prospects and advantages were somewhat equalized, though 
there was no time when there was not an unequal rivalry. 

Let lis drop the growth of the business quarter long enough to 
notice the erection of the earliest private houses. The two first were 
built simultaneously in the summer of 1854, on the north side of Main 
street, east of Mason, by L. W. Borden and E. S. Reynolds. The 
latter moved into his in August. Dr. David Bainter built the third, 
but claims to have been the first to move into the town after it was 
platted. Mr. Reynolds makes the same claim also for himself. This 
was situated on the southeast corner of Jones and Division streets, and 
here Bainter & Co., oculists, aurists and Lidian doctors, had their 
office on the lower floor, and their art gallery on the upper one. Fol- 
lowing these initial buildings others went up rapidly, the music of 
saws and planes and the clangor of hammers resounding on every 
street. The business prospects of the place were flattering. The rail- 
road works in progress contributed generously to this progress ; and 
people crowded into the town to the overflowing of accommodations, 



318 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

and as a consequence rents advanced exorbitantly, and persons seek- 
ing board were linocking at every door. By the next spring the 
inhabitants of the town were estimated at 1,000. 

R. D. Peironett and Samuel Goldman were the first to start in 
■what had the semblance of mercantile business. Peironett opened a 
little rough-board shop in the spring of 1854, in which he kept a small 
stock of common articles; and Goldman, who had been peddling cloth- 
ing through the country since 1851, set up in trade on East avenue, 
somewhat later, in a shanty which a dozen men could pick up and 
carry away. He became a leading citizen, and acquired a large eompe- 
tenco; and in 1870 retired from active business and settled in Chicago, 
where he died a year ago. In the spring of the same year .Tosiah 
Little, in searching for a location, reached this place, and deciding to 
make it his home, proceeded to erect a store, the first which could be 
dignified with the name, on lot 8, block 3, original plat. The stone 
was brought from Lee Center and the lumber from Mendota. In 
October it was completed and tilled with drugs, hardware and grocer- 
ies. Messrs. Wilcox <fe Wooster built a store the same fall on tiie ground 
now owned and occupied b^' L. Bourne, on East avenue. The lumber 
for this was hauled from Mendota. They traded in dry-goods and grocer- 
ies a year, when A. H. "Wooster bought Wilcox's interest, and tiie new 
firm continued the business'at the old stand another year. Meantime 
they had purchased the lot on tiie east .corner of Main and Jones streets, 
at present covered by the Merrifield building, and erected a store. The 
autumn of 185-1 found E. & J. Little, and the Union store which had been 
moved from Binghamton, and was conducted by J. H. Preston, and 
Cornelius Allen, harness-maker, on the north side of Main street, with 
Warriner & Beresford, lumber merchants, on the south side. Wilcox 
& Wooster, Samuel Goldman, and Paul Cullen, the latter keeping 
groceries and liquors, were in trade on East avenue. Between this 
time and the spring of 185(1 the following firms and persons were iden- 
tified with the development of business: Guybort & Hyncs, Cyrus 
Bridgman & Bro., Walton & Tvizer, Rosenbaum & Walton, and Car- 
son & Pirie, who began with groceries in the store built by Wilcox & 
Wooster, and afterward extended their business to dry -goods in an 
adjoining house, and carried on a large and successful cash business 
till 1865, when they removed to Chicago and engaged in the wholesale 
trade. G. H. McFatrich built a business house in the spring of 1855 
on Main street, on the present site of Wheat & Gridley's store. A. & 
C. D. Vaughan, furniture dealers and undertakers, set up on Mason 
street, nearly opposite the present Methodist church. J. D. Waddcll, 
fnrniture and undertaking, built two storerooms on the south side of 
Main street. On August 25, 1860, while hunting, he was accidentally 

I 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 319 

shot and killed. R. H. Mellen went to manufacturing lumber in the 
spring of 1S55. James Boyd started in lumber and grain, and after 
figuring largely for a short time, moved away. C. D. Sears & Co. 
opened a lumber yard and built a planing-mill and sash and door fac- 
tory. G. H. Ambrose and Francis Little, grain dealers at first, after- 
ward started a private bank. Henry Keeling, from New Orleans, 
opened a hardware store in company with Jolm ScoUy. He has been 
a prominent business man and citizen, and in 1865 built Keeling's 
block on East avenue. Isaac Edwards began, and has since carried on, 
the livery business. Briggs & Gushing sold drugs and groceries. C. M. 
Butler and Robert Merrigold formed a copartnership in lumber and 
grain. T. J. King, grocer; Badger Bros., N. S. Chase, first in cloth- 
ing, afterward hardware: Philip Flach, barber; Jacob Kline, baker; 
Abrara Jackson, baker and confectioner ; Ashford & Cook and George 
Keefer, butchers; and Mrs. "W. B. Andrnss, artist, who occupied rooms 
in the Exchange block. No. 33, Vol. I, of the "Lee County Times," 
published February 7, 1856, the earliest paper on file in the " Amboy 
Journal " office, contains advertisements of business men and others not 
already mentioned, as follows: Clark & Watson, clothing; "Wm. B. 
Stuart, attorney-at-law, city auctioneer and land agent; W. E. Ives, 
attorney; H. M. Snow, Doane & Quinn, meat market; W. E. Ives, 
assignee of Peironett & Reed ; W. H. Allen, music store ; E. W. Mc- 
Lean, general store ; Mead & Hall : dissolution notice of J. W. D. 
Blake & Co. ; Alexander Martin ; G. R. McKinney, general merchan- 
dise; Drs. T. P. Sleeper and J. A. Jackson ; James Boyd, land agent ; 
Illinois Central railroad time table, James C. Clark, superintendent ; 
Mrs. Gosden, milliner; A. S. Pierce, boots and shoes; H. F. & E. D. 
Walker, hardware; James C. Wheat, carpenter and joiner; Gilson & 
Ransom, land agents; J. Carroll, tailor; Thomas Adamson, jeweler; 
Illinois Central house, J. B. Wyman, proprietor; Egan & Bootii, 
grocers; Alex. Zubrod, grocer; A. E. Wilcox, grain; J. H. Wisner, 
livery ; W. H. Brackett & Co., blacksmiths ; P. Vogt, shoemaker ; 
Reed & Pond, hides and grain ; and Amboy Lodge, No. 179, 1.O.O.F. 
Among a large number of mechanics, many of whom were in the em- 
ploy of the Central railroad company, we may mention in addition the 
following: Lucius Clarke, Nicholas Koontz, and Harvey and Levi 
Ives, carpenters; George W. Mingle, shoemaker; and a man named 
Hines, blacksmith. Henry Chapin erected, in the fall of 1855, the 
first blacksmith shop east of the railroad, and the second one in the 
town. Considerable of the business was on the west side, and Ex- 
change block was for some time all occupied. But Gilson died early, 
before realizing a fruition of his plans; the efforts on behalf of that 
part of the town grew feebler; and seeing the drift of trade setting 



320 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

steadil}' and more strongly in tlie other direction, the dealers one by 
one deserted that quarter, like rats abandoning a sinking craft. A 
part of the now solitary building was torn down, and tlie remainder 
was leveled by fire. Amboy grew rapidly through 1856, and main- 
tained a steady increase until the breaking out of the war. In speak- 
ing of the progress of the town, the "Times," in its issue of July 31, 
1856, sums up its development thus: "We have now between 2,000 
and 3,000 inhabitants, two churches and another in process of con- 
struction, about thirty stores and groceries, a steam planing-mill and 
sash factory, three hotels, two livery stables, and in fact establishments 
of almost every variety." The estimate of population is too indeter- 
minate to be of much value now, though it served well enough the 
purposes of local pride at that time; and "groceries" includes several 
drinking shops, whose combined eliect has been an ample harvest of 
crime and woe in accidents, disasters and tragedies. 

David Bainter was the first doctor to locate in the new town. Dr. 
Harmon Wasson lived just beyond the limits. J. A. Jackson came in 
the autumn of 1854. T. P. Sleeper, who was mostly employed in 
dentistry, arrived in 1855. Yaughan, a young physician, and brother 
to C. D. Vaughan, and A. P. Chase the next year; and McFatrich 
still later. The healing art is at present represented by Drs. Ryon, 
Felker, Travers, Wilcox, Manning and Saguin. Dr. George Deniing 
practices dentistry. 

The Amboy bar has been composed of men of respectable legal 
talent. William E. Ives, the oldest practicing attorney in the county, 
settled here in December 185-1:, and was the first to hang out a sign in 
the place. Alfred Tooker and James H. Felch, partners, came next ; 
and in 1855 Alonzo Kinyon, one of the most marked men that Lee 
county has had, settled here, read law, and began practice in this place. 
Although lacking in the advantages of education, he possessed large 
intellectuality and great energy of character, and added to these natu- 
ral endowments liabits of ceaseless and rugged industry. P<y force of 
will and activity his success was solid and conspicuous. In politics he 
was a republican, and an active man in his party; and in 1868 was 
elected representative to the genera! assembly. The principal measures 
passed by that body, as the result of his labors, were a charter for the 
Chicago & Rock River railroad ; and another act creating " The Court 
of Common Pleas of the City of Amboy," to have concurrent jurisdic- 
tion in the city of Amboy with the circuit court of Lee county in all 
cases, civil and criminal, except murder and treason. In April, 1869, 
Mr. Kinyon was elected judge of this court for a term of four years, 
with an annual salary of §3,500 ; and C. D. Vaughan was elected clerk. 
In February, 1874, the act establishing the court was repealed. In the 



A3[B0T TOWNSHIP. 321 

early history of tlie town Mr. Kinyon was largely engaged in building, 
and in no small degree increased its growth and accommodations. 

Enos J. Ives and William B. Stuart were attorneys in practice here 
when the town was first started. The latter was a pioneer of the 
county, and is still a resident of Amboy. In 1858 B. H. Trusdell, a 
young lawyer from New Jersey, settled here in practice and still 
resides in the place. He was elected to the legislature by the demo- 
crats for one term, and served the county with credit. E. Southwick, 
a. lawyer of ability, and some note, lived here, and died just before Mr. 
Trusdell came. N. H. Ryan was another early lawyer. He also went 
from this county to the legislature. An attorney by the name of 
Eyon formed a partnership with Mr. Kinyon when the latter com- 
menced to practice. Ryon's stay did not exceed two years. J. E. 
Lewis, C. E. Ives, C. H. Wooster and T. P. Duffy have all been ad- 
mitted here, and represent the later generation. 

INCORPORATION. 

In the winter of 1854-5 Amboy became a town under the general 
incorporation law, and Deacon Allen E. Wilcox was president of the 
first board of trustees. H. B. Judkins was president and Dr. J. A. 
Jackson clerk of the second and last board. In the autumn of 1856 
agitation for a city organization was begun, and on the 23d of Decem- 
ber a meeting of citizens was held at Mechanics' Hall to consider the 
subject. A. E. Wilcox was called to the chair and W. M. Taylor chosen 
secretary. J. B. Wyman, W. E. Ives, A. Kinyon, E. Southwick and 
John L. Skinner were appointed a committee ,to present a form of char- 
ter at an adjourned meeting on the 30th. This was held at the Orient 
House, and the charter reported was adopted by sections, and then as a 
whole. A committee consisting of J. B. Wyman, W. E. Ives and J. V. 
H. Judd was selected to laj^ it before the legislature and urge its passage. 
It was enacted and approved February IG, 1857, and adopted at an 
election held for the purpose on the 2d of March. The city limits 
were defined as " the south half of section fifteen and the north half of 
section twenty-two, in township twenty north, of I'ange ten east of the 
fourth principal meridian ; also that part of section twentj'-three which 
embraces Arnold's addition." Taylor and Davis' addition has since 
been annexed. Two amendments have been made to the charter, the 
first in 1867, and the last in 1869. The city government comprises a 
mayor and a council consisting of eight aldermen, elected from four 
wards, a marshal, a treasurer, an attorney and a clerk. 

The first charter election was held on the 8th, and the following 
persons were chosen to fill the several offices : John B. Wyman, 
mayor; Orange D. Reed, marshal ; S. S. Stedman and E. S. Reynolds, 



322 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

aldermen of the first ward ; J. R. Stevens and F. B. Little, aldermen of 
the second ward ; and J. M. Davis and J. A. Jackson, aldermen of the 
third ward. 234 votes were cast. The officers were installed on the 
16th, and the council elected Daniel T. Wood, clerk ; W. E. Ives, 
attorney; A. E. Wilco.x, assessor; W. B. Andrews, collector ; Edward 
Little, treasurer ; and Arthur Pond, surveyor. 

The council passed an ordinance September 8, 1857, creating a tire 
department, but this was never of any service to the city ; and by 
beguiling it into fancied security paralyzed all attempts to make it 
efficient. Not until the fire demon had several times lapped up tiie 
business quarter of the city were earnest efforts made to render prop- 
erty reasonably secure against destruction. After the disastrous fire of 
August 2.5, 1871, prompt measures were taken to provide the city with 
suitable and efficient tire apparatus. A third-class Silsby steam tire 
engine, and a hose carriage with 500 feet of hose were contracted for 
at a cost of $5,050. This apparatus was delivered to and accepted by 
the city authorities in November 1S71. The Vigilant Fire Company 
was organized November 18, with the following officers: A. B. 
Huston, foreman; J. H. Stott, assistant foreman of engine; H. E. 
Donnell, foreman of hose; C. H. Bunker, assistant foreman of hose; 
E. n. Thresher, secretary ; and George Stimpson, treasurer. The 
officers of the tire department were as follows: B. B. Howard, chief 
engineer ; W. W. Powell, assistant engineer ; M. A. Brewer, engineer 
of steamer; and Daniel Maloney, tire warden. The Vigilant Fire 
Company, than which none could be more efl^'ective, was in active 
service until August 5, 1873, when it withdrew from the tire depart- 
ment of Amboy. Lnmediately "Amboy Fire Company No. 1 "' was 
organized, and the following day reported to the council. It has 
twenty-six members, and the following are the officers: Chas. Walker, 
captain; James Morris, assistant captain; Edward Smith, foreman of 
hose ; Wm. Wells, assistant foreman ; Frank Almy, secretary ; and 
David Shafer, treasurer. 

In the autumn of 1864 the city erected a two-story building in the 
business row on the south side of Main street for a council room, and 
a hall for an engine company, when such an organization as the latter 
should be formed. In October, 1870, a cell built of solid masonry was 
put into the building, and in the great fire the following year a prisoner 
confined over night for a tritiing offense was literally roasted alive, 
a cruel because unnecessary tragedy, occurring by reason of the crim- 
inal thoughtlessness of the officer. This hall was immediately rebuilt. 
On the first floor is the engine room and calaboose, and on the second 
the council meets. This body first occupied the new building Friday 
evening, February 2, 1872. 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP, 



323 



The following is a list of the mayors and clerks of the city : 

CLERKS. 

D. T. Wood. 

W. B. Andruss. 

W. B. Andruss. 

R. H. Mellen. 

R. H. Mellen. 

W. C. Sears. 

W. C. Sears. 

H. G. Pratt. 

N. H. Ryan. 

N. H. Ryan. 

N. H. Ryan. 

Lee Cronkrite. 

Lee Cronkrite. 

Everett E. Cliase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Chase. 

Everett E. Cliase. 

Everett E. Chase. 
In tlie winter of 1854-5 the post-offices were discontinued at Shel- 
burn and Bingharaton, and one was established at Amboy, with 
Orange D. Reed as postmaster. He lield the office until the spring of 
1861, when R. H. Mellen was appointed under the administration of 
President Lincoln, and lias been in possession since. 

Medora Bell, daughter of Charles Bell, was born August 27, 1854; 
this birth was the first in the village of Amboy. The first birth in the 
townsliip was that of Simon, son of John Dexter, in 1836, and the 
second was that of Win. C. Doan, son of James Doan, October 16, 
1837. The first marriage in the village of Amboy was that of Wm. 
C. Bartlett and the widow of Danford Bartlett, formerly Caroline 
Vinton, October 18, 1854. Almira Melissa, infant daughter of Wm. 
B. Stuart, died January 5, 1855 ; this was the first death in the village. 
In 1874 east and west Main street was partly ballasted, and the 
macadamizing has since been extended through the city. Before this 
was done this thoroughfare at some seasofis was next to impassable. 



X in 


J i,\J Ll\J YS 1 1 1 ^ JO «- liOl. Vj 




MAYORS. 


1857 


J. B. Wyman. 


1858 


John R. Stevens. 


1859 


James Rosebrugh 


1860 


J. B. Wyman. 


1861 


W. E. Ives. 


1862 


W. E. Ives. 


1863 


W. E. Ives. 


1864 


C. M. Butler. 


1865 


C. M. Butler. 


1866 


C. D. Yaughan. 


1867 


C. D. Vaughan. 


1868 


Michael Egan. 


1869 


Michael Egan. 


1870 


Michael Egan. 


1871 


Isaac Edwards. 


1872 


Isaac Edwards. 


1873 


Isaac Edwards. 


1874 


Robert Richards. 


1875 


Isaac Edwards. 


1876 


Isaac Edwards. 


1877 


Isaac Edwards. 


1878 


J. B. Felker. 


1879 


J. B. Felker. 


1880 


J. B. Felker. 


1881 


J. B. Felker. 



324 HISTORY OF LEE COtTNTY. 

, Not only has the grade of this street been raised, but in the business 
quarter the surface, by filling in, has been made some four feet higher 
than it was when the town was laid out. In the early settlement of 
the country this was almost a quagmire, which was described as "Far- 
well's slough farm." 

The two principal tragedies have been the murder of Dennis Allen, 
saloon keeper, by Owen O'Connor, October 11, 1872; and Edward 
Egan, by John McGrath, April 18, 1873. The first was shot, and died 
within an liour; the last was stabbed in tlie bowels, and survived until 
the fourth day. No serious cause of trouble existed in either case, and 
both acts were incited by strong drink. Both murderers escaped ade- 
quate punishment. Two negroes had an altercation in the passenger 
house, and one dealt the other a blow which ended his life in a few 
days. The number of drunken men who have been crushed and 
mangled to death on the railroad track in the city forms a list sickening 
to any brain not made impassive by alcohol. 

The removal of the county seat to Araboy at one time formed an 
engrossing theme of controversy. It passed from the domain of words 
to that of acts in 1866, when the nomination by the republican union 
convention for representative fell upon Col. George Ryon, of Paw Paw, 
who represented the claims of Amboy. The people of this city at 
once held a meeting and selected W. E. Ives, B. H. Trusdell and N. 
H. Ryan to attend to the advertising required by the law relating to 
removals. The effort did not succeed. 

In June, 1880, the city purchased from the Leake estate a tract of 
ground comprising nearly twenty-five acres, situated east of and ad- 
joining the corporate limits, on the south side of Main street, and 
inclosed in the angle of Inlet creek, for $2,250. Tliis was formerly 
the property of A. B. Searles. It is covered with a thrifty growth of 
young timber, and is to be fitted up for a park. In 1878 a soldiers' 
reunion, the first in this part of the state, noted for the large attend- 
ance and its complete success, at which Gen. Logan and prominent 
men besides were present, was held in this grove. 

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD BUILDINGS. 

As recorded on a former page, in the summer of 1853 ground was 
first broken for the erection of the passenger and freight houses, and 
they were completed and put to use the next year. Both were con- 
structed of brick, and the first was 40x100 feet on the plan, two and 
one-half stories high, and built in a ver}' substantial manner. It was 
a railroad hotel, went by the iiame of "Passenger House," and was 
kept by the following proprietors: James Aiken, John B. Wynian, 
Gushing and Hubbard, Gushing, J. Swift, Thomas Burns, A. H. Var- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 



325 



ney, N. P. Almy, J. A. Kamsdell, Davison, C. C. Fulton, Gaylord, 
Dr. A. P. Chase, Oscar Hughes, and Frederick Hepburn. At three 
"o'clock Monday morning, November 15, 1S75, this house was discov- 
ered to be on fire, and in two hours it was totally consumed. This 
was the last regular hotel in the city. Next year a new building of 
brick, with light-colored stone trimmings, was erected on the site of 
the old, but its character was wholly changed. The first floor is 
divided into a ticket office and waiting and baggage rooms, while in 
the upper story are situated the various offices for operating the line. 




ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD BRIDGE AT DIXON, ILL. 

The original freight house, 40x80 feet, remains well preserved, and is 
good for a hundred j'ears' entire use. The first freight and station agent 
was C. R. Fields, who held the position three months and was suc- 
ceeded by Lemuel Bourne, who retained it eight years. 

Work was commenced on the shops in lS5-i, and they were finished 
the next year. The company's temporary shops were located between 
the Dutcher building and the track, and were torn down when the 
permanent buildings were occupied in the spring of 1856. The me- 
chanical department comprises eight divisions, which are distributed 
among the several shops ; these divisions are machine, car repair, 
blacksmith, paint, boiler, locomotive, wood repair, tin, and storehouse. 
The machine shop is two stories high, 85x130 feet on the ground, 
built of brick and covered with slate roof A stationary engine of 
eightv horse power, almost as noiseless as a clock, drives all the 



326 HISTORY OF LEK DOUNXy. 

machiiierv in this and tlie blacksmith shop by means of sliat'ting 
througii both buildings. Steam is supplied from two large tubular 
boilers. In the first shop the machinery is all on the ground floor, 
while in the second story are the locomotive, wood repair and the tin 
shops. Tracks extend into this building and connect with a turntable 
for convenience in the rejiair of locomotives. The blacksmith shop 
adjoining on the northwest corner is one story, with walls about 
twenty feet high and slated roof. Its dimensions are 70x125 feet on 
the plan. A dozen or more forges are ranged round, with a large one 
in the center supplied with all necessary apparatus, including a trip 
hammer, for handling and doing heavy work. A powerful blower 
supplies the blast ; and above the forges extends a large pipe fiom 
which smaller ones lead down with valves to regulate its use. The 
car repair shop is a frame building 60x150 feet and one story in 
height. Two tracks extend nearly the full length, and on either side is 
a continuous row of work-benches. Repairing onl^' is done in these 
shops, though the time was when some new work was sent out, and 
one or two locomotives, we believe, have been constructed here. The 
engine house is a circular brick building 216 feet in diameter, inclosing 
an o])en, spacious court in which there is a turntable with tracks 
radiating therefrom into twenty-seven engine compartments. These 
may be tightly closed at pleasure by the large doors hung at the en- 
trances in the inner wall. " Here can always be seen a noble stud of 
iron horses with their grooms fitting them up for the course." The 
oil room and sand house is 30x50 feet, and the stationary room 40 
feet square. The storehouse, erected during the war, is a one-story 
building 30 feet wide and 120 feet long. The tank house is 25x65, 
and situated southeast of the engine house. The lower story is used 
for storage, and the upper is occupied by two huge tanks which are 
kept filled with water from Inlet creek, a quarter of a mile distant. 
A stationary engine at the latter point forces the water through a pipe 
into the tanks, and from these, engines and hydrants in the shops are 
supplied. The coal shed, a rough structure 17x320 feet, stands in 
this vicinity. The mason w6rk of these buildings was superintended 
by Michael Egan, one of the mo.<t thorough mechanics, who is still in 
the employ of the company ; and the carpenter work was in charge of 
Daniel S. Clark. John C. Jacobs is the superintendent of the north 
division of the road, and has filled the office with unquestionable faith- 
fulness since about 1S58. We should have given a list of them " that 
exercise authority," and some description of the positions they occupj', 
but the information has not come to hand, and we can only ask to be 
pardoned, as we forgive him who has " held the word of promise to the 
ear and broken it to the hope." Subjoined are the names of many of 








^^ynt^i jtya ^ 



(deceased^ 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 829 

the best known who have been in tlie employ of the company abont 
twenty to twenty-iive years: Lneius Clark, G. H. MeFatrich, A. E. 
Slanter, Jared Slanter, John Gunning, A. J. Poland, Joseph Drnm- 
mond, Robert Eichards, B. B. Howard, Dennis Maloy, A. W. Spafard, 
J. B. Edams, L. G. Rice, G. W. Freeman, John Keho, Tliomas Bran- 
agan, Levi Ives, Timothy Crowley, Joseph Tait, Charles Tait, William 
Tait, 0. M. Thayer, Henry McGraw, William Trade, Charles Wescott, 
Homer Graves, Snow, Battles and Stay. 

FIRES. 

It would be hard to find a place which has passed through greater 
trials by fire than the city of Amboy ; and with perhaps a single ex- 
ception the larger ones are regarded as incendiary. The first on the 
site was before the town was surveyed, and was the boarding-house 
kept for the railroad company b}' Charles W. Bell, alread}' noted else- 
where. The second was the dwelling-house of D. A. Thomas, de- 
stroyed Saturday, August 22, 1857. We shall omit the few barns 
and private houses burned subsequent to this date, and record only 
those conflagrations in which public or business property has suffered. 
The first Catholic church, so nearly completed that the plastering had 
been done, was accidentally burned December 2, 1857. 

The historic Baker House was erected most probably in 1855, by 
Alonzo Kinyon, and stood on Jones street, where Carroll's tailor shop 
and the meat market just north of it are now situated. It was built of 
wood in the cheapest possible style, covered with tarred cloth, and the 
rooms divided with paper partitions ; and by the public was dubbed 
" The Ark." Kiuyon sold it to Baker, by whose name it has always 
been best known. It was afterward called the Burnett House, from a 
later owner, and was consumed November 13, 1859. It was occupied 
by two families at the time, one of which escaped with difiiculty and 
injury, the mother falling down stairs, and the father leaping from the 
second story with a child in his arms. Dr. Bainter's office, adjoining 
on the north, was destroyed by the same fire. 

The Orient House, kept at that date by John L. Skinner, was 
burned Friday evening, September 28, 1860. 

The city hall was the first brick structure, except the railroad build- 
ings, erected in Amboy, and was situated on East avenue. It was a 
fine edifice, with brick and iron front, three stories and a basement ; 
built by Wm. B. Stuart and Paul Cullen in 1858. The first general 
conflagration originated in the basement of this building, occupied as 
a saloon by Peter Birkenbeuel, on the morning of December 10, 1863. 
The fire spread in both directions, and in its progress north was ar- 
rested by tearing down a building adjoining a vacant lot ; on the south 
20 



330 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

it was stayed by Carson & Pirie's brick store, wliiuh was kept drenelied 
with M'ater. The aggregate loss was §35,000, of wiiich §14,000 was 
covered b\' insurance. Among the losers were Carson <k Pirie, who 
were fully protected by insurance; O. F. Warriner, Henry Brady, 
Wm. Murtlia, M. Carroll, J. L. Skinner, Adam Shugart, Francis 
Cnllen, Peter Birkenbeiiel, A.F. and A.M., J. Kline, Owen O'Connor, 
John Morris, Philii) Flach, Louis Brendell, James McCue, Abrain 
Jackson, Theodore Goldman, Samuel Goldman, Andrew Walters and 
John Burns, besides several smaller losers. 

A second fire devasted this locality again in ISfi-i. On the morn- 
ing of November 10 it broke out in the building occupied by Abram 
Jackson as a dry -goods and grocery store. Five business houses were 
consumed, and the new brick building just erected by the Badgers on 
the site of the Orient House was considerably damaged. The total loss 
of $4:5,000 was reduced by $38,000 of insurance. The sutlerers were 
Carson & Pirie, E. Arnold, A. Jackson, Philip Goldman, Samuel 
Goldman, Perley«fe Blackstone, H. Keeling and Badger Brothers. 

The third great fire visited the south side of Main street about one 
o'clock Friday morning, March 10, 1865, and swept away all of the 
business block west from the cit}' building to the alley, including seven 
houses. The loss fell on W. E. Ives, McLean, George Keifer, Leake 
& Co., John Morris, Mingle Brothers, Benjamin Cope, Weddell estate, 
Wm. Keeling, A. E. Wilco.x, R. S. Burington, J. P. Newell, V. 
Weintz, Hunt, Howe and others. 

Immediately following this the council passed an ordinance forbid- 
ding the construction of wooden buildings, except teu)porarily for a 
year, on Main street between Mason and the Central railroad, and on 
East avenue between Main and Division streets, and designated these 
limits as Fire District No. 1. 

The fourth and most disastrous general fire up to this time occurred 
on the north side of Main street on August 24, 1867, and was dis- 
covered in the upper story of Josiah Little's drug store at half-past 
one in the morning. The row, in the middle of which the tire broke 
out, was composed of sixteen wooden buildings, which in two hours' 
time were completely lapped up by the flames. The dealers and 
others affected by this disaster were Hawkes & Bourne, Thomas Cos- 
tain, Deming & Wilcox, W. Fasoldt, L. Barlow, J. Little, Lynn & 
Walker, Goldstone »& Jackson, C. D. Vaughn, C. Allen, A. H. Merri- 
field & Co., A.F. ct A.M., Mrs. Hudder, Fillis & Carroll, C. P. Miller, 
O. M. Miner, N. Woolsey, Dr. J. P. Foltz, dentist, Dr. J. R. Corbus, 
Dr. E. R. Travers, and L. Asire. The estimated loss was $75,000; 
the insurance amounted to half that sum. 

The next noted landmark of early Amboy to yield to the greedy 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 331 

element was the old Exchange block on the west side of the railroad. 
It was burned down before daybreak on September 21, 1867. 

Between two and three o'clock on the morning of April 2, 1868, a 
fire made its appearance in a building on East avenue occupied by 
William Murtha as a grocery and liquor store below and a saloon and 
billiard hall above kept by George Raymond. Four buildings, flanked 
on the south by Hawks & Bourne's store and on the north by Kline's 
bakery, were burned down. These were a barber shop, saloons and 
billiard rooms, kept by C. Praesent, Henry Brady, William Murtha, P. 
Fogarty, and John Dutcher. 

On the night of April, 25, 1871, the Amboy House, kept by Hugh 
McGee, was totally destroyed. Estimated loss §5,000 ; insiirance 
$3,500. 

The si.xth and last general fire, from which the city recovered with 
admirable grace and dignit}- after man\' woes, was more destructive 
than all the previous ones together. The aggregate loss reached 
§175,000, and a tabulated statement of risks held by insurance com- 
panies shows their losses to have been $103,000. The fire originated 
in the bakery of D. S. Corbin, underneath Vaughan's furniture store, 
and was discovered about fonr o'clock in the morning of August 25, 
1871. It destroyed the buildings owned by C. D. Vaughan, William 
Murtha, C. F. L3'nn, and Wilcox & Brigham, on the north side of 
Main street, and those on the south side owned by W. B. Andrus, 
Martin Maus, V. Weintz, C. Badger, John Kline, P. McMahan, 
Thomas Cunningham, and the city building. Those who lost in per- 
sonal property were Gale & Gardner, Masonic Lodge, C. D. Vaughan, 
Misses Mickler & Vaughan, Arnold & Sindlinger, Josiah Little, B. H. 
Trusdell, C. F. Lynn, Mrs. Pierson, office of J. H. Preston, county 
superintendent, I. Zwisler, Wheat & Gridley Brothers, French, G. A. 
Deming, Mrs. McGraw & Wilcox, Miss Murphy, Mrs. Hudder, M. 
Maus, Graves & Hines, City Hall store. Weintz & Barth, Judge Kin- 
yon, Sanger & Badger,. Chase & Gale, engineers and firemen, John 
Kline, Terry Lynch, W. B. Stuart, and Merrifield & Co. 

The most deplorable feature of this calamity was the burning to 
death of John Shannon, who had been arrested the night before on the 
charge of selling mortgaged property, and was confined in the cala- 
boose. Sheft' Dyer was the officer in charge of the lock-up; he put 
the man in his cell and the key in his pocket; he was early at the fire, 
and engaged himself in the exciting work of saving property, where 
so little indeed was saved ; he saw the raging flames gradually approach 
and finally envelop the city building in which the helpless, unfortu- 
nate man was locked up, and still he never once thought of his pris- 
oner. In its account of the aflair, the " Journal " remarked, with a 



332 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

mildness that would be exasperating were it not Christian, that " it 
was a clear case of forgetfnliiess." 

On January 3, 1872, the jewelry store of J. A. Lagercrantz in 
Fasoldt's building caught fire, but the prompt action of the tire 
department in the use of the new steamer averted anotlier disastrous 
conflagration. The loss was not extensive. 

Farwell Hall, which had outlived its usefulness as a public build- 
ing, and having been remodeled was used as a dwelling, took fire on 
August 2, 1872, and was partiall}- consumed, its total destruction being 
prevented by the promptness of the Vigilant fire company. It was 
repaired and is now residence property. The old Potter House was 
destroyed in the same manner June 17, 1873. 

Another fire on East avenue occurred Sunday morning, October 
11, 1874, making its appearance in Keeling's block. It was extin- 
guished by the fire department. The loss was borne by C. G. Braun- 
ing, August Earth, Arnold & Son, and the Masonic and Odd-Fellows 
lodges. 

Between two and three o'clock on the morning of April 12, 1875, 
Masonic hall was set on fire, which was put out and the building 
saved. Daylight revealed the diabolical work of the incendiary in the 
use of inflammable materials which had been applied to several build- 
ings. Hardly had the people reached their homes before flames burst 
out of Patterson's hay-press, which was soon in ashes. 

The Passenger House, as previously noticed, was biirned Novem- 
ber 15, 1875. 

The Farmer's mills which had been removed in 1873 and re- 
erected in Amboy by Judge Kinyon near the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy depot, and in 1875 sold to W. H. Lunt, of Evanston Female 
College, were consumed early on the morning of February 9, 1876. 
The property was insured for $8,000. 

EDUCATION. 

The first school in the village of Amboy was a select one for young 
scholars, taught by Miss Cclia Winters, in the old Baptist church west 
of the railroad. Miss Vaughan was another who taught in the same 
place. The vestr}' of the present Baptist church was afterward occu- 
pied, and Miss Vaughan and Miss Mcrilla Warriner were the teachers. 
School was kept in Farwell Hall until need of that was superseded by 
the erection of the first school-house. In the summer of 1856 efforts 
were begun looking toward the construction of a school building in 
Amboy, and $2,600 were raised by taxation the following winter. The 
district had, besides, a fund of $800, derived from the sale of the swamp 
lands. On March 12, 1857, a public meeting of the voters of district 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 333 

No. 4 was held at Farwell Hall to authorize an appropriation to build. 
A committee to select grounds was appointed, and the 21st was named 
for an adjourned meeting to hear their report. The location adopted 
was between Jones and Mason streets, fronting Hawley. This seems 
to have been unsatisfactory, for on the 20th of April the district had a 
meeting to reconsider the vote fixing the site, and the one on Provost 
street, where the house was built, became the choice. Ground was 
broken for the foundation on the 6th of July. The house is a plain 
brick, two stories, 36x60, and stands in the center of a spacious play- 
ground on the corner of Provost street and Commercial avenue. In 
the fall of 1864 a one-story wooden school-building was constructed in 
Gilson's addition, block 9, facing Davis avenue, and the next year the 
old frame Methodist meeting-house on the east side was purchascid by 
the district for a school-house in season for the fall term. The price paid 
was $1,000, one half payable in two years and the remainder in three. 
In 1868 a two-story brick, 30x5i, was erected on the west side, in the 
southeast corner of the old fair ground, and the campus contains about 
one-fourth of the original area. These four, none of them imposing in 
appearance, but all supplying feir accommodations, if we except over- 
crowding, constitute the public school buildings in present use. 

We are able to give a partial list of the superintendents, and begin 
with J. K. B. Clayton, whose name once crops out above the debris of 
time in the autumn of 1859. He is followed the next year by J. H. 
Blodgett. Links are missing from this time until the school year 1865- 
6, when we gather up the chain in the person of John Russ, assisted 
by his wife. About tliis period the languishing state of the schools 
excited no little public comment. C. W. Moore succeeded in 1866, and 
was in charge three years. We have discovered no incumbent for 1869, 
but Mr. Moore filled the position in 1870, giving place in the fall of 
that year to P. A. Childs. The latter was retained three years, and fol- 
lowed by H. A. Smith two years. Mr. Reagan, now in 1875, took the 
principalship, and discharged its duties until 1878, and since that time 
P. M. James has occupied the position. We believe a man by the 
name of Cook should have a place somewhere in the category. 

The schools are divided into four departments, and regularly graded. 
In each of the frame buildings is a primary and an intermediate; on 
the west side Miss Lizzie Burke has taught a number of years in the 
former, and on the east side Miss L. Nowlin, who has been steadily em- 
ployed about a dozen years and in different positions, is teaching at 
pi'esent in the same department. In the intermediate on the west side 
is James E. Shea, and on the east side Miss Lizzie Morris. The new 
or west-side brick has a primary and a grammar department, with Miss 
Lizzie Sears to preside over the former and Daniel Griffin over the lat- 



334 HISTORY OK LEE COUNTY. 

ter. All the departments are represented in the old school-building. 
Miss Lizzie Richards teaches in the primary, Miss Jennie Reed in the 
intermediate, Miss Lizzie Gardner, and Miss Eva Shurtleff" assistant, in 
the grammar, and Prof. James, and Mr. Kehoe assistant, in the high 
school. The latter was graduated here in the class of 1878. During 
the past year L. B. Searles has taught penmanship in the several de- 
partments. The studies in the high school embrace higher English, 
higher mathematics, and the sciences. Eleven years are recjuired to 
complete the full course, distributed as follows : primary three, inter- 
mediate three, grammar two, and high school three. Fifty-eigiit stu- 
dents have been graduated since 1876, the first year in which diplomas 
were granted. In that year there were two graduates, in 1877 eight, 
in 1878 eleven, in 1879 fifteen, in 1880 twelve, and in 1881 ten. 

For the year ended June 10, 1881, the whole number of pupils en- 
rolled was 673, and the average daily attendance 476. Children under 
twenty-one 1,199, and between six and twenty-one 889. The board of 
education is composed of Dr. George Ryon, president; J. B. Graves, 
clerk; Patrick Corcoran, J. G. Stafford, Rev. J. H. Hazen and Joseph 
Pennenbacker. C. D. Vaughan is the township treasurer. 

CHURCHES. 

The Baptist society was constituted May 1855, and the same year 
built a small tem])orary church on West Main street, on lot 1, block 14, 
Gilsou's addition. The leading constituent members were Deacons 
Cyrus Bryant, Warren Hill and Allen E. Wilcox and their wives, 
Almon Ives and wife, Samuel P.ixby and wife, and William E. Ives 
and wife. Deacons Jacob Luce and Harvey Barrell and tlkcir wives 
joined soon after. The Rev. Whittaker was the first pastor who min- 
istered to the congregation in this house. Preparations were early 
begun to erect an enduring edifice, and in 1856 it was commenced, 
and before the close of the year finisiied outside. Deacons Hill, Wil- 
cox and Luce and William E. Ives were the building committee, and 
E. S. Reynolds the contractor and builder. Its situation is on Mason 
street, lot 9, block 24, Wyman's addition, and the dimensions are 
36 X 60 feet on the plan. The interior arrangement is an elevated 
audience room over a stone basement, and the cost was $4,500. The 
building w'as inclosed during the memorable presidential canvass of 
1856, and in season to be occupied for a political meeting, which was 
addressed by the famous and fiery orator Owen Lovejoy. On March 
2 of the next year, when the citizens were voting on the adoption of 
the city charter, the bell, which had just been lifted to its place, pealed 
out its first grateful sounds on the prairie air, — never before stirred in 
this vicinity by such a herald of " peace on earth, good will to men" — 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 335 

wliich vibrated and throbbed to the delight of the people with the music 
of its rich, glad tones. The house was formally dedicated on September 
13, by Rev. Silas Tucker, of Galeshurg, who preached the sermon for the 
occasion. The Rev. T. H. Bail was the pastor at this time, and his 
predecessor was the Rev. P. Taylor, the earliest to preach in this new 
cliurch. The first funeral service was that of Mrs. Jacob Luce in Feb- 
ruary, before it was completed, and was held in the vestr3^ The second 
was that of Mrs. Mary Beresford, who died just a month after the dedica- 
tion. The Rev. Ball's ministrj' was succeeded in 1S58 by the Rev. J. 
C. Miller, a noted laborer here in his denomination. In eight months 
of 1858-9 he added over 130 members by baptism. This was a 
period of very successful revival work by all of the churches, and will 
be remembered as that of the great awakening of religious fervor 
throughout America and Europe. Among those who took an active 
part in the affairs of the church just prior to this interesting improve- 
ment in its condition we would name R. M. Brigham, E. Arnold, C. 
A. Wall, M. L. Arnold, S. Carson, O. Arnold, W. S. Cottrell, E. S. 
Hill, J. M. Davis and their wives. The fourth pastor, counting from 
the Rev. Taylor, was the Rev. William R. Webb, D.D., one of the 
ablest the church ever had, whose pastorate began in the autumn of 
1861. He was succeeded in his labors by the Rev. J. H. Hazcn, who 
came in June 1865, fresh from an exhausting three years' service in 
the army, which induced paralysis and drove him from the pulpit 
which he had so much adorned throughout his useful life. His connec- 
tion as pastor ceased in the fall of 1869, and his place was taken by 
James Buchanan, who was followTjd in the summer of 1870 by M. T. 
Lamb. The Revs. George Wesselius, W. D. Clarke and Dr. N. A- 
Reed complete the list. Mr. Reed's pastorate terminated the present 
year. In 1865 the society bought a parsonage, and the next year 
repaired their house of worship at an expense of about §400. They 
have been out of debt since the spring of 1876. The membership is 
about 150, and the Sabbath school, under the superintendence of Prof. 
P. M. James, has 145 enrolled and an average attendance of 85. 

The people of Amboy first worshiped for a short time in the dining- 
hall of the Passenger House. The Baptists built a small meeting- 
house and withdrew from the mixed congregations. Farwell Hall was 
soon erected, and to this all others then had resort. The second 
church in the town was built by the Methodists in 1857, and dedicated 
Sunday, June 21 ; Prof. Muiisell, of Mount Morris, conducted the 
dedicatorial service, and the Rev. O. B. Tiiayer was assigned to this 
charge in August by the conference. Tills house is a low-post frame, 
stands on the northeast corner of block 15 — at the intersection of Main 
and Center streets — and is now one of the four public school buildings 



336 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

of the city. Its erection was chiefly due to the zealous exertions of 
George H. Pierson, who took the lead in the matter, procured the lum- 
ber on his own account, invested labor of his own hands, and accepted 
payments from the society. On May 16, 1865, the corner-stone of the 
present massive church was laid with suitable ceremonies, and ad- 
dresses were delivered by the Rev. Jewett, the Rev. W. T. Harlow, 
presiding elder, and the Rev. Dr. Robt. Hattield, of New York. On 
behalf of the society and the undertaking Dr. Hatfield lectured in the 
evening in the Baptist church on "The Sacrifices and Compensations of 
the War." The dedication took place April 1, 1866. The Rev. Dr. 
Eddy, of Chicago, was present, and preached an able discourse fi-om 
Matthew xxviii, 8, 9. The cost of the cliurch was nearly $14,000. but 
a debt of $6,000 remained, which was promptly canceled by liWeral 
donations in cash and pledges. In forwarding this useful object II. E. 
Badger bore a leading part, and was one of the heaviest contributors. 
This is a substantial stone edifice, plain, without beauty, yet having an 
air of Gothic style. Its size on the ground is 40x60 feet. A lectnre- 
room and two class rooms occupy the basement, and above is a spacious 
and attractive audience-hall. The front corners are surmounted by 
towers, the taller of which, containing the belfry, has replaced the spire 
which rose to the height of 127 feet, but which was blown down in a 
gale Sunday evening, July 17, 1870, depositing the bell uninjured in 
the street ; the damage was $500. The location is on Mason street 
just above Main. Joseph Lewis, Henry E. Badger, Ephraim Wheaton, 
I. N. Bear, George Mingle and Edward Miller were organizers of this 
church, and are still here, though the latter has transferred his mem- 
bership to the Congregational church. They have been foremost 
members, and their long and faithful communion and usefulness re- 
flect on them a halo of patriarchal dignity and venerableness. Mr. 
Badger has always served the church either as trustee, steward, or Sab- 
bath-school superintendeitt, and has sometimes filled concurrently all 
these positions. H. F. Walker, an early business man here, now in 
Chicago, was very efficient on the building committee, and also as 
trustee and superintendent. Joseph Lewis has always been a reliable 
assistant as trustee, steward and leader. The offices of secretary and 
treasurer of both the society and the Sunday-school have been care- 
fully filled most of the time by C. P. Miller. Since the new church 
■was occupied the superintendents have been H. F. Walker, II. E. 
Badger, C. W. Deming, W. H. Badger, G. W. Mingle and A. Burn- 
ham. H. E. Badger and C. W. Deming have been most of the time 
district stewards and delegates to the laymen's conference. The pres- 
ent membership, probably, will not fall below 120. Turning now for 
information to the records of the church, we find that the first quarterly 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 337 

conference for Ambo}' Station was held December 19, 1857. Luke 
Hitchcock was presiding elder, O. B. Tliayer preacher in charge, I. K. 
Eberl}' local preacher, J. P. liawks exhorter, N. Cleavelaud local elder 
and H. F. Walker, H. E. Badger, G. W. Mingle and A. Bainter otficial 
members. The presiding elders and preachers in charge since that 
time have been as follows: 1858-9, S. P. Keyes, P.E., O. B. Thayer, 
P.C. ; 1859-60, S. A. W. Jewett, P.E., H. L. Martin, P.C. ; 1860-1, Josiah 
Gibson, P.E., H. L. Martin, P.O.; 1861-2, Josiah Gibson, P.E., J. W. 
Davidson, P.C. ; 1862-3, Josiah Gibson, P.E., W. Cone, P.C. ; 1863- 
4-5, W. T. Harlow, P.E., W. Cone, P.C. ; 1865-6, W. T. Harlow, 
P.E., D. J. Holmes, P.C. ; 1866-7, E. Q. Fuller, P.E., J. G. Bliss, 
P.C. ; 1867-8; J. H. Moore, P.E., J. Fassett, P.C. ; 1868-9-70, J. H. 
Moore, P.E., J. T. Hanna, P.C; 1870-1, J. H. Moore, P.E., J. T. 
Hanna, P.C, till April 1, remainder of conference year supplied b^' 
A. P. Hatch; 1871-2, ^Y. S. Harrington, P.E., J. Wardel, P.C; 
1872-3-4-5, W. S. Harrington, P.E., C. R. Ford, P.C. ; 1875-6, W. S. 
Harrington, P.E., E. M. Battis, P.C ; 1876-7-8, J. Linebarger, P.E., 
E. M. Battis, P.C. ; 1878-9-80, J. Linebarger, P.E., A. Campbell ; 
1880-1, Luke Hitchcock, P.E., Isaac A. Springer. 

The floating debt of the church, which had accumulated to $2,500, 
was entirely liquidated during the pastoral charge of the Rev. Ford. 

" The Congregational church of Palestine Grove " was organized 
at the residence of Moses Crombie, July 5, 1843, and worshiped for 
several years at the Wasson school-house, near Binghamton. The 
societ}' was ministered to at this place by the Revs. John Morrell, 
Ingersoll, Joseph Gardner, and Pierson. About 1849 the place of 
worship was removed to Lee Center, and the name of this locality was 
substituted for Palestine Grove in the name of the church. Out of 
this sprang the subject of this paragraph — the Congregational church 
of Amboy. On June 27, 1854, Joseph Farwell and his wife Cyrene, 
John C Church and his wife Cyrene, Michael Blocher of Lee Center 
church, and Constant Abbott, Ruby his wife, and Caroline their 
daughter, of the First Presbyterian church of Galesburg, assembled at 
the house of Joseph Farwell and organized themselves into a "Church 
of Jesus Christ," which was recognized on the following day as the 
First Church of Amboy by an ecclesiastical council at Lee Center, 
convened under a call to ordain and install the Rev. S. W. Phelps. 
This was the earliest religious society formed in Amboy, and its organ- 
ization antedates the first conveyance of town lots. Another body 
declaring its belief that " the cause of religion would be promoted by 
the forming of a society to unite with and sustain the action of the 
Congregational church," was organized upon this basis by some of the 
citizens June 17, 1856. Until Farwell Hall was built they held services 



338 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

in the Passenger House, and these were first conducted by the Rev. S. 
W. Phelps, who ministered to them occasionally; but on February 14, 
1855, tiie Pev. David "Wert was invited to become tlieir pastor at $500 
yearly salary and no expense for rent. The call was accepted and he 
officiated for them until April 1856. In December the Rev. C. P. 
Felch engaged to siip])ly the pulpit, and April 30 following he was 
ordained and installed pastor. During his ministerial charge the first 
house of worship was erected on Jones street, near Provost, at a cost 
of about $1,500, and dedicated April 1, 1858, by the Rev. F. P.ascom, 
of Galesburg, who preached the dedicatory sermon. The Rev. Felch 
was retained on a salary of $800 a year until October 12, 1859, after 
which time the Rev. S. W. Phelps preached once every Sabbath for 
about one year. The Rev. Samuel Day was next secured at $600 per 
3'ear and a donation, and served the church from the autumn of 1860 
till January 1802. The Rev. J. L. Wliite took the vacant place shortly 
after, and in July accepted the formal call of the church at an annual 
salary of $600, which was increased in 1864 to $000. In July, 1866, 
lie retired and was succeeded by the Rev. G. H. Wells, who declined 
the call of the church made in .January 1S67, but acce])ted it when 
renewed in March, though his ministry did not begin until September. 
He received $1,200 a j'ear for liis services, which ended December 25, 
1870. His successor, the Rev. C. Caverno, employed at a salary of 
$1,500 per year, began his ])astoral labors September 3, 1871, and 
terminated them March 1, 1.S74. The congregation had no stated 
supply after this date until November, when the Rev. J. M. Lau Bach 
accepted a call to this charge and labored herein till April 1878. He 
was speedily followed the next month by the Rev. M. S. Crosswell, 
who was soon thereafter unanimously called to the pastorate, which he 
accepted, and from which he withdrew October 1, 1880. The church 
has had no pastor since. Their present house of worship, standing on 
the corner of Main and Plant streets, is a sightly frame edifice sur- 
mounting a stone basement, and is 40x72 feet in dimensions. The 
basement contains a lecture-room and parlors. This house was begun 
in the autumn of 1865, completed the next spring, and dedicated June 
10, by the Rev. G. F. Magoon, of Iowa College. The cost was $14,000. 
During the present summer it has been repaired, repainted, and the 
interior frescoed, and supplied with a pipe organ, at an expense of 
$2,000. This church united with the Rock River association in Octo- 
ber 1854, at its meeting at Grand de Tour; and in 1857, when the 
Bureau association was formed, it joined that body. Since its organ- 
ization with eight members in 1854 about 400 have been added, and 
the present membership, including many non-residents, is 164. 

The Sabbath-school, which was organized in Farwell Hall in April 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 339 

1855, witli E. H. Mellen as superintendent, is maintained the year 
round, and tlie average attendance, which was then about tifty, has in- 
creased to nearly three times that number. Tiie first church was sold 
to the Free Methodists in tiie spring of 1866 for 81,200. Of the 
original members three are still living and in communion, — ^ Michael 
Blocher and John C. Church and his wife. The venerable Father 
Farwell, so often mentioned in these pages, whose name stood first on 
the list, was a native of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, having been born of 
Puritan stock, May 14, 1790. In 1815 he became a communicant in 
the Congregational church ; in 1819 he married ; in 1826 he settled in 
Lowell, and there assisted in forming the first Congregational church 
in that place, as he afterward also assisted in establishing the second 
and the third ; in 1836 he emigrated with his family to Amboy, Mich- 
igan, in which place he likewise aided in founding the first church of 
the same denomination ; and in 1841 he removed to this place, at that 
time called Palestine Grove. His death, which occurred March 5, 
1875, found him ripe in years and good works. Mrs. Farwell survived 
him but is not now living. 

The Hon. B. H. Trusdell furnishes the following in regard to the 
Episcopal church : 

The Episcopal cliurch was established in Amboy in the spring 
of 1850 by the organization of St. Thomas' parish. The proceedings 
took place in Mechanics' Hall, and the rector. Rev. W. M. A. Brodnax, 
Mrs. Brodnax, Mr. and Mrs. IST. S. Chase, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Meri- 
gold, Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Bourne, Mr. atid Mrs. D. P. Stone, J. F. 
Somes, F. I. Foot, Mr. King, and Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Trusdell, were 
among the number who participated. The records of the parish have 
been burned, and the names of the original wardens and vestrymen 
cannot be given. Mr. Brodnax continued rector of the parish about 
three j-ears. He was a talented, courteous, agreeable, christian gentle- 
man. The society worshiped in the hall where the parish was organ- 
ized, and for a time prospered. In 1862 Mr. Brodnax resigned, and 
for several years there were occasional ministrations by clergjnnen sent 
liere by the bishop; but finally all hope of firmly establishing the 
church was abandoned. N. S. Chase, a gentleman of rare intelligence 
and pleasing manners, a thorough churchman, and a born leader, had 
died. He had done more for the parish than any other man, and 
there was no one to take his place. At a later date the parish sus- 
tained a serious loss in the death of Mrs. Robert Merigold. She was 
born in the church ; and although an invalid for many years, her sin- 
cere piety and active zeal brought her great respect and influence. 
When thoroughly disorganized and without hope, in the autumn of 
1877, Rev. N. W. Heermans, then in deacon's orders, came to this his 



340 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

first parish and entered upon the work of resuscitating it. The results 
are marvelous. On the lots donated to the parish at its organization 
by Jolni B. Calhoun, Esq., and located on the northwest corner of 
Mason and Provost streets, has been erected a beautiful ciiurch edifice, 
which is completely and neatly furnished. The lots have been graded, 
grassed and fenced, and shade-trees planted, and all is fully paid for. 
During this period Mr. Heermans held occasional services at Tonica, 
Illinois, and there made the acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. William 
Watron. Mr. Watron died very suddenly, and Mrs. Watron, knowing 
her husband's attachment to Mr. Heermans, and his desire to promote 
the welfare of the church, gave to Mr. Heermans §1,000 for the acqui- 
sition of a rectory for St. Thomas' parish. At one Sunday morning 
service, to the great surprise of his congregation, he placed a check for 
that sum among the offerings. March 30, ISSl, he purchased from 
Mr. James B. Arnold, for Sl,500, his residence adjoining the church 
lots, and moved into it in May. The society is now hopeful, and Mr. 
Heermans may well feel proud of and be thankful for the results of his 
coming to this parish. 

The German Evangelical church in Amboy was formed by the 
Kev. Wm. Angelberger, of Franklin Grove, on the 30th of January 
1870,with fifty-four members, among whom Jacob Ashenbrenner, Jacob 
Klein, Valentine Weintz, Fred Nickels and Charles Molloy were 
perhaps the most prominent. This organization took place in the 
basement of the Congregational church, where their first meetings 
were held, and was then styled the First Evangelical Lutheran churcii. 
On the 3d of July the old Congregational church was purchased from 
the Free Methodists for $1,500. The members named above and 
three other persons contributed one half of the purchase-money. The 
Rev. Angelberger preached to this congregation till May 26, 1S72, 
and was followed by the Rev. Anthest until September 5, 1875. 
Somewhat irregular services were now held by different ministers for 
a year. On the 20th of May, 187fi, the church voted an application 
for union with the Evangelical Synod of North America, a different 
denomination, and being accepted the name was accordingly changed 
to German Evangelical. The Rev. Wm. Fromm, of New York, was 
sent by the synod, and on January li, 1877, was installed pastor 
by the Rev. Biesemeier, of Forreston. He departed in the autumn of 
1878, and from that time till July, 1879, several persons officiated. On 
July 27 the Rev. Hagemann was installed by the Rev. W. Stark, of 
Mendota. Owing to deaths and removals their membership has 
diminished to about twenty-five. In their Sabbath school of about 
fifty members the children are taught in German, so that they may 
read the scriptures and listen to preaching in the tongue of the father- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 341 

land. The first trustees were V. Weintz, Fred Nickels, and John 
Klein, and the first deacons were Jacob Ashenbrenner, Charles 
Molloy, and Charles Hegert. 

In 1854 the Catholics, thirty or forty in number, began holding 
service at the residence of Michael Egan. Father Anthony was the 
first to celebrate mass, but Fathers O'Hara and Fitzgerald also came 
temporarily. In 1857, while Father Edwards was here, some lots 
were purchased in the north part of the town, and material to be used 
in the erection of a church was hauled to the ground. But this priest 
remained only a brief time, and being followed by Father Bray, the 
first who settled here, and who disapproved of the location, the lots were 
sold to Patrick Murphy, and others bought where the Catholic church 
now stands, on the corner of Adams and Center streets. The house 
was built in 1857, but when the plastering was being done it acci- 
dentally caught fire and burned down. This misfortune occurred on 
the 2d of December. Father Bray remained until the following spring, 
and then Father Vahey came to the place. In the autumn of this 
year, 185S, rebuilding was begun, and the church finished in the spring 
of 1859. Father Clark was the next priest, and was here as early as 
1862; Father Murphy was his successor in 1868, and during his 
charge, probably in 1871, the church was enlarged by an addition to its 
length. In 1869 a house and three lots in Wyman's addition were 
bought for the priest's occupancy, and the sum of $3,000 was paid for 
the property. The next and last change in priests was when Father 
Keenan came in 1873. The church is in a flourishing condition ; it is 
out of debt, and its membership embraces over 230 heads of families. 
The building in which they worship is 32x9i feet; it begins to bear 
marks of age, and it is proposed to build another in the near future, 
and with this object in view a fund is being accumulated. It has 
reached $2,000. 

The Catholic cemetery is located between Amboy and Rocky Ford. 
The ground was obtained by two purchases, both of which were made 
when Father Clark was over the church. The first piece of two and 
three-fourths acres was bought from Isadore Zwislerfor $200, sometime 
during the war. It was back from the road, and a few years after a 
tract of four acres in front was obtained from F. R. Dutcher for $400. 
Michael Egan, Patrick Corcoran and Lawrence McGrath are the ceme- 
tery trustees. Before this burial lot was procured the Catholics gave 
their dead sepulture at Sandy Hill. 

A Free Methodist Society was formed in Amboy about 1864 by 
the Rev. Mead. The first meetings were held in Fasoldt's Hall, and 
the original body did not consist of more than half-a-dozen members, 
but it eventually reached as high as forty or more. The first regular 



342 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

preacher was tlie Rev. Miller, who was followed in 1865 b}- the Rev. 
Levi Kelly, and he in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Har- 
roun, sr. The Revs. Cain and Cooley preached subsequently, and the 
closing labors of the latter were coincident with the dissolution of the 
society. In 1866 the old Congregational church was bought, but four 
years after was sold to the German Lutherans. Dissensions having 
arisen among the Free Methodists in 1868, Stephen G. Virgil and H. 
S. Sweet joined the LTnited Brethren church at LaMoille, and then got 
Elder Dodson to come to Amboy and organize a society. This was 
done at Sweet's house, formerly tlie old Farwell Hall. The original 
members were Virgil, Sweet, P. A. Main, Rev. Miles Lewis, Rev. J. 
W. Lewis, Mrs. Sophia Lewis, and Epliraim Wheaton and his wife, 
John Slieflield and his wife, Mrs. S. G. Virgil, Alphens Skinner and 
his wife, and Margaret Sheffield came into the society soon after. Tiiis 
church grew out of, and ultimately replaced, the Free Methodist. The 
Revs. John Dodson and J. W. Lewis were the first pastors, and in 1870 
they gave place to the Rev. O. A. Phillips. During his charge the 
ne.\t year a meeting-house was built on the west side, on Division street, 
and dedicated December 31 by Bishop Edwards. The sum of 81, "28 
was pledged, clearing the church from debt. This house is 34x50 
feet, and cost S-i,500. Elders Snyder and Crowder came next in order 
as preachers after Phillips. The Lewises have been leading members, 
and Joseph Lewis was ordained in this church. The society is in a 
prosperous condition. 

In 1859 the Adventists organized at Binghamton with thirteen 
members: D. S. Clark, S. E. Maybec, P. J. Main, Emerson Royce, 
Miss Maria Steadman and others, with Wm. MeCulloch and wife, Lo- 
renzo Whitney and wife, and Lysander Whitney from abroad, constitut- 
ing the society. One says that Rev. Calkins was the first minister, 
another gives that distinction to S. E. Maybee. The earlier jn-eachers 
were A. S. Calkins, P. R. Morgan, Moses Chandler and Maybee, and 
of the later ones D. S. Clark, Wm. MeCulloch, Harry MeCulloch, O. 
D. Gibson, C. C. Marston, Frank Burr, Eldridge Burrington and S. B. 
Maybee have been the most prominent. The latter officiates at the 
present time. They have never built a church, but have worshiped 
in town halls in Amboy. At one time they had the use of the German 
Lutheran house, but their membership having fallen off from about 
forty to fifteen, they now hold services at the residences of Wm. Main 
and Rufus Hulbert. This denomination has held three largely at- 
tended camp-meetings at Amboy. It is known by the name of Advent 
Christian church. 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 843 

ORGANIZATIONS. 

Illinois Central Lodge, No. 178, A.F. and A.M., was organized in 
July 1855, and worked under a dispensation until a charter was issued 
by the grand lodge, October 3 of the same year. , The following were 
the charter members, and those designated the first officers: J. A. 
Jackson, W.il.; H. B. Judkins, S.W.; Warren Badger, J.W.; E. S. 
Reynolds, Trea?.; Lemuel Bourne, Sec; L. W. Borden, S.D.; P. G. 
Lyon, J.D.; John N. Brown, Tyler; David Bainter, John Stevens, 
Arthur Bobbins and Henry Porter. This lodge has suffered from four 
fires ; once or twice its property has been wholly destroyed, and in 
each of the other cases it received partial damage. For an account 
of these burnings the reader is referred to that subject on a previous 
page. Most, if not all, the masters have been Dr. J. A. Jackson, Dr. 
Harmon Wasson, E. P. Noyes, L. W. Borden, Francis Hudson, O. F. 
Warriner, A. H. Wooster, Robt. Richards, and Prof. P. M. James. 
Twenty-eight members have been removed by death. The lodge is in 
a flourishing condition, with a membership of about ninety. Present 
officers: P^ M. James, W.M.; L. A. Hulbert, S.W.; V. B. Andrus, 
J.W.; W. B. Andrus, Treas.; C. P. Miller, Sec; R. D. Badger, S.D.; 
P. E. Haines, J.D.; George Biims, T.; Charles Tait, S.S.; and I. S. 
Smith, J.S. Regular communications are on the first and third Mon- 
days of each month, in Masonic, formerly called Keeling's Hall, on 
East avenue. 

Amboy Lodge, No. 179, I.O.O.F., was originally instituted by Dep- 
uty Grand Master Eustice, under dispensation, July 2, 1855; and Oc- 
tober 12 of the same year a charter was issued to William E. Ives, 
Charles B. Farwell, J. J. Conderman, Orange D. Reed, Harmon Was- 
son, James H. Preston, Simon Badger, Adam Roundenbush, Henry- 
Roof, and Joel B. Strickland ; signed by J. E. Starr, grand master, and 
S. A. Carman, grand secretary. At the first meeting the officers 
elected for the term ending with the year were H. Wasson, N.G.; 
O. D. Reed. V.G.; Alexander Martin, Sec; and C. D. Vaughan, 
Treas. In addition to these J. J. Conderman, A. Roundenbush, 
C. B. Farwell, J. N. Davis, S. S. Reed, H. Roof and William E. Ives 
were present, and all except the latter received appointive offices. 
Applications for membership came from S. S. Reed, J. M. Davis, W. 
P. Roff, Tyler Hale, and Julius Hale, and these persons were elected. 
At the next meeting, on the 7th, A. Martin, H. AVasson, J. J. Conder- 
man, W. E. Ives and J. H. Preston were elected trustees. The lodge 
flourished until the war, when nearly half the members went into the 
army, and of the remaining ones many were train men, who could 
not attend the meetings with any certainty or regularity, and from 
these causes, the attendance having become deplorably reduced, in Jan- 



344 HISTORY OK LEE COUNTY. 

nary, 1864, the lodge suspended fora twelvemontli, and before the close 
of the year surrendered its charter and all its effects to the grand 
lodge. On August 23, 1873, the lodge was rechartered with the fol- 
lowing members: Robert Richards, P.G.; C. D. Vaughan, P.G.; Henry 
Reals, Joseph Sackett, Jacob J. Conderman, J. H. Preston, P.G.; 
Robert Geddes, P.G.; James Rosebrngh, P.G.; Julius Hale, P.G.; 
Jacob Klein, Amiza Siioemaker, P.G.; Aaron Goldstone, P.G.; Peter 
Stein, Fritz Krehl, Benedict Fessler, Frank Weise, and Herman Zolf. 
An informal meeting was held on the 25th, and the result of the bal- 
loting for elective officers was as follows: Aaron Goldstone, N.G.; 
Robert Richards, V.G.; C. D. Vaughan, Sec, and James Rose- 
brugh, Treas. On September 11 the lodge was instituted and 
tiiese officers installed. The present elective officers are Charles Weis, 
N.G.; Dr. E. R. Travers, V.G.; G. W. Deming, Rec. Sec; Aaron Gold- 
stone, Treas.; Jacob Ashenbrenner, Per. Sec. The lodge meets every 
Tuesday night in the spacious and beautiful hall over J. B. Graves' 
hardware store, where the walls are decorated with portraits of many 
of their members. During the past 3'ear $8.5 have been paid in funeral 
benefits, and §88 in sick benefits. The membership is about ninety. 

Warren Encampment, No. 122, was instituted under dispensation 
at Franklin Grove, May 17, 1871, by James E. Ketchem, D.D.G.P. of 
Earl Encampment, with the aid of a number of assistants. For the 
term ending with the year the following were elected officers: D. H. 
Spickler, C.P.; II. A. Black, H.P.; S. W. Riegles, S.W.; John Blocher, 
J.W.: Josiah Graff, S.; Kiiicaid Runyon, Treas. At the lirst 
meeting nine received patriarchal and golden-rule degrees, and si.\ of 
this number took the royal-))urple degree. A charter was granted 
October 10, to D. H. Spickler, John Blocher, William H. Bassler, H. 
P. Black, S. W. Riegles, Kincaid Rnnyon, and Joseph Graff. The 
last meeting held by this encampment at Franklin Grove was on Aug- 
ust 5, 1879. A proposition to move it to Amboj' was adopted, which 
measure was immediately carried into effect, and on the 7th the first 
meeting was held in the new location. Grand Patriarch Crocker was 
in the chair, and the other officers were filled by patriarchs from Paw 
Paw. Petitions were received from Daniel Bull, C. E. Arnold, 
Charles Randall, G. A. Deming, W. Bronson, Fay Strickland, and 
L. Hegert, and these persons were elected and initiated. There is now 
a membership of twenty-three. The place of meeting is in Odd- 
Fellows' Hall, on the lirst and third Fridays of each month. Present 
officers: G. A. Deming, C.P.; W. J. Moseley, H.P.; A. Shoemaker, 
S.W.; J. H. Preston, J.W.; Fay Strickland, S.; and B. Fassler, T. 

Palestine Lodge, No. 122, A.O.U.W., was organized July 24, 1878, 
with thirty-four charter mem here, among whom were P. M. James, J. 




% 







AMBOY TOWXSIIIP. 345 

E. Lewis, E. R. Travers, V. B. Andriiss, C. E. Arnold, J. B. Graves, 
W. H. Badger, and A. E. Merwine. First officers : J. E. Lewis, P.M. 
W.; P. M. James, M.W.; L. A. Hulbert, F.; V. B. Andrnss, O.; A. 

E. Merwine, Ft.; J. M. Arnold, R.; C. P. Miller, F.; P. E. Haines, G.; 
A. Barth, I.W.; VV. C. Smith, O.W. The first trustees were C. E. 
Arnold, C. Hegert, and J. B. Graves. Present officers : C. E. Arnold, 
M.W.; J. E. Lewis, F.; A. E. Merwine, O.; A. Hulbert, R.; D. W. 
Slanter, R.; C. P. Miller, F.; H. Mastennan, G.; Charles Tait, LW.; 
Jerome Hussey, O.W. Since the organization one member has been 
lost by death. Meetings are held every Wednesday evening in 
Masonic Hall. Membership sixty-three, condition very prosperous. 
One of the first objects of this order is mutual insurance, but sick 
benefits and the social features are also of prime importance. 

Friendship Council, No. 507, A.L. of H., was instituted May 6, 1881, 
by R. R. Harding, of Rockford, with fifty members. The first and 
present officers are Robert Richards, P.C.; L. A. Hulbert, C; C. A. 
Church, V.C; A. E. Slanter, O.; W. H. Dean, Sec; 0. P. Miller, C.;' 

F. R. Doty, T.; Rev. N. W. Heermans, G; W. P. Barnes, G.; G. 
Binns, W.; A. H. Virgil, S. Dr. C. A. Wilcox is medical examiner, 
and Dr. E. Manning, alternate. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' 
Hall on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. This is prima- 
rily a life-insurance organization, and the aggregate amount for which 
the cliarter members are insured is $168,000. This order was 
instituted in Boston, Massachusetts, three years ago; its objects being 
social and fraternal union for the purpose of extending material aid to 
its members, to cultivate their minds, morals and tastes, and to estab- 
lish a fund for beneficiary objects. 

Lee County Post, No. 65, G.A.R., was organized September 8, 
1879, by GeTi. Chamberlain. First officers : Col. George Ryon, C; C. 
K. Dixon, S.Y.C.; Capt. Wm. Frost, J. V.C; A. H. Merrifield, Q.M.; 
Dr. E. Manning, S.; J. H. Hazen, C; J. H. Gray, O.D.; John S. 
Bitzer, O.G.; C. E. Arnold, Q.M.S.; C. Gordonier, S.M.; E. E. 
Chase, A. Present officers: C. H. Ingals, C; G. E. Young, S.V.C; 
R. Warriner, J. V.C; C K. Dixon, C.;"e. Manning, S.; C. E. Arnold, 
Q.M.; J. Bitzer, O.D.; J. Carr, O.G.; L. A. Hulbert, A. Stated 
meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, in 
Masonic Hall. This post was organized with thirty -five ex-soldiers, 
and the present number is seventy-two. Interest in the meetings has 
greatly declined. The first post instituted in Amboy went down- 
several years ago. 

On the IJrth February, 1879, an independent organization was 
formed in Amboy bearing the name of United States Pensioners' Aid 
Protective Association, composed of about ten veteran pensioners, with 
21 



346 HISTORY OF LEE rOTJNTY. 

the following officers : C. K. Northriip, C; P. Diinsmore, V.C.; C. A. 
Getty, Sec; H. S. Merrow, Treas.; J. H. Hazen, C; E. Tourtlott, S. 
at A.; Joseph Carr, S. The objects of this association were expressed 
in its name ; but after a short trial it was found that the pensioners 
were too few and the objects too limited to give it stability, and 
accordingh' on the 17th of October a radical change was made in the 
organization, enlarging its scope and making its features more attract- 
ive and valuable. The names of the offices, but not the officers, were 
changed. Mr. Hazen and Mr. Getty, assisted somewhat by others, 
originated the secret work of the new order, which was called Our 
Country's Defenders, and also prepared the charter and the constitu- 
tion. Tiie headquarters were removed to Chicago in November 1S80. 
The order has extended into Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, 
Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and New Hampsiiire ; and in 
some of these states there are state encampments. Generals Grant, 
Logan, Governor Beveridge, and others of repute, have given this 
organization their hearty indorsement. The subordinate camp at 
Amboy, designated as Wyman Encampment No. 1, has been in exist- 
ence since the creation of the order. Its regular meetings are on the 
second and fourth Fridays, and the gatherings were formerly in the 
reading room. There are about twenty-five members, and the condi- 
tion of the camp is not altogetiier flattering. The present officers are 
M. T. Spencer, C; E. J. Post, L.; L. A. Hulbert, A.; Col. George 
Ryon, S.; J. H. Hazen, C: R. Rose, O.D.; Thos. Meachain, O.G.; 
E. Dunsmore, C. of O. 

In 1803 the Brotherhood of the Footboard, an association of 
locomotive engineers to elevate their standing as such and their char- 
acter as men, and for mutual insurance and assistance in sickness and 
distress, was instituted at Detroit. Its prosperitj' very soon waned 
throughout the country ; and then it was reorganized at Indianapolis, 
August 17, ISQi, the anniversary of its establishment, under the style 
of the Grand International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. 
A division was formed in Ambo}' subordinate to the Brotherhood of 
the Footboard, but it was short-lived. A charter was issued to I. R. 
Patterson, December 25, 1805, with power to organize Ambo}' division 
No. 1, and on January S following a meeting was convened, at which 
B. C. Howard, chief engineer of Centralia division, presided. S. L. 
Peters and others from Aurora division assisted. The initiates were 
J. W. Howe, S. Hoisted, W. B. Trude, F. Westcott, S. C. Hnff, C. 
Putnam, C. H. Marston, Pat Allen, and D. Reynolds. The following 
were also the first officers: C. H. Marston, C.E. ; F. Westcott, F.E. ; 
J. W. Howe, S.E.; I. R. Patterson, F.A.E. ; C. Putnam, S.A.E. ; and 
W. B. Trude, T.A.E. At the second meeting, on the 15th, J. Hath- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 347 

away, A. McCall, C. Randall, and H. McGraw, old members, joined 
the division, and P. Battles was initiated. The present officers are 
J. Shaw, C.E. ; (vacant) F.E. ; F. Weise, S.E. ; O. Corastock, F.A.E. ; 
A. Armstrong, S.A.E. ; Wm. Stine, T.A.E. ; G. Bustick, G. ; and C. 
n. Rosier, C. R. Rosier, chief engineer, a highly esteemed man, died 
February 17, 1881, and Mr. Shaw was elected to his place, leaving the 
office of first engineer vacant. The members number thirty-six, and 
the division is in a flourishing condition. Meetings are held on the 
second and fourth Sunday afternoons. 

The charter of Amboy Lodge, No. 35, of the Brotherhood of Loco- 
motive Firemen, was granted January 19, 1879, to Titus HinchclifF, 
Henry Williams, Wm. H. Dean, Tliomas Hinchcliff, Harry Luscombe, 
W. M. Palmer, Henry Schermerhorn, I. M. Farris, Garrett H. King, 
Abe Schermerhorn, C. R. Rosier, and Wm. Linsea. Tiiis lodge was 
organized by John Walsh, of Capital Lodge, of Springfield, with eight 
members. Tlie first elective officers were Titus Hinchclifi:', M. ; Henry 
Williams, V.M. ; W. H. Dean, R.S. ; Wm. Palmer, F.S. ; Thomas 
Hinchclitf, T. Present officers: W. H. Dean, M. ; C. R. Rosier, 
V.M.; F. H. Schermerhorn, R. S. ; C. R. Rosier, F. S. ; Thomas 
Hinchcliff, T. The lodge embraces twenty-six members, and is enjoy- 
ing a period of much prosperity. Stated meetings are on the first and 
third Sundays, in Engineers' Hall. The order is designed for social 
improvement, and provides a system of insurance, and organized 
mutual assistance to members and their families. 

In 1807 the conductors formed a union, and in 1868 it was changed 
to division No. 1 of the Conductors' Brotherhood, a charter being 
granted August 4. Li its last state it was a benevolent association, 
but its existence was of brief duration. 

Division No. 1, A.O.H., was organized September 26, 1875, by 
John D. Neill, of LaSalle, with a membership of thirty. It holds 
regular meetings and is in fair condition. 

One of the most thoughtful sources of public intelligence is a good 
circulating library. The Illinois Central Railroad Company, with 
that interest in the welfare and improvement of its employes for 
which it is noted, early conceived the design of providing books for 
the use of such as would avail themselves of the privilege, and accord- 
ingly established in Chicago a library of nearly 2,000 volumes. In the 
winter of 1864-5 the books were divided and removed from that city, 
one-half being sent to Centralia and the other to Amboy. Here was 
formed the Illinois Central Library Association, composed at first 
exclusively of employes of the company, but to which others were 
afterward admitted ; not on equal terms, however, but by paying an 
annual fee double that of the railroad men, and being deprived, besides, 



348 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

of all voice in its management and in the choice of officers. As was 
sure to be the case, this discrimination, though not unsupported by 
very plausible reasons, bred, or rather at once made, two parties, a con- 
dition not calculated to deepen interest or increase harmony. Notwith- 
standing, the association flourished and the books were much used, 
while the company for a number of years paid the rents and the 
librarian. At length, funds and more books being wanted, an excur- 
sion to Dunleith and Dubuque, under the auspices of the Woman's 
Cliristian Temperance Union, was planned, and was liberally en- 
couraged by the general superintendent, E. D. Jeffrey, who bad been 
more instrumental, perhaps, than any other man in originating the 
library. The excursion took place in August 1869, and the net returns 
ainonnted to $613.45. Thus improved in condition, the association 
bought more books, which inspired fresh interest. But this did not 
last long, and when the apparent concern of the members, or a large 
majority of them, had disappeared, late in 1872 the company discon- 
tinued the allowance for rent. It languished until the early part of 
1875, when Mr. J. C. Jacobs, division superintendent, who had not 
only taken from the start a leading personal interest in the success of 
tlie library, but because of his position was clothed with a certain 
responsibility for its care and use, proposed a reorganization under the 
laws of the state. This meeting with favor, it was incorporated, April 
2, 1875, with the name of the Amboy Library Association, Mr. Jacobs 
being named in the charter as president, E. Hull as librarian and 
secretary, and Josiah Little as treasurer. Messrs. Jacobs, Little, Hull, 
L. T. Moore and Lemuel Bourne, upon the advice of the railroad em- 
ployes who were members of the old organization, were selected as 
trustees. On March 18, 1876, the trustees adopted a constitution and 
by-laws, which put all members on an equality. On October 3, 
1877, the association ran an excursion to Dubuque and cleared $963. 
Altogether there have been two hundred dollars' worth of books 
purchased and added to the original stock, besides the donation of a 
lot from New York; and now there are 755 volumes of standard 
works on history, biography, science and fiction. The library is kept 
in the reading room over W. B. Andruss & Son's store, and is open at 
stated times throughout the week. The membership numbers 93. The 
librarian, Mrs. M. L. Knowles, has been in charge about a year, and 
the present prosperity is due ver}' largely to her exertions and her devo- 
tion to the interests of the association. Mr. L. T. Moore, too, has 
labored with especial zeal for its success. The board of trustees remains 
the same as at first, except that Mr. W. E. Ives has succeeded Mr. 
Hull. Mr. Jacobs is still president. 

The Old Settlers' Association of Lee county organized and held 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 349 

its first gathering in 1873. W. H. Haskell, of '• The Amboy Journal," 
in the issue of November 16, 1872, couiuienced agitating the subject, 
and continued it until a meeting was had on the 22d of February in 
the city council room at^Ainboy ; J. B. Tuttle presided, and Mr. Has- 
kell acted as secretary. Wednesday, June 4, 1873, was designated as 
the day for the old settlers' meeting to be held at this city, and a com- 
mittee of arrangements was appointed. At the time fixed about 200 
gathered to greet old friends, renew acquaintance and exchange remi- 
niscences. Speeches were made, and otherwise the features were those 
of an ordinary picnic. A committee was appointed, composed of one 
member from each township, making a total of twenty-two, with C. 
F. Ingals as chairman and W. H. Haskell as secretary. The second an- 
nual reunion, held also at Amboy, on June 18, 1874, was a decided suc- 
cess, over 2,000 people being present. The venerable Father Dixon 
occupied a seat on the stand, where he received the congratulations of 
friends and the respects of the multitude. Col. John Dement delivered 
an address on this occasion, and was elected president for the ensuing 
year. Mr. Haskell was continued secretarj' of the executive commit- 
tee. The thii'd annual meeting was held again at Amboy, June 19 of 
the following year, and Dr. Charles Gardner was chosen president. In 
1876 the association met at Dixon, and Col. Dement was again chosen 
president and Mr. Haskell secretary. June 22 was the day of the 
gathering. At this time a cane made from Black Hawk's pirogue was 
presented to Col. Dement as an appropriate surprise. Removal of the 
files of "The Journal" from the office to be bound prevents a further 
connected account of this organization. The reunion this year (iSSl) 
was at Ambo}', on the 1st of September. The grove belonging to the 
city is the meeting-place, and Dr. C. E. Loomis is present secretary. 

At a meeting of the citizens of Amboy and vicinity, held Novem- 
ber 5, 1856, Prairie Repose Cemetery Association was organized, and 
the following persons were elected officers : Joseph Farwell, president; 
M. L. Arnold, secretary and treasurer, and J. F. Powers, C. A. Wall 
and Jacob Luce directors. This board was instructed to purchase from 
Harvey Barrel four acres in a square, in the northwest corner N.W. J 
of N.W. ^ Sec. 15 in this township, for $600. This was done, and the 
ground laid out in lots, with three driveways from east to west, and 
alleys of four feet width from north to south between the lots. There 
are 442 of these lots 10x20 feet, besides 60 on the north end 10x26 
feet, used for a Potter's field. Tlie following soldiers, some of whom 
died on the battle-field and others after their return home, are buried 
in this cemetery: Wm. H. Arnold, Co. A, 111th N. T. Vols. ; Frank 
D. Brown, Co. F, 75th 111. Vols.; Edward W. Bull, Co. I, 89th 111. 
Vols. ; C. E. Blanchard (regiment unknown), John Burrington, Co. D, 



350 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

46th 111. Vols.; Albion Corastock, Co. I, 89th 111. Vols.; Wm. H. 
Curly, Co. C, 13th 111. Vols.; J. M. Crampton, Co. I, 31st Mass. Vols.; 
C. H. Daw (regiment unknown), C. A. Harper (regiment unknown), 
Harrison Hale (regiment unknown), Cyrus D. Lyman, Co. E, 7th 111. 
Cav.; H. H. Morey, Co. C, 89th 111. Vols.; John Madden, Co. D, 4r6th 
111. Vols.; James A. MeGary (regiment unknown), Frank H. Mellen, 
Co. A, 89th 111. Vols.; Albert W. Preston, Co. E, l-tOth 111. Vols., and 
Henry Sanger, 2d Me. Vols., honorably discharged therefrom, and in 
1863 reenlisted in the 52d or 57tli 111. Vols. The present officers of 
this association are John C. Church, president ; Wm. B. Andruss, sec- 
retary and treasurer; Wra. T. French, Henry T. Ford and Wm. E. 
Ives, directors. 

Although the Lee County Agricultural Society is now extinct, it 
was once so prominent an institution that it requires some mention. 
It was organized in 1854, and incorporated in July 1857. The third 
aninuil fair was in Amboy, in 1856, and from that time this was the 
regular place for holding the exhibitions. In 1858 grounds were 
leased in Farwell's addition for a term of five years, and buildings 
erected thereon. The society ceased to be of any public usefulness 
after the expiration of this lease. In 1863 a fair was held, or attempted 
to be held, but it was a failure. There was a rival society in Dixon, 
and overtures were made by each looking to consolidation, but whether 
it was ever effected we are not informed. At all events it did not have 
the support of Amboy, and so far as this place is concerned the active 
history of the society ends during the time of the war. J. B. Wyman, 
C. F. Ingals and R. N. Woods were presidents, and Josiah Little, N. 
S. Chase and II. G. Pratt were secretaries. 

TEMPERANCE WORK AND THE DEMAND FOR IT. 

At the beginning of the year 1867 there were nine licensed saloons, 
seven sold intoxicating liquors and two retailed beer. Tliis was not an 
unusual number, but about the average for many years. These dens 
made men shameless, brutal, vagrant, and dangerous. Drunkenness 
and its concomitant routs, frays, thefts, insults, deadly accidents and 
blood-shedding became almost too familiar for comment. Ladies upon 
the street were obliged to push their wa}' through maudlin, ribald 
crowds, and unoffending citizens were never safe from being set upon 
and beaten by cowardly gangs of drunken roughs, for such offenses 
were not uncommon. 

During the year succeeding the war no less than five attempts were 
made to burn the business part of the city. Add to these public an- 
noyances atid dangers all the disgrace, orphanage, unseen woe and 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 351 

social wretchedness, and it will be seen that there was strong moving 
cause for temperance work. 

To overcome as mnch as possible these licensed, alarming evils, 
many cooperative temperance and total-abstinence efforts have been 
started and maintained, until periodical apathy would strangle them to 
death or neutralize their influence. We can only briefly refer to the 
principal ones. The first organized movement to " suppress the un- 
lawful sale of ardent spirits and gambling " was the " Carson League." 
A meeting of the inhabitants, attended by many of the leading men 
of the place, was held on February i, 1856, in the Baptist church, and 
a constitution and by-laws common to this form of organization were 
adopted. Alonzo Kinyon filled the chair and J. F. Pirie acted as sec- 
retary. The business was conducted by twelve directors, whose duties 
were to attend to the enforcement of the law. The first board con- 
sisted of D. S. Clark, R. M. Brigham, J. Clark, E. H. Mellen, J. D. 
Weddell, John Dexter, W. E. Ives, J. F. Powers, A. E. Wilcox, H. 
M. Taylor, A. Kinyon and C. Bridgman. Stock was taken to the 
amount of $600,000, and those subscribing gave what was called stock 
notes, on which the directors were authorized to make assessments " to 
defray the expenses of the league," which included the exjjenses of 
prosecutions. This league existed about two years. 

We find it stated in " The Times," in 1858, that the Sons of Tem- 
perance and Good Templars were meeting in the same hall with the 
Masons and the Odd-Fellows. The lodge of Good Templars was or- 
ganized in the spring of that year, but its existence was not long con- 
tinued. After this had lapsed, in January 1862, a lodge of this order 
was started at Binghamton. In March a " section of the Cadets of 
Temperance" was instituted in Am boy for the training and instruction 
of the youth. Ambo}' Lodge, No. 646, was organized in November 
1865, and enjoyed a tolerable lease of life. Friendship Lodge, No. 
512, was started in October 1870. Organizations of a transient char- 
acter have been formed at times to arouse the slumbering sense of the 
people when urgent labors were necessary to carry elections, and other- 
wise to checkmate the debauching alcoholic interest. 

Reform divisjion, No. 555, Sons of Temperance, was organized 
February 21, 1862, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Division of Illi- 
nois, E. D. Lamoine, of Paw Paw, being Grand Worthy Patriarch, and 
Geo. L. Moore, of Lebanon, Grand Scribe. Charter members : W. H. 
Tonsley, N. T. Pratt, W. B. Andruss, C. P. Miller, F. I. Foot, Wm. 
H. Hayward, John Carter, jr., M. Gilleas, Chas. A. Allen, D. C. Udell, 
J. A. Scollay, W. C. Sears, D. C. Graham, D. B. Wall, Chas. E. Ives 
and Samuel E. Appleton. The division has had its days of prosperity 
—when high tide came and multitudes floated in, — and of adversity — 



352 HISTORY OF LEE C'OUXTY. 

when tlie tide ebbed away, and those of least principle or will-power 
dropped out; but a few have always held on to the good craft. The 
period of greatest prosperity was in 187C and 1877, during and since 
which time over 200 have been initiated. This division, with the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized in December 1S76, 
and the Red Ribbon Club, organized in 1877, worked in harmony to- 
gether, the reading-room over the store of W. B. Andruss & Son being 
their headquarters. The club has ceased as an organization, leaving 
the other two bodies still doinir effective work. Present officers : Mrs. 
Daniel Bull, W.P.; Mrs. C. W. Bell, W.A.; DaniePBull, R. 8.; Miss 
Emma Sleeper, A.R.S.; Wm. B. Andruss, F.S.; Edgar Miller, Treas.; 
Rev. K A. Reed, D.D., Chaplain ; B. B. Howard, C; Mrs. A. Los- 
sie, A.C.; Mrs. M. J. Mingle, I.S.; C. W. Bell,O.S., and C. W. Dem- 
ing, P.W.P. Representatives to the grand division : C. W. J)eming, 
E. Miller, C. P. Miller, W. B. Andruss, J. S. Oleson, C. W. Bell, Rev. 
Dr. N. A. Reed, G. W. Mingle, Mrs. M. J. Mingle, Daniel Bull, Mrs. 
Daniel Bull and B. B. Howard ; of these Messrs. Andruss and Deming 
are representatives of the Grand Division of Illinois to the National 
Division of North America. 

"On November 10, 187*!, a few ladies who had attended the state 
annual convention at Dixon, and returned with hearts quickened to 
the need of gospel temperance work in their midst, extended "ii invi- 
tation by the various pulpits to all interested in temjierance to meet 
Tuesday afternoon, November 21, in the Baptist church, to organize a 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union." A committee was named to ob- 
tain a good lecturer, and another to collect funds from the citizens to pay 
the expense of the lecture-course. Prayer-meetings were appointed to 
move the hearts of the people in the new work, and three of tho.se 
were held in the Methodist church. Volunteer laborers having come 
forward, on December 2 a called meeting was held in the Congrega- 
tional parlor to district the city, so that f'e canvassers could go to 
work soliciting members and money. Their success was very encour- 
aging. Mrs. Foster, of Iowa, was engaged, and gave three lectures on 
December 17, 18 and 19, and then it was decided to organize, which 
was done in the Baptist church on the last day mentioned. The officers 
chosen were Mrs. Mingle, president; Mrs. Vaughan, Mrs. Poland and 
Mrs. Badger, vice-presidents; Mrs. Williams, recording secretary; 
Mrs. Chase, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Reagan, treasurer. The 
standing committees were: on reading-room, Mrs. Andruss, Mrs. Mil- 
ler, Mrs. Poland, Mrs. Williams ; on public work, Mrs. Battis; on lit- 
erature, Mrs. Chase ; on statistics. Mrs. Reagan ; on finance, Mrs. Miller. 
Most untiring and zealous endeavors have been put forth by these 
christian women to secure a ripe harvest of good works in the com- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 353 

inanity, and their hands have heeu royally upheld l)y the citizens. The 
Union occupies the cheerful and tastefully furnished hall over the 
hardware store of W. B. Andruss & Son, on Main street. Gospel 
meetings are held here every Sabbath afternoon under the auspices of 
the Union. These ladies inaugurated a free reading-room, and dedi- 
cated the hall to the high objects of social, religious and intellectual 
culture, with devotional and literary exercises on April 17, 1877. The 
Library Association uses the same hall, holding under the Union. 

The Father Matthew Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, 
founded by P. A. Boland and named in honor of the great Irish bene- 
factor and apostle of temperance, is an independent body chartered by 
the state, and was organized December 15, 1872. It has sixty mem- 
bers and is in a flourishing condition. This is a valuable auxiliary' to 
the reform movement. 

Banner Temple, No. 24, of the United Order of Ancient Templars, 
was organized in August, 1889, with thirty-four members, and was 
chartered October 21. Present ofBcers : Lee Cronkrite, T. ; Mrs. C. A. 
Baitlett, P.T. ; Frank Almy, V.T. ; Frank Marrow, R. ; Mrs. Ford, 
A.R. ; H. T. Ford, F. ; H. Shurtleff, C. ; Miss Fisher, M. ; (vacant) 
A.M. ; Mrs. Henry T. Ford, T. ; Mrs. Trainer, W. ; Mr. Skinner, G. 
Meetings are held on Monday nights in Odd-Fellows' Hall. This order 
furnishes insurance to its members, and embraces as coinpi'ehensive 
objects as any of the benevolent associations. 

JOURNALISM IN AMBOY. 

Under this caption the "Amboy Journal" of April 11, 1871, 
narrates its own history to that date in the subjoined sketch : 

"In May or JuTie, 1855, the 'Amboy Printing Association' was 
formed, which secured the publication of the ' Lee County Times,' with 
Augustus Noel Dickens, a brother of the autlior Charles Dickens, as 
editor. So far as we can l-'arn the stockholders were A. Kinj'on, W. 
E. Ives, John L. Skinner, John B. Wyman, H. B. Judkins, W. B. 
Stuart. August 1, 1855, as appears by a bond in our possession, one 
H. B. Judkins bound himself in the sum of $200 to said association 
in consideration of the transfer of the press, etc., to publish or cause 
to be published the said 'Lee County Times' for the space of one 
year. Volume 1, number 33, was issued February 7, 1856, by H. G. 
Pratt as editor and proprietor, and this is the oldest paper on our files. 
Volume 1, number 41, was issued as the 'Amboy Times,' by Cottrell & 
Pratt, April 3, 1856 ; and that name was continued for ten years, or 
until volume 11, number 18, published by Goff & Shaw, February 8, 
1866. In the meantime, however, publishers had succeeded each other 
in the following order : Cottrell, Pratt & Miller ; Cottrell, Pratt & 



354 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Somes ; Pratt A: Co. (John Lewis, James F. Somes) ; Pratt, Shaw *fe 
Co. (Joseph Lewis); Gardner, Shaw 6c Lewis; and Pratt 6c Shaw. 
When Goff & Shaw issued volume 1, number 1, of the 'Lee County 
Journal,' February 25, 1866, they called it the 'new series,' and 
dropped the record of the eleven years and twenty weeks of a news- 
paper issue from the same office. This course we consider unwise, and 
propose now to remedy by calling the present issue of the 'Journal' 
volume 19, number 1. 

" Burrington 6c Shaw published the ' Lee County Journal ' from 
Februar}', 1S67, to December, 1867, when we find a card published 
giving notice that they would suspend the issue of any paper for two 
weeks, because of the want of payments and patronage on the part of 
business men and subscribers. From January 16 to December 24, 
1868, B. F. Shaw was editor and proprietor. 

" Some graceless scamp has stolen the files from the last date to 
January 6, 1870, when we find the paper issued by Stimson 6c Corbus 
until March 10, when the thief, or the most improvident publishers, 
again leave us no files up to September; when Wm. Parker changed 
the name to the one now used, and continued its publication for just 
two years, to September 6, 1872, when we [W. H. Haskell] bought 
the ' Journal,' paid oft' its mortgages, began to improve the paper and 
increase its circulation, having gained 200 subscribers in nineteen 
months without es])ecial effort at solicitation." 

On October 15, 1879, Mr. Haskell sold the office to E. W. Faxon 
& Co., and on February 1, 1S81, Dr. C. E. Loomis, of Lee Center, 
])nrc!iascd it and is the present editor and ]iroprietor. The paper has 
always been republican in politics. 

TORNADO. 
The great tornado of 1860 occurred on Sunday, June 3. It began 
its ravages as far west as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and gathering force as 
it proceeded, left a track of death and desolation behiiui. In the 
vicinity of Clinton twenty-five persons were killed. The town of 
Comanche, on the Iowa side of the Mississippi, was totally destroyed ; 
and Albany, on the Illinois side, shared nearly the same fate. In tlie 
two places the killed and wounded reached not fewer than 125 persons. 
The towns of Lyndon and Mount Pleasant, in Whiteside county, suf- 
fered severely, and in the neighborhood of Morrison and Sterling 
about a dozen were killed and a larger number wounded. From the 
point where the hurricane struck this county to Bradford township it 
spared nothing in its course. Trees, crops, stock, fences and buildings 
were swept away with terrific fury, and numbers of persons, not a few 
frightfully mangled, were killed outright, while a still larger number 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 355 

sustained different degrees of injury. In its progress onward from 
Bradford it alternately raised and lowered, leaving evidences of its 
violence at intervals. Its track was about forty rods wide, and the 
ground over which it passed had the appearance of having been swept 
by a mighty torrent. In its twistings and whirlings it described a 
zigzag course, with arms and angles jutting out at short distances. 
The general direction was from west to east through Amboy, about a 
mile south of the north line of the township. The first casualty was 
the serioiis injury of a man named Emmet, his wife, two children, and 
a hired man, who were living in a house owned by E. B. Stiles. The 
building was demolished. The next place visited east of this was Mr. 
Morse's. His house was destroyed, and Mrs. Morse was hurled five 
rods and disemboweled. She survived in this horrible condition about 
an hour. Mr. Morse was despaired of for some time, but finally 
recovered and is now living. One of the sons was slightly injured, 
another dangerously, and a daughter had botii legs broken and died, 
James Rosbrugh's farm, occupied by Edward Sacket, was next in the 
track. The house, barn and blacksmith shop, were carried entirely 
away ; and all the family of five persons seriously and some danger- 
ously injured. F. H. Northway's buildings satfered total wreck. The 
family were taken up with the house into the air, but fortunately all 
escaped with the exception of cuts, bruises and broken ribs. A boulder 
weigiiing a quarter of a ton was lifted at this place and carried ten 
rods. From here the storm headed more northerly, and John Crombio's 
house shared the general ruin ; one of his little children was killed, 
and another was so hurt that it barely recovered. Lyman Bixby's 
family took refuge in their cellar half a minute before the tempest 
reached them and were saved, though the house and barn went to 
atoms. Farther north James Mofl:at's house was unroofed ; and cuts and 
bruises, from which no one was exempted, were the extent of injuries 
here. R. D. Peironnet lost his barn, back kitchen and outbuildings. 
A traveler, who had stopped at a vacant building near, and had tlie 
calves of his legs nearly torn ott", was at once brought to Mr. P.'s tor 
care. Onward the destroying force went to Isaac Gage's; but we 
shall let Mr. Gage tell iiis own fearful story of loss and bereavement 
in -the picturesque account which ho has given of this calamity, and on 
which we mainly rely for adequate description. P. D. La Forge's 
handsome residence was partly unroofed, a back kitchen blown away, 
and his barn rent to pieces. 

From this point we prefer Mr. Gage's striking statement of his 
personal experiences at the supreme instant of disaster, and of his inti- 
mate knowledge of the ravages made in his neighborhood and to the 
eastward. It was publislied in the Amboy " Journal " February 7, 187i. 



356 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

" Tliis wind storm, called a tornado, struck our house on the eve of 
June 3, 1860, about nine o'clock. It being Sabbath evening we liad 
retired rather early, and I soon fell asleep to be awakened by a terrible 
crash as of thunder, seemingly without a cause. For tiie next instant 
it was so still one could have heard a pin fall in any part of the house, 
but for a moment only; then, sir, there was a sound which I shall 
ever fail to describe, but I will give the best version my poor 
mind can. It was not thunder, and though it lasted but a moment 
it shook the earth for miles around. Another moment and every- 
thing was as still as death ; then instantly came the grand crash, 
and we were in the elements. Xow it is partly by sight and 
partly by feeling that I shall attempt to describe what took place. 
1 jumped out of bed and grasped the door-handle to go for our chil- 
dren, but could not open the door. Suddenly it opened and knocked 
me down on one knee, and violentlj' dragged or shoved me about five 
feet out of doors to the ground, while the house and my four boys 
went into the air far above my head; some of the furniture, or some 
portion of the house, struck me in the back and passed on. This con- 
fused state of things lasted perhaps five minutes, I should think not 
longer, and then out came the moon as bright as day ; it seemed as if 
it wanted to show us what desolation and destruction had been done. 
Here and there lay heaps of rubbish, parts of the house and some parts 
of the furniture, all broken small enough for stove wood, and only 
three out of seven of our family were able to see this ruin. Some 
were dead, and some were not conscious of anything that was going 
on, though yet alive. A twin bo}' of eleven years had his life literally 
whipped out of him; he was dead when found. My eldest, a boy of 
seventeen, was carried through the air and debris the distance of sixty 
rods or over, and was so bruised that his entire jierson after a few hours 
became perfectly pulp-like, resembling a blood-blister. He lived, how- 
ever, until the seventh day, in the most wonderful agonj'. Most of 
the time he lay seemingly \inconscious. 

" The rest of the boys were not carried so faraway. When we found 
ra}' youngest son the little fellow looked most horrible, not a scraji of 
clothing on him save the collar of his shirt; his head was cut and 
bruised, aiul his body so bloody and dirty that we could scarcely see 
any hunuin shape to him. We picked him and his little dead brother 
up al)out twelve rods from where the house had stood a few moments 
before. 

" When we went to bed that evening a large kettle that would hold 
a barrel or luore was standing under the eaves of the house, full of 
water; it was taken up and carried high enough to strike the corner 
of the barn about twelve feet from the ground, and there it sat where 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 357 

the barn stood witli two or three pailfuls of water in it 3'et. In the 
debris of the barn lay a young stable horse ; when first seen he was on 
his back with the timbers piled upon and about him six feet high, and 
one large piece lay across his neck and held him down so firmlj' that 
he could not stir. 

" From this point on in a southeast direction the surface of the earth 
was covered with bits of everything in the shape of fence rails, boards, 
timbers, etc. All seemed to have been carried with so great force that 
they were driven into the ground from three inches to one foot or 
more. One stick, thirteen feet long and about ten inches square, was 
taken over 100 rods from my house and thrust into the earth ten feet, 
at an angle of forty-five degrees. It seems that the air must have been 
full of every conceivable thing, parts of wagons and buggies and 
goods from the house were literally torn to fragments and scattered 
abroad. Before tiie storm I had two lumber wagons, after it I had 
only two wheels left. 

"After leaving my place it struck Mr. Lorenzo Wood's, there it en- 
tirely demolished the buildings (and they were many), but carried 
awa}' nothing very heavy, except a few sheep that were transported 
something near twenty miles. His papers were found by honest men 
and returned. I think there were none on Mr. Wood's farm seriously 
hurt, unless it was a tenant familj' [the Felties] who were lifted house 
and all into the air and carried in a southwesterly direction over the 
line fence into my field, and there caught by another current and 
carried in a circle back into the same field that they started from, mak- 
ing a distance of about fifty rods before the bouse was torn to pieces. 
Its course could be traced for weeks after, for in places the corners of 
the house struck into the earth, and in others the building dragged 
along and made large holes as if several wagon-loads of soil had been 
removed, and then elevated itself, no one knows how high, before 
coming to the final crash. As I said before, this family were some- 
what hurt, but I think they all survived. One of the men who were 
in this house told me afterward that when it was in motion the stove 
rolled over the room like a ball, and all their furniture, with them- 
selves, was pitched and tumbled about fearfully. At this point it 
seemed to reach out to the north about twenty rods and take in a Mr. 
Preston, who owned and lived on the Chadwick farm. It demolished 
all his buildings, and carried him with two of his children out through 
the tree-tops and landed them several rods from where the}^ started 
unharmed, save some flesh wounds; but his only a son, a little boy, 
was killed outright. From there it passed on, devastating everything 
in its way, until it struck Mr. Martin Wright's. It cleared him out, 
tearing down everything in its course, and threw him and liis wife's 



358 HISTOIJY OF LEE COUNTY. 

sister up into some trees, broke out a large piece of the ladj's jaw- 
bone, taking with it the teeth, and so nearly killed Mr. Wright that 
his lite was despaired of for a long time. Both finall}' recovered, while 
Mrs. Wright, who was in the house at the same time and not hurt at 
all, died in less than ten days, as it was supposed, from fright. The 
cyclone moved from here to Mr. John Lane's, destroying everything, 
but killing no one. From this point it left Amboy township and 
visited the corner of Lee Center, passing into Bradford, doing serious 
damage to Mr. Darwin WoodruH''s farm, lifting up his house and 
dashing it to fragments instantly, so injuring the inmates that they 
were taken up for dead, but they all recovered. Beyond this point for 
some miles it did little harm; but fourteen miles distant it descended, 
leaving articles taken from this neighborhood, and so lowering at 
intervals to deal out destruction; its force did not seem to abate until 
it reached Lake Michigan." 

The many admirers of the late Col. Wynian will thank the Hon. 
B. H. Trusdell for the following graceful memoir of their lamented 
friend : 

John B. Wyman, oldest of ten children, of Scotch ancestry, was 
born July 12, 1817 ; and was educated at a select school at Bolton, and 
at the public schools of Shrewsburv, Massachusetts. At the age of 
fourteen he ceased study altogether under the direction of tutors; and 
in view of his liberally practical actpiirements in later life, may be 
said in truth to have been a thoroughh' self-made man. Having quit 
school, he became employed in a clothing store in Shrewsbury ; and in 
1838, as a partner in a mercantile tirni, opened the first ready-made cloth- 
ing store in Cincinnati, Ohio. He remained in that city two years, and 
then returned to liis native state to become a member of a firm en- 
gaged in the dry-goods business. At that time he was married to 
Miss Maria Bradley. In 1846 he was general clerk in the Springfield 
car and engine shops, and afterward superintended the construction of 
cars. He was a conductor on the New York and New Haven railroad 
in 1850, and subsequently superintendent of the Connecticut River 
railroad. In 1852 he entered the service of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road Company, and assisted in the survey and construction under 
Col. R. B. Mason, general superintendent and engineer. He was first 
employed on the branch, but in 1853 was transferred to the main line, 
and accepted the superintendence' of the north division. At the 
earliest moment he acquired an interest in Ambo}' and laid out 
Wyman's addition, and we may almost call him the father of the city. 
He settled permanently in the place on the completion of the passen- 
ger house, of which he was proprietor some time. He was twice 
mayor of Amboy, and the first incumbent of the office. His second 



AJIBOY TOWjSrSHIP. 359 

term was in 1860. Col. Wyman was fond of military life, and when 
a very young man trained in a rifle company in Shrewsbury. He was 
a member of the City Guards of Worcester, and later still in life 
captain of the Chicago Light Guards. On the breaking out of the 
war he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of Illinois, and ren- 
dered valuable aid in mustering into the service the first six regiments. 
He recruited at Amboy, Co. C, 13th reg. 111. Vols., and on the organiza- 
tion of the regiment was elected colonel. He served in the southwest 
and was mortally wounded at Chichasaw Bayou, December 28, 1862, 
while directing the movements of his command. When Lieut-Col. 
Goroas and others rushed to his assistance he said : " For God's sake, 
colonel, leave me and attend to those men." 

His remains were brought to his home in Amboy, and a vast con- 
course witnessed the imposing funeral ceremonies. He was buried in 
Prairie Repose Cemetery, Amboy, but was afterward reinterred in 
Kosehill Cemetery, Chicago, where the privates and non-commissioned 
officers of his regiment, by whom he was much loved, erected a hand- 
some monument to his memor}', at a cost of $1,300. 

Col. Wyman was of medium statue, faultless physique, and dashing, 
captivating manners. He was a gallant, chivalrous gentleman in civil 
as well as military life. His looks and bearing elicited admiration, his 
noble qualities insured love and respect. He responded instantly to 
his country's call, and hoped to leave a deathless name inscribed high 
on the roll of its most glorious defenders. He met death in the morn- 
ing of his career, too soon for his own and his country's good, but he 
met it face to face while leading his brave soldiers in a desperate 
assault. 

He planted the seeds of glory, but died ere the full harvest ; but 
while he was not permitted to give his name to the world, yet it will 
ever be cherished by all who knew his worth. It has been said of him 
that "he was as unselfish patriot and gallant soldier as ever drew 
blade or mounted horse." It may also be said that in all the rela- 
tions of civil life, as citizen, husband, father, friend, he leaves without 

spot or blemish. 

" Green be the turf above thee, 
Thou good, and true, and brave. 
None knew thee but to love thee. 
Nor named thee but to praise." 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Joseph B. Appleton (deceased). Among the many well-known 
and influential families of New England the Appletons occupy a high 
place. Their genealogical record extends back to John Appleton, of 
Waldingtield, England, who was living in the year 1396 ; and from 



360 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

the same source we learn tliat " Samuel Appleton, the common 
ancestor, so far as known, of all the name in l^ew England, 
emigrated from Waldingtield, in the county of Sutfolk, England, 
in the year 1635." From him have sprung many distinguished 
names in the business, professional and literary walks of life. 
The subject of this notice was born in Dublin, New Hampshire, 
March 10, 1819, and was put to the mercantile business, in which his 
father was engaged. His health gave way under confinement, and he 
was advised to turn his attention to farming. The Great West then 
oflered inviting fields, and about 1842 he came to Illinois, stopping on 
his way at Batavia, New York, and teaching school awhile. His 
cousin, Cyrus Davis, was living at Dixon then, as he is at the present 
time. Mr. Appleton bought the E. i of N.W. i of Sec. 22, Amboy 
township, from the Sawyers, who had squatted on it, and this is now a 
part of Gilson's addition to the city of Amboy. He tarried here thir- 
teen months, and then returned east; in his absence the land in this 
township came into market, and to save it for Mr. Appleton, Cyrus 
Davis bought it from the government and conveyed it to him on his 
arrival in 1844. He afterward became the owner of five other 
"forties." When Amboy was started he entered into an arrangement 
with Gilsun 6z Ransom, of La Salle, by which they were to lay out the 
tract above described into lots, and sell them, reserving only block 
eleven, where Mr. Sleeper lives, and which is known as "the Appleton 
place." Mr. Appleton was married on September 17, 1844, to Miss 
Abbie H. Hunt, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. She was born in 
Dublin, in that state, December 11, 1820. Her father was clothier 
and did business in Dublin, and afterward in Jefl'rey, where he died in 
1866. Four children were the fruits of this union: Samuel E., Abbie 
R., Maria N., Isaac J. and Julia A. The latter died August 17, 1855, 
and Mr. Appleton on September 28 following. Mr. Appleton was 
one of the foremost citizens of the township, and held office at different 
times. His widow was married to Dr. True P. Sleeper, February 5, 
1856, and by this marriage twins have been born : Anna A. and Emma 
A. Dr. Sleeper is a native of St. Albans, Maine, where he was born 
March 31, 1821. He prepared for the practice of medicine in Harvard 
University, and followed his profession six years in Maine. He was 
married in 1852, to Miss Emma Mitchell, who died of cholera in 
Bureau county, Illinois, only ten days after his arrival in the state. 
He has practiced medicine and dentistry most of the time since he has 
lived here. 

SAaiUEL E. Appletox, dry -goods salesman, Amboy, was born on the 
site of Amboy September 7, 1845, and was the son of Joseph B. and 
Abbie H. Appleton. In May, 1864, he volunteered for one year in 



:m 



':%. 






^%r^A 




Chester S. Badger 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 363 

Co. I, 134th 111. Vols., and served nine months, doing garrison duty in 
Missouri and Kentucky. On July 1, 1865, he began as clerk in the 
store of L. Bourne, and has held that position continuously until the 
present time. He has been twice married : first on June 27, 1867, to 
Miss Mary E. Mikesell, who died December 31, 1870 ; and again April 
12, 1874, to Miss Henrietta M. Christopher. By the first union he 
has one child, Elmer E. ; and by the second two, Isaac E. and Guy 
W. Mrs. Appleton is a member of the Congregational church. He 
is an Odd-Fellow and a republican. 

Elisha Manning, homeopathic physician and surgeon, Amboy, was 
born in Rush county, Indiana, September 7, 1845. His paternal 
grandfather's family removed in an early time from Pennsylvania to 
Ohio ; and when his father was a young lad they came to Indiana. 
In 1850 liis parents, Hiram and Elizabeth (Moore) Manning, settled in 
Jasper county, Illinois, where they have since lived. From there the 
doctor enlisted in Co. F, 46th 111. Vols., in the autumn of 1861. He 
fought at Shiloh, was in the siege of Corinth, the battle of the Hatchie, 
and the siege of Vicksburg; and after the capitulation of the latter 
place campaigned in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana, 
and as was usual saw a good deal of hard service and small fighting. 
Afterward he was at the taking of Fort Blakely and the city of Mobile. 
He "veteraned" January 4, 1864. His regiment held its organization 
four and one-half years, and 1,700 altogether were enrolled in it. He 
was mustered out at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 20, 1866, and 
paid oil" and disbanded at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois, February 
1. From this time till the spring of 1873 he devoted himself to study. 
He attended the Freeport high school, and graduated there in June 
1870. During part of his army service he was general assistant in 
hospital, and this drew his attention to the medical profession and 
excited a desire to become a physician. He now began reading medi- 
cine with Dr. K F. Prentice, of Freeport ; and in the years 1871-2-3 
attended lectures at Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, and 
graduated from that institution March 21, 1873. He located in Free- 
port in the office of his old preceptor who had just died, but in June, 
1874, removed to Amboy, where he has secured a good practice. He 
is a member of the Illinois State Homceopathic Association and of the 
Rock River Valley Medical Association, and belongs to the United 
"Workmen and the Legion of Honor. In politics he is a republican. 
In 1881 he received the appointment of examining surgeon for pensions 
for Lee county. The doctor is a Presbyterian and Mrs. Manning is a 
Congregationalist. He was married October 3, 1878, to Miss Clara E. 
Prentice, of Rockford. They have one son. 

Charles A. Wilcox, homceopathic physician and surgeon, Amboy, 
23 



364 HISTOKT OF LEE COUNTT. 

was born in Kendall county, Illinois, September 27, 1846. His parents 
were H. G. and Jemima (Nickerson) Wilcox. The Wilcoxes are a 
numerous family, and their ancestors came to America in the first set- 
tlement of the country. Dr. Wilcox was reared a farmer, and educated 
at Beloit College, Wisconsin. In 1867 and 1868 he was deputy post- 
master at Ottawa, and in the latter year began the study of medicine 
with Dr. Chester Hard, of that city. He attended lectures at Hush Med- 
ical College, Chicago, and was graduated in February 1870, and imme- 
diately located atUtica, La Salle county, Illinois. At the end of six 
years he removed to Wilmington, Delaware, and resided there three 
years; and in 1879 returned west and settled in Amboy, where he has 
established a successful practice. His first marriage was with Mrs. 
Carrie M. (Sewell), widow of H. M. Higby. She died in 1878, leaving 
two children, Blanche E. and Bessie K. In 1879 he married Miss 
Isabella J. Gardner. The doctor is a Mason, and a member of the 
American Legion of Honor. 

Ai.FKEi) H. Egan, lumber, grain and coal dealer, Aml)oy, son of 
Michael and Ellen (Morris) Egan, was born in Amboy, January 27, 
1855. He served five years at the machinist's trade and worked one 
year at the same after completing his apprenticeship. Then in 1879 
he began selling lumber in company with his father ; the latter with- 
drew from the partnership October 8, 1880, and Mr. Egan is now car- 
rying on the business by himself. He is a democrat, a member of the 
Catholic church, and served as alderman from 1879 to 1881. His mar- 
riage with Miss Mary E. Madden, daughter of John Madden, founder 
and machinist, of the firm of Donohue & Madden, Mendota, took place 
October 1, 1879. Their child, John M., was born September 1, 18S1. 

John B. Felker, physician and surgeon, Amboy, son of Abraham 
and Catherine (Wingert) Felker, was born in Washington count}-, Mary- 
land, November 1 !•, 1839. He is of German ancestry. His great grand- 
father Felker was a cavalry soldier in the German army, and emigrated 
to America before tiie independence of the colonies. His grandfather 
John Felker was a soldier of the revolution, and his grandfather Jacob 
Wingert was a United Brethren preacher. In 1855 Dr. Felker's father 
emigrated to Ogle county, Illinois, and settled at Mount Morris. Our 
subject was educated at Hock River Seminary at that place ; and while 
young began the study of medicine under Dr. G. W. Hewitt, of Frank- 
lin Grove. He attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago ; 
graduated in 1860, and located in practice at Ogle Station, now 
Ashton. In the summer of 1862 he received the appointment of assist- 
ant surgeon of the 34th 111. Vols., but a few days after was thrown 
from his buggy, and his right leg was broken at the ankle joint, which 
was the second injury this limb had received. From this cause lie did 



& 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 365 

not enter the service. In the spring of 1863 he settled in Amboy 
where he has since resided and practiced his profession with success. 
He belongs to the North Central Medical Association, which meets 
annually at Wenona, and to the Illinois State Medical Association, 
and the American Medical Association. Dr. and Mrs. Felker are mem- 
bers of the [Congregational church, but the latter formerly belonged 
to the German Reformed. He has held the otKce of trustee a number 
of years, and is now president of the board. He has been a Mason 
twenty years. In 1880 the democrats of Lee and Ogle counties hon- 
ored him with the nomination for state senator. He has served as 
alderman several years, and is filling his fourth consecutive term as 
mayor of tlie city of Amboy. Dr. Felker celebrated his marriage 
with Miss E. Jennie Miller on November 19, 1867. They have had 
four children : Hartley Trusdell (dead). May Gertrude, John Boggs, 
and Abraham Henry. 

Lyman C. Wheat, merchant, Amboy, was born in Pntnej^ 
Vermont, in 1821. In 1828 his parents, Josiah and Mary (Black) 
Wheat, moved to New York and settled in Steuben county, where 
our subject was reared and received an academic education. Until he 
came west in 184:3, his time was principall3' spent in teaching select 
and public schools. In midsummer he arrived with his little family 
in Lee county, and for a short time lived on the Dixon and Chicago 
road, but in the autumn removed to the former place and took up his 
residence for two years in the land office. He continued to teach 
when his health would permit, and in 18i5 went to Lee Center to 
live, and for a number of years was a trustee of tiie academy and 
active in promoting the interests of the institution. About 1854 he 
bought out Charles Hitchcock and went to merchandising; in 1865 he 
transferred his business to Amboy ; and about 1872 brought his family 
here. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church, 
and he is a republican. His first marriage was on August 20, 1840, 
to Miss Mary Warnick, who bore him six children, as follows: Jose- 
phine, born December 13, 1841 ; George W., November 8, 1843 ; 
Addie N., June 12, 1849, married E. C. Gridley, and died October 3, 
1874; Alice May, December 2, 1854; Fred Augustus, July 18, 1857 ; 
and Lizzie Jane, December 9, 1858, died March 12, 1861. His wife 
died July 31, 1862; and on August 23, 1863, he married Harriet 
Lucretia (Eaton), widow of Henry C. Nash. B}^ this second marriage 
he has four children : Willie Henry, born October 16, 1864, died Sep- 
tember 12, 1865 ; Charles Lyman, December 8, 1865 ; Nellie L., June 
4, 1868: and Edwin Densmore, March 18, 1871. George enlisted in 
Co. E, 75th 111. Vols., in 1862 ; he fought at the battle of Perryville 
and was woimded in the hip, and he was last seen sitting against a 



366 HISTORY OF LEE COUIOT. 

tree. No further knowledge of him rewarded the efforts made to 
learn more of his fate. He sleeps for the flair. 

Calvin D. Vaugh.vx, furniture dealer and undertaker, Amboy, eldest 
son of Nathan A. and Sally S. (Baker) Vaughan, was born in Plattsburg, 
New York, July 28, 1828. His uncle, Colonel Vaughan, and his grand- 
father Baker, a captain of militia, both fought at the battle of Platts- 
burg in 1814, each having command according to his rank. Mr. 
Vaughan received an academic education in his native town, and in 
18.51 he became an assistant in the ofKce of the county clerk, David H. 
Parsons, at Plattsburg. He remained in that einploNinent three years, 
and in October, 1854, emigrated to this state and located at Amboy. 
He began earl}' in the furniture and undertaking business, and has 
followed it since without interruption, except from the disastrous lires 
which have visited the city, and b}' wiiich he has sustained heavy 
losses. He was married on February 22, 1855, to Miss Louise M. 
Balch. They have had six children, all of whom are living : Lottie L., 
Hattie D., Frank C, Fred N., Wallie B., and Louie S. Mr. Vaughan 
is an Odd-Fellow of twelve years' standing, and has borne Masonic 
honors somewhat longer ; in polities he has been a democrat from his 
youth up. He was a trustee of Amboy when it was under villiage 
organization, has been alderman of the city, ma^'or twice, township 
clerk, and is at present school treasurer. He was also clerk of the 
court of common pleas of Amboy from its organization till it was dis- 
continued. For thirty-five years he has been in communion in the 
Baptist chui'ch, and has held official relation as clerk, trustee and 
treasurer. Mrs. Yaughan was formerly a Presbyterian, but during 
many years has been a member of the same denomination. 

Hexry E. Baihjek, miller, farmer and tradesman, Amboy, was born 
in Broome county, New York, in 1816. He was raised a millwright, 
educated at the academy at Elmira, and followed school teaching as a 
vocation live years. In 1841 he removed to Corning, Steuben county, 
and engaged in the manufacture of furniture until 1849, when he came 
west and settled at Binghamton. In 1851 he entered into the manu- 
facture of plows in partnership with Frederick Bainter, but alter two 
years bought his partners interest, and continued the business alone 
until 1858, when he discontinued it altogether. In company with his 
brother Chester he purchased the-inill at Binghamton from his brothers 
Warren and Simon, and they immediately rebuilt it into a steam mill. 
In 1872 it was burnt, and Mr. Badger bought his brother's interest 
and built another the same year on the old site. In 1878 he united his 
son Warren with himself under the style of H. E. Badger S: Son, and 
this tirm owned and operated tiie mill until it was struck by lightning 
and consumed, the present year, inflicting a loss of $10,000. They also 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 367 

merchandise in Ainboy, and carry on farming. Mr. Badger has been 
twice married ; first in May, 1841, to Miss Catherine Gay, who died a 
little more than a year afterward, leaving a daughter. In 1845 he 
married Miss Catherine Clark, by whom he has had four children. As 
will be seen, the subject of this sketch has been a live business man ; 
he has also been no less energetic and stirring in religious and political 
matters. He has belonged to the Methodist church over forty-five 
years, and his great usefulness in his church relations is gratefully 
recognized. His official connection in the offices of steward, trustee, 
class leader and Sabbath-school superintendent has been constant and 
faithful, and in the temperance cause also he has done much good ser- 
vice. Mrs. Badger has been an exemplary member of the same church 
thirty-five years. Mr. Badger was at first a democrat, but renounced 
his party when it attempted to make Kansas a slave state, and at once 
gave his influential assistance in organizing the republican partj', of 
which he has since been a prominent member in the county, having 
always rendered efficient aid in maintaining its supremac}'. He has 
held the township offices of school trustee, road commissioner, and 
supervisor, the latter eight years. 

Chester Badgek, farmer, Amboy, son of Chester S. and Lois 
(Bird) Badger, was born in Colesville, Broome county, New York, in 
1823. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother of 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Badger was reared a hotel boj-, and as such 
worked for his uncle between the ages of twelve and eighteen. He 
went to school more or less during that time. In 1840 he emigrated 
to Lee county, and engaged in farming with his parents until 1848, 
when he enlisted as a private in the 11th 111. Vols., and served eighteen 
months in New Mexico under Gen. Sterling Price. He had four com- 
rades, the only soldiers in the Mexican war from his part of the coun- 
ty : David AVhitney and • Jeffrey Cook, from Sublette, and James 
and Beeler, from Amboy. He came home in 1849, and the next year 
went overland to California, where he remained one year. After his 
return he engaged for tw(? years in the manufacture of plows at 
Binghamton, and then went to milling in company with H. E. Badger 
and W. H. Badger. This firm rebuilt the old water-power mill into a 
steam-mill. Mr. Badger retired from the business when the property 
was burned in 1872, and since that has been farming. In politics he 
is a democrat. He has been elected to the office of supervisor five 
times, and has been a leading man in Amboy township many years. 
On March 16, 1853, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Mary A. 
Cushman, who was born March 11, 1834. Their three children are 
Cornelia E., Duer Chester, and Robert. Miss Cornelia is a member of 
the Methodist church. 



368 HISTORY OF LKE COUNTY. 

Frederick R. Ditcher, fanner, Aiuljoy, was born in Canaan, 
Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 180i. His paternal ancestors emi- 
grated from Amsterdam in 1720 and settled in New York. At our 
first call we found Mr. Dutclier sitting in a well-preserved rocking- 
chair which his grandfather, IJuluft' Dutclier, brought from Holland. 
At thirteen our subject began tending a store, and from that time till 
very recent years he has been closely identified with mercantile pur- 
suits. He was married at Lockport, New York, in 1830, to Miss 
Harriet Phillips, daughter of John Phillips, the first anti-masonic 
sherifl:' elected when the Morgan excitement raged. She died in 183y, 
leaving two children. In 1845 he was married to the widow of 
George W. Hawley, formerly Emily Pratt. In 1838 Mr. Dutcher 
came west and located in Dixon, where he sold goods several years. 
In 1839 he was elected justice of the peace and held that oflice until he 
removed to Rocky Ford in 1848. He took an interesting part in the 
division of Ogle county and circulated a petition to advance that end. 
Smith Gilbraith and himself, both Dixon men, were deputed by the 
citizens to attend the legislature and lobby the division. They spent 
the most of the winter of 1838-9 at Vandalia, and secured the appoint- 
ment of a committee favorable to their interests, which embraced also 
the location of the count}' seat at Dixon. Mr. Dutcher has been a life- 
long democrat, and has alwa\'S taken a leading part in local politics. 
He has had a considerable acquaintance with prominent men in his 
party, and enjoyed their confidence. When he came west he brought 
letters of introduction from William L. Marc}' and Washington Hunt. 
He issued the call for the first democratic injecting ever held in Lee 
county. In the Douglas-Stewart race for congress in 1S38, when Mr. 
Douglas contemplated contesting Stewart's election, he entrusted Mr. 
Dutcher with the investigations in this part of the district, and the 
latter rode to Galena on horseback on that business. He has two rel- 
ics in the form of letters from the " Little Giant," written at this time. 
Mr. Dutcher laid out the village of Sholburn at Rocky Ford, but has 
lived to see it dissipated by time and circumstances. He was president 
of the Shelburn Manufacturing Company which built and controlled 
the large mill and distillery at that place. 

John C. Church, farmer, Amboy, second child of Sylvester and 
Lucinda (Miles) Church, was born March 15, 1817, in Clienango county, 
New York. He learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, and 
worked at it till the sunmier of 1838, when he came to Palestine 
Grove (now Amboy township), where he has since had his home. Mr. 
Church was married December 7, 1842, to Cyrene, daughter of Joseph 
Farwell. Their children have been George Henry (dead), Charles 
Augustus, Lucy Maria i^dead), Lucy Anna (^dead), Ella, Joseph Fre- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 369 

mont, Eva (dead), Cyrus and Cyrene, twins (dead), and John Albert. 
Mr. and Mrs. Clnircli have been members of the Congregational 
church fortj'-one j'ears ; and they assisted to organize the Palestine 
Grove church, the first of tiiat denomination in Lee county. His 
official connection as deacon and trustee extends over a period of many 
years of useful christian labor. He has been elected to the offices of 
assessor, collector, supervisor, coroner, and road commissioner ; the 
office of supervisor he filled three successive terms, and he is now 
coroner for tlie second time. In 1840 he cast his first presidential bal- 
lot for General Harrison, voting at j!^auvoo. During his stay in that 
city he boarded a short time with the prophet Joe Smith. In the 
autunm of 1840 he traveled in the south, working in diiferent places. 
His farm of 109 acres, adjacent to the city of Amboy, is valued at 
$5,500. He is a firm republican. 

The Little family' traces its history down a long line of distinguished 
ancestors. George Little, the founder of the Newbury family of that 
name, came from England to Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1640. His 
descendants in New England have been eminent in business and the 
professions, and noted in public life, both civil and military. Mr. 
Josiah Little of Amboy, a lineal descendant, was born in Auburn, 
Maine, September 10, 1832. He obtained his education at the Edward 
Little Institute, at Auburn, and at the age of sixteen went to work in 
a store in his native town. Three 3'ears after he went to southwest 
Missouri,'and remaining there two years, in February, 1854, came to 
Illinois, and in April arrived in Amboy, when preparations were just 
beginning for a town. As soon as it was possible for him to do so he 
made himself the owner of lot 8, block 3, original plat, and erected the 
first permanent store in the place, and from that time sold drugs, medi- 
cines and hardware until he was burnt out in 1868. He then changed 
his business, and in January, 1869, opened a banking house, which he 
has conducted to this date. In tlie meantime he has besides had a 
considerable interest in farming, and is now the owner of 445 acres of 
well improved land, valued at $13,000. Mr. Little has been town 
clerk and supervisor, and has held various minor offices. In 1861 he 
■was elected treasurer of Lee county, and in 1863 reelected. Again 
in 1879 he was recalled to the same position. In November, 1859, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hussey, of Franklin Grove. 
They are the parents of five children, all living, as follows : Josiah, 
Nancy J., Mary Elizabeth, Edward Hussey, and Maria Warren. Mr. 
and Mrs. Little are members of the Congregational church, and he has 
been a Mason over twenty years. 

Edmund R. Travees, physician and surgeon, Amboy, seventh child 
in a family of ten children by Richard H. and Harriet (Walsh) Tra- 



370 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

vers, was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, Marcli 7, 1832. His 
father was a shipowner, and carried on a business in coal, grain and 
live stock ; besides this he kej)t a farm of 200 acres, which he had cul- 
tivated. In 1842 he emigrated to London, Canada, where he bought 
200 acres of land and prepared a home for his family, who came the 
next year. His death occurring shortly after, the mother was left with 
the care and education of a large family, and notwithstanding she iiad 
some property it was not sufficient for the demands which she foresaw 
would accumulate, so she engaged in giving private lessons in English, 
French and music, until all her children that had not previously done 
80 had completed their studies. Two of the older sons were physi- 
cians. John T. was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of 
London, England, and Eichard W. of the Edinburgh Medical College, 
Scotland, and also a graduate of TioU's Medical School of Toronto, 
Canada ; both these are now dead. The subject of this sketch began 
the study of medicine under the tutelage of his brothers when but si.\- 
teen vears of age, and attended iiis first course of lectures at Rolfs 
Medical School. Having become delicate in health, in 1856 be sought 
improvement in a change of climate and travel and went south ; but 
lie did not rela.x his studies, and while in New Orleans attended a 
course of medical lectures by Dr. Stone. In 1858 he matriculated in 
the medical department of the L'niversity of Michigan, from which he 
was graduated in 1861. He then attended the General Hospital at 
Toronto, Canada, for one year, after which he immediately began prac- 
tice with his brother John T., who was located at Port Huron, Michi- 
gan, opening an office in Port Sarnia, just opposite, in Canada. About 
this time his brother Charles H., who was a druggist in Port Huron, 
raised a company for the war, but the enrolled men not being accepted, 
he, along with other officers, were sent to Detroit, where thej' were 
regularly drilled and instructed. Returning again to Port Huron he 
enlisted in Co. E, 5tli Mich. Inf, was elected captain, and with his 
command joined the army of the Potomac. He was mortally wounded 
at the battle of Fair Oaks. Dr. Travers was on the point of entering 
the Union service as a surgeon when a sudden and severe illness pros- 
trated him and defeated his oliject. His sister, Mrs. Harriet Merrigold, 
a pious and very estimable lady, was living in Amboy, where she had 
resided almost from the beginning of the town ; through her influence 
the doctor was induced to settle here, which he did in September 1863. 
Since that time he has made Amboy his home, and has practiced his 
profession with eminent success. He is surgeon for the north division 
of the Illinois Central railroad, and in a like cajiacity has charge of the 
Lee county farm and poor-house. He holds membership in both the 
Illinois Stale Medical Association and the American Medical Associa- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 371 

tion. On May 17, 1864, he was united in marriage with Miss Estlier 
Scott, daughter of Thomas Scott, of Mendota. They liave had four 
children: Martha, Edmund, George and Mary. The last only is liv- 
ing. In politics Dr. Travers is a democrat. He is a member of the 
Episcopal church, and holds the office of junior warden. Mrs. Travers, 
who was formerly a Presbyterian, is now a communicant in the Con- 
gregational church. The doctor belongs to the fraternities of Masons, 
Odd-Fellows and United Workmen. 

Wareen H. Badger, junior member of the firm of H. E. Badger 
& Son, Amboy, was born in Corning, New York, in 1847, and is the 
oldest child of Henry E. and Catherine (Clark) Badger. He received 
a good English education at Mount Morris and Evanston, and was 
bred to a mercantile life. He has been in partnership with his fatlier 
since 1872, in milling and farming, and also in one of the leading gro- 
cery houses in 'Amboy. In 1874 he w-as married to Miss Emeline 
Green, of Elizabeth, Jo Daviess county, Illinois. She was born in 
1851. Their three children are Henry H., Frances E. and Arthur. 
Mr. Badger is a Mason and a republican. 

Isaac Edwards, liveryman and ice dealer, Amboy, is a native of 
England, having been born there in 1828. In 1850 he arrived in 
America, and at once went to railroad building at Elgin, Illinois. This 
he followed five years. In 1853 he settled at Amboy, and graded seven 
miles of the Central railroad, under three contracts. Since 1855 he 
has been in the livery and ice business. In 1869 he again began taking 
contracts for railroad grading, and has also been engaged at that more 
or less ever}' year till the present. His real estate comprises 580 acres 
of farming land, valued at $1-1,500 ; and twenty city lots, sixteen build- 
ings, worth §10,000. Mr. Edwards is a republican, and has run three 
times for the office of county treasurer, — first in 1877, and twice in 
1879. In the last year he ran as an independent and was elected over 
W. H. Bryant, the republican nominee. The board of supervisors 
questioned the sufficiency of Mr. Edwards' bond, though his bonds- 
men were several of the most wealthy farmers in Lee county ; an on 
reference of the case to the state's attorney, he held that they could not 
accept a new bond after the first of December ; and as they had assem- 
bled at the latest moment, no time remained for him to make a new one. 
A second election was ordered ; Mr. Edwards and Josiah Little were 
the candidates, and the latter was elected. Mr. Edwards has been 
mayor of the city si.x years, township collector four terms, and is serving 
his sixth term as supervisor. He was married in 1853, to Miss Elizabeth 
Saul. Their living children are William John, John Henry, Isaac 
Frank, and Arthur. They have buried an infant, Albert, Elizabeth, 
and Sarah Jane. 



372 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Rrrcs H. Mellen, postmaster, Amboy, was born in Massaclmsetts, 
February 5, 181S. His Scotch ancestors came to New England in the 
early days of the Massachusetts colony, and were a people noted for 
their great physical strength. Mr. Mellen obtained his education at 
the Wilbraham Acadeni}', in his own town of Greenwich. He taught 
music and district schools, and traveled in New Jersey, when a young 
mail, in the same einj)loyinents. In lS-i2 he was married to Miss 
Laura E. Patten, and four children are the fruits of this union, viz : 
Ella Frances, Walter Clayton, Florence Virginia, and May Georgiana. 
In October, 1854, Mr. Mellen came to Amboy and selected it for his 
future home; and the next spring brought his family, and went to 
manufacturing lumber. In 1861 he was commissioned postmaster of 
Amboy, and has occupied the office until the present time. He began 
concurrently selling books and papers, and in 1864 took his son Walter 
into partnership. They have since added to their trade musical instru- 
ments and sewing machines. Mr. Mellen has been a member of the 
Congregational church since he was fifteen years old. He has been 
cit}' clerk and alderman, and is a republican. Originally a whig, he 
cast his first vote for Harrison in 1840. 

Among the leading business men of Amboy is Lemuel Bourne, 
who was born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, in 1830, and was the son of 
Benjamin and Lucinda Bourne. His remotest ancestor in this country 
was Richard Boui'ue, who landed at Sandwich, from England, in 1620, 
and was a prominent man in the early history of the Massachusetts 
colony. Our subject was educated in the academies at Westbrook and 
Norway, Maine, and has been keejiing books and merchandising from 
that time to the present. In the spring of 1854 he emigrated to the 
west, and the following winter came to Amboy as freight and station 
agent, and filled this position eight years; he then embarked in the 
drug and grocery trade in partnership with J. S. Briggs; at the end of 
three years he retired and bought out Mr. Somes, and until 1872 was 
in company with B. R. Hawks in a general store. Since that date he 
has been without a partner. Mr. Bourne keeps a complete assortment 
of goods on East avenue, aiid is very favorably known throughout the 
country. In 1860 he celebrated his marriage with Miss Anna M. 
Smith, and by her has had five children : Anna L., Frank S., Frederick 
C, Alice A. and Helen A. His family are communicants in the 
Protestant Episcopal church, and he worships there, but is not a 
member. He has held the office of Alderman, and is a republican. 

Everett E. Chase, magistrate, Amboy, was born in Pawtucket 
(then Massachusetts, now Rhode Island), September 27, 1840, and is 
descended in a direct line from the Puritans. It was the intention of 
his parents to breed him to the law, but he objected with such persist- 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 373 

ence that the design was abandoned. He left home at sixteen, and in 
the spring of 1857 came to Amboy, where his brother, Newton S. 
Ciiase, was in business. He was deputy postmaster a short time under 
Sidney Reed ; then he clerked for his brother, and next about a year 
for Alonzo Kinyon. In the spring of 1861 he was appointed deputy 
postmaster by R. H. Mellen, and filled this place till the spring of 1864, 
when he became a partner with Mr. Mellen in the book and stationery 
business. In the autumn of the same year he sold out to his partner, 
and enlisted in Co. H, lltli 111. Vols., and joined his regiment at Mem- 
phis. He served his time on detail doing clerical work, but aided in 
the taking of Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and Mobile city. He went 
with his command from there to Baton Rouge, and thence up Red 
River, when Gen. Canby received the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smith 
and liis forces. Mr. Chase was mustered out at New Orleans in No- 
vember 1865. In 1867 he married Miss Mary Jacobs, daughter of John 
C. Jacobs; and next year went to work for the Central Railroad Com- 
pany in the superintendent's office, and remained there till 1875. He 
has been city clerk twelve years, and in 1877 was elected justice of the 
peace, and reelected in 1881. He was a delegate to the state republi- 
can convention at Springfield in 1880. His first wife died in 1868, and 
in 1875 he married Mrs. Grace Wells, widow of Capt. M. W. Wells. 

JosEpn B. Graves, dealer in agricultural implements, carriages and 
wagons, Amboy, son of William and Sarah M. (Foster) Graves, was born 
in Broome county, New York, in 1838. His father having died two 
years before, in September 1852 his mother moved with her family to 
Illinois, and lived one year in Kendall county ; then they came to Lee 
and settled in China township. Mr. Graves was married in 1862 to 
Miss Mary E. Eastwood, and two children have been born to them, 
William F. and Cora May. In the fall of 1868 he quit farming and 
located in Amboy in his present business, in company witli Joseph 
Himes. In 1876 he bought out his partner's interest. His wareroom, 
a pleasant and commodious one, stands on the corner of Main street 
and Adams avenue. He owns a farm of 80 acres in Nachusa township, 
worth $3,000. He is a Mason, an Odd-Fellow, a workman, a democrat, 
an alderman, and a member of the board of education of Amboj'. 

DwiruiT W. Slautee, lumber and coal dealer, Ambo}', only son of 
Ambrose E. and Louisa (Bristol) Slauter, was born in Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts, October 28, 18il. In the spring of 1855 his father em- 
igrated with his family to Amboy, and here our subject got his school- 
ing, and learned the cabinet trade with J. D. Weddell. After the 
death of the latter he worked for C. D. Yauglian two or three years, 
and then for the railroad company in the wood department of the ma- 
chine shop seven years. In 1870 he quit this employment and united 



374 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

with J. H. Ives, under tlie linn name of Ives & Slanter, and purchased 
the business of Merigold ife Arnold, lumber merchants. They rented 
the old stand from their predecessors five years, and then bought the 
Marston property adjoining, and added grain and coal to their business. 
They have since leased the grain department. Mr. Slanter was married 
in 1864 to Miss Ella F., daughter of R. H. Mellen, wiio was born May 
6, 18i5. Both are members of the Congregational chiircii. Mr. Slan- 
ter is a republican. He has traveled some for pleasure and improve- 
ment, and has applied himself to his business witli industry, and liis 
start in life is due to his own exertions. 

CcETis M. I3i TLEK, lumber merchant, Amboy, was born October 
14, 1817, in Brockville, Canada, while his parents had gone there tem- 
porarily from their home in Jefferson county, New York. He was 
reared a farmer, and in 1836 he emigrated to St. Clair county, Miclii- 
gan, where he bought a piece of government land in the dense woods 
and cleared and im])roved a small farm. In 1838 his father, Abijah 
Butler, who was born February 25, 17'.t3, joined him with his family, 
and on the 2d of April, 1842, was stricken down and died. His mother, 
Clarissa Dowd before marriage, whose birth was on the 8th of Novem- 
ber, 1792, lived until July 5, 1845. In 1843 Mr. Butler removed to 
Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, and continued to live by farming. 
In 1855 he set up in the lumber trade in that town, and the next year 
changed his place of business and residence to Amboy, coming here 
without means. He has followed this with success ever since, and now 
owns two farms of eighty acres each, valued at §6,000. Mr. Butler 
was married in 1853 to Miss Sarah M. Atwater, daughter of David and 
Mary (McKenzie) Atwater, who was born July 6, 1825, and reared in 
Broome county, New York. They have had three children ; Frederick 
H., Delia (dead), and Blanche. Mrs. Butler's ancestry were Englisli 
and Scotch ; the latter was on the maternal side. Her grandfather At- 
water went from Hebron, Washington county. New York, as a volun- 
teer, and fought at the battle of Bennington. Her grandtafher 
McKenzie was an officer in the French and Indian war. He was sent 
out on a scout and never returned. Mr. Butler is a republican in poli- 
tics, and he and his wife have been members of the First Congrega- 
tional church of Amboy about fifteen years. He has been mayor of 
the city three terms. 

William B. Stuakt, attorney, Amboy, was born in Ireland in 
1806, and emigrated with his parents to America in 1812, and settled 
in Canandaigua, Ontario county. New York. His father volunteered 
at once in the 15th New York regiment, served through the war, 
and was engaged in several actions. Wlieii Mr. Stuart had grown to 
manhood his father gave him a saw-mill and 200 acres of land in 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP, 375 

Canada, and in 1833 he went there to live, and was married to Miss 
Mary Johnson. In the patriot war, 1836-8, Mr. Stuart participated 
with all the enthusiasm of his Irish nature. He commanded a com- 
pany of lancers at the battle ot Short Hills, December 19, 1836, had 
his horse killed under him, and was wounded in the ankle. Two weeks 
afterward he was captured at Gravelly Bay and confined with John 
Van Norman, who had been taken prisoner at Checkered Sheds. On 
the 17th of March they managed to escape, but the latter was retaken, 
to undergo the toils and anxieties of a second escape, when he rejoined 
Mr. Stuart at Buffalo. Tiiey then came together to Illinois, Van 
Norman direct to Dixon, while his partner remained in Chicago until 
autumn, when he came to Lee county also, and made a claim at Frank- 
lin Grove. Mr. Stuart lived at this place and at Dixon nine years, 
engaged in all kinds of business, and practicing law somewhat. He 
opened at the county seat the first meat market in Lee county. He 
furnislied $1,000 capital, and a man named Gaylord attended to the 
business. He was soon in the condition of the Dutchman who sup- 
plied money in partnership with a Yankee who furnished experience — 
at the end of a year Gaylord had gone with the mone}', and Stuart 
had the experience. In 1847 he moved to Rocky Ford and improved 
four farms in May township. The next year lie built tiie first frame 
house, and about twenty-five years ago the first brick house, in the 
township. At one time he carried on a large speculation in land. He 
was the first supervisor in May township, and held that office several 
years. He was commissioned justice of the peace first by Governor 
Ford, and has been an incumbent of the position continuously to this 
date. He commenced doing business in real estate and practicing law 
in Amboy as soon as the place was started. In 1854: his famil}^ came 
to town to live, but after some time they resided quite as much on the 
farm in May township as here. Mr. Stuart has suftered heavy losses 
six times from tire. His first wife died in 1875, and was the mother of 
fourteen children, as follows : Hamilton W., Francelia A., Marietta, 
Eliza Jane, a young lady of education and rare beauty, who was 
thrown from a horse and received mortal injuries; William H., James 
H., John B., Francis M., Charles F., Melissa (dead), Ida E., Emma J., 
and two which died in infancy. William and James were soldiers in 
the 75th 111. reg. and fought at Perryvilie and Crab Orchard, and else- 
where. In 1879 Mr. Stuart was married to Lydia A., widow of Jesse 
G. Baker. In 1829 his parents, James and Ann (Markey) Stuart, 
emigrated to Almont, Lapeer county, Michigati, where they lived 
many years and died, the former at the age of eighty-four. 

Andrew W. Spafaed, book-keeper and cashier for the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad Company at Amboy, was born in Livingston county. New 



376 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

York, June 23, 1827. His parents were Thomas L. and Almira 
(Baldwin) Spafard. In 1838 the family removed to Washtenaw 
county, Michigan, where his father is still living. Until 1855 Mr. 
Spafard was most of the time engaged in 'farming; at that time he 
moved to Chicago, and in March following to Amboy, where he was 
book-keeper in the master mechanic's office. In May, 1858, he returned 
to Chicago, and was emploj'ed in an agricultural warehouse, and in 
February, 1860, he moved back to Amboy and has since resided in this 
place, and occupied his present position in the office of the superin- 
tendent of the north division of the Central railroad. He was mar- 
ried in 1850, to Miss Lucinda Z. Chipman, of Lima, Washtenaw 
county, Michigan. She was born December 28, 1828. They have 
one son, Frank S., ticket agent and operator at Warren, Illinois. Mr. 
and Mrs. Spafard are members of the Congregational church at Am- 
boy. He has been a Mason about a year, and belongs to the American 
Legion of Honor. He is a stalwart republican. 

Epiieaim a. Wilcox, deceased, was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua 
county, New York, in 1811. He removed to Lucas county, Ohio, and 
engaged in mercantile pursuits, and during his residence there was 
married, in 1836, to Miss Sabra E. Arnold. In 1838 he settled at the 
place known as Freedom, in La Salle county, this state. Here he be- 
came converted, and was baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist 
church of Harding. In 1854 he removed to Amboy, and formed a 
partnership with A. H. Wooster, and was numbered with the earliest 
business men of the place. He at once took rank as an upright, high- 
minded and public-spirited citizen, and when the town was incorporated 
he became president of the first board of trustees. Mrs. Wilco.x, who 
had been a communicant in the Baptist church since she was fourteen 
years of age, united with her husband and assisted with much zeal in 
the organization of the Baptist church of Amboy, and were enrolled 
among its constituent members. Mr. Wilco.x was elected deacon, and 
he adorned this responsible office to the close of his life. He was 
always a liberal contributor to the support of the gospel ; a man of 
quiet manners, meek though social disposition, and his home was the 
abode of peace and hospitality, and a pleasant retreat for his christian 
brethren. He died Kovember 2, 1878, greatly respected, and was 
buried in Prairie Repose cemetery. The Rev. Thomas Powell, of Ot- 
tawa, a close personal friend, preached his funeral discourse from Thes- 
salonians iv, 13, 14. !Mrs. Wilcox was an exemplary christian lady, 
honored and beloved by an extended circle of friends. She went to 
rest on March 19, 1878, aged sixty-one years. The Rev. Powell 
preached her sermon from Job xiv, 14. 

John Gunning, painter, Amboy, was born in New Jersey in 1833. 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 377 

His father died before his recollection, and he found his way to Massa- 
chusetts, where he worked in a cotton factory, and when older on shoes. 
In the spring of 1853 he came west, and got employment from the 
Central Railroad Company as a painter, and has been in their service 
all the time since except one year, when he was in the Orient House 
with his father-in-law. In 1860 he began and has since continued to 
work in the Company's shops in Amboy. On May 15, 1854, he was 
married in Chicago to Miss Amanda Skinner, daughter of John L. 
Skinner, who was born September 1, 1835, at North Bridgewater, 
Massachusetts. Mr. Skinner arrived here in the autumn of 1852, be- 
ing employed at the time on the railroad. He was one of the first 
men to make a beginning in the new town, and bought two lots — the 
first sold — on the corner of Main street and East avenue, where he 
erected the Orient House, the only hotel, except the Passenger House, 
ever built in the city. At the outbreak of the war he opened the first 
enrolling office in Amboy. He was one of the foremost men for sev- 
eral years, and died of paralysis May 9, 1875, at the age of sixty-six 
years. Mr. and Mrs. Gunning have been the parents of four children : 
Louisa A., Elrena L. (deceased), Carrie E. and George M. Mrs. Gun- 
ning belongs to the Episcopal chiirch, and Mr. Gunning is a vestry- 
man. He has been alderman five years, and is a democrat. 

William Henet McGkaw, locomotive engineer, Amboy, settled in 
this city in the fall of 1856, and has been in the employ of the Central 
Railroad Company continuously since. He began by firing two years, 
then worked in the shop and switched in the yard until July 5, 1859, 
when he took an engine and ran a freight train five years; from that 
time till now he has had a passenger. Mr. McGraw was married to 
Miss Jane Mooney, February 15, 1863. Mrs. McGraw was born in the 
county of Wexford, Ireland, October 28, 1842, and emigrated to this 
country in 1859. The first year she lived in McLean county, Illinois, 
and then came to Amboy. Mr. McGraw was born in Schoharie 
county, New York, of John W. and Jane (Chilson) McGraw, April 19, 
1831. He served an apprenticeship to the miller's trade, but did not 
work at it afterward. In 1850 he came west to view the country, and 
the next spring returned to Albany and worked till fall on the Hudson 
river, when he came again to Illinois and commenced as brakeman on 
the Chicago and Galena Union railroad, the first built west from 
Chicago. His run was from that city to Rockford, to which the road 
had only been extended. In June, 1852, he changed to the Illinois 
& Michigan canal and remained until some time the following year 
as captain of a boat. From this time to the autumn of 1856, when he 
came to Amboy, he was a mate ou an Illinois river steamer. 

Ira S. SmTH, butcher, Amboy, was the eighth child and third son 



•378 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

of Clement ami Lucy (^Farnhain) Smith, and was born in Grafton 
county, New Hampshire, in 1829. He had four brothers and six 
sisters, all born, like himself, at Enfield. His parents were natives of 
the same state. Clement Smith was born at Bridgewater, March 23, 
1704, and Lucy Farnham at Enfield, April 20, the same year. The 
parents of the latter were Jonathan Farnham and Hannah Choate, who 
were born respectively at Xewburyport in 175S, and in East Enfield 
about the same time. The celebrated advocate, Rufus Choate, belonged 
to this family. Mr. Smith's grandparents on both sides lived to be over 
ninety years old. His father emigrated from near Portsmouth, when a 
young man, to Enfield. The country in northern New Hampshire 
was at this time very wild. He served on the northern frontier in the 
war of 1812. Our subject at the age of eighteen left home for 
Boston, Avhere he was clerk in a store four vears. In 1S51 he made a 
trip to California, remaining only one year, and then returning to 
Boston. In November, 1852, he came to Springfield, Illinois, and on 
April 19, 1853, was married to Miss Lizzie Pearl. She was born 
February 8, 1831, and was the youngest child in a family of four sons 
and three daughters, all born at Porter, O.xford county, Maine. Mrs. 
Smith's parents were Benjamin and Susan (Otis) Pearl. The former 
was born at Porter, and served in the war of 1812, and the latter was 
born at Gilmanton, New Hampshire, March 1, 1793. When Mr. Smith 
settled in Springfield he began railroading on the Great Western. On 
December 21, 185-4, the engine " New England,'' which he was firing, 
exploded, killing the engineer and throwing him 200 feet, breaking 
his shoulder and several ribs, and scalding and dangerouslv injuring 
him. He was sevei'al months recovering, and it was two years before 
he regained the full use of his body. In 1857 he removed to Lee 
county, Iowa, and bought land and farmed. When the county adopted 
township organization "he was the first supervisor in his township of 
Lee, which had formerlj', as a precinct, been called Badger. In 18ij3 
he moved to Bureau county, Illinois, and the next year to Amboy. 
Here he worked ten years for the Central company on engine repairs, 
and in 1874 started in the butchering business. He has been collector, 
alderman and school director, and is a Mason and republican. Mr. 
and Mrs. Smith have two sons, Winslow and Edgar O., born respect- 
ively August 31, 1855, and August 31, 1861. 

Hexry T. Fokd, employe, Amboy, son of Lebbeus and Bathsheba 
(Thorp) Ford, was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, June 14, 
1821. His grandfather, John Ford, did veteran service in the revolution, 
and died about 1845 at the age of ninety-two. Mr. Ford arrived in Am- 
bo}' April 2, 1806, and the next March he began work for the Central 
compan}- as clerk in charge of the oil department, and is still in that 




SMC edWa\ds, 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 379 

position. He was married January 12, 1842, to Miss Sylvia M. 
Crampton, of West Stockbridge, Massaclnisetts. Her birth was on 
the 12th of January 1822. Tiiey have had five children, as follows : 
Marian P., born June 3, 18i3, married to John E. Pettiboue, of Ciii- 
cago, January 1, 1863; Mary E., born April 12, 1845, married to John 
Trainer June 4, 18(17; Myron H., born March 21, 1847; Charles L., 
born May 28, 1849, died October 29, 1879 ; John Wallace, born De- 
cember 15, 1859, died in infancy. In Massachusetts Mr. Ford was 
selectman six terms; in Ainboy he has been a member of the board of 
education two years, and is a trustee of Prairie Repose Cemetery. 
Politically he is a republican. Both he and Mrs. Ford are members of 
the Congregational church, and he is a trustee. 

Charles Tait, machinist, and foreman of engine house, Amboy, 
was born July 7, 1830, in the county of Northumberland, England. 
He was a son of John and Mary (Gibson) Tait. About 1850 he com- 
menced to learn the machinist's trade, and the next year came to 
America and went to work at Paterson, New Jersey. In 1852 he came 
to Cleveland and finished his trade, remaining till 1857. On the 
application of tlie Central company he came to Amboy in the fall of 
tliat year. In 18(56 he was promoted to foreman of the engine house. 
He was married May 5, 1858, to Mrs. Mary (Hatton), widow of Joseph 
Garner. The following are their six children : Hannah, now Mrs. 
William McKinzie ; Charle" W., James H., Alice M., Joseph W. and 
Ida G. Mrs. Tait belongs to the Congregational church, and he is a 
republican, a Mason, and a workman. He owns 120 acres of land at 
Clear Lake, Iowa. 

Chaeles H. Maeston, locomotive engineer, Amboy, was born in 
Portsmoutli, New Hampsliire, June 27, 1820. In 1825 his mother, 
Lydia (^Staples), died, and his father married again, and in 1830 him- 
self died. Four years later young Marston went to sea : during two 
seasons he was steamboating on the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire 
and Massachusetts, and at otiier times making voyages to the West 
Indies, to Europe and to the Mediterranean. His seafaring life lasted 
five years, and at the age of nineteen he set himself to learn the 
machinist's trade. Beginning at Portsmouth he worked two years with 
Jefterson Mclntyre, who gave up business at the end of that time. In 
1844 he went to Boston and finished with Hinckly & Drury, engine 
builders, for whom he worked a year and a lialf. Next he was employed 
by Jabez Coney, of south Boston, and helped build two engines. He left 
there in the early summer of 1847 and went to Springfield, remaining 
till the latter part of 1848 as gang-boss in the engine works at that 
place, where he superintended the putting up of seven or eight more loco- 
motives. He now went to Cleveland, Ohio, with an engine and six car- 
23 



380 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

loads of niacliineiy for the same parties, from the Springfield Car and 
Engine Works, to start car shops there, and took employment from 
Harbaek, Stone & Witt. In April, 185-i, he changed his location to 
Chicago, and began work for the Central Railroad Company, and con- 
tinued with them until 1857, first on the branch as engineer and then 
on the main line, making Ainboy his home after November 185-t. He 
subsequently ran on the Racine & Mississippi railroad, the Mississippi 
Central, the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, and the Great Western. On 
May 17, 186i, he started overland to California, but reacliiiig Salt 
Lake sold his outfit, and after remaining three months departed Jan- 
uary 7, 1865, for Arizona, where he arrived in March after a hard 
journey of fifty-four days on horseback, in the dead of winter, not hav- 
ing taken a meal nor slept but once in a human liabitation. In a few 
months he started home, and at Jacob's well was plundered by the In- 
dians, and lost both his horses. He arrived in the fall, and from tiien 
until 1869 was again working for the Central company in the machine 
shop. He then went to Bryant, on the Union Pacific, as division mas- 
ter mechanic, and early in 1871 came home and ran the first construction 
train on the Chicago & Rock River road, and after tliat a passenger. 
He was on this road little more than a year. In 1876 he removed a 
grist-mill which he had bought at Compton and set it up in Amboy, 
and ran it till 1879. In the fall of that year he returned to the Union 
Pacific and worked anotiier j-ear. About 1858 he erected two business 
houses in the city, and at other times two residences. He was married 
February 2, 1852, to Miss Jane Van Noate, of Bricksville, Ohio. They 
have three sons : Lannes, Frank, and Alpha. Mr. Marston is a Royal 
Arch Mason. 

Henbv S. Wyjian, locomotive engineer, Amboy, third son of Col. 
John B. Wyman, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, June 12, 
1852. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Chicago, where 
they resided about a year before settling in Amboy, in which place Mr. 
Wyman lived until he was eleven years old. From that time until he 
was sixteen he was at Shewsbury and Worcester, Massacliusetts, attend- 
ing school. He returned to Illinois and was in Bloomington three 
years learning the miller's trade; but as this business did not agree 
with his health, in 1871 he obtained employment from the Central 
Railroad Company, and has been in their service since as brakeman, 
fireman, baggageman, and engineer. He was married Feliruary 3, 
1876, to Miss Lilian Daniels. Tiiey have one child, Henry Westcott. 
Mrs. Wyman was born at Sliippingsport, La Salle county, July 26, 
1854. She is a memlier of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Wyman is 
a vestryman. He is also a republican and a workman. 

Charles C. Stone, junior proprietor of the drain tile and britk 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 381 

works at Ambo}', was born in Medina county, Ohio, June 19, 1843. 
His parents were Levi H. and Laurana E. (Parsons) Stone. He was 
bereft of his father when he was seven years old, and he suffered 
from feeble health during his early life. In 18oi his widowed mother 
removed with her family to Findlay, Ohio, and here Mr. Stone obtained 
his education in the graded schools. In the winter of 1861-2 he began 
the study of telegraphy, but made no use of it after acquiring it; the 
ne.xt autumn he went to clerkingfor his uncle in a retail dry-goods store ; 
and in the fall of 1864 he started as commercial traveler for a New York 
wholesale dry-goods house, and was in this business four years. In 
November, 1868, he settled in Clinton, Illinois, in the printing business, 
in company with his brother-in-law, W. L. Glessner. They purchased 
the "Clinton Register" and published it together tive j^ears. In 1873 
Mr. Stone sold to his partner and accepted the position of station 
agent at Clinton, on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western railroad. 
He iield this till March 1, 1881, and then resigned to give his personal 
attention to the manufacture of tile and brick at Amboy, and the erec- 
tion of the necessary works preparatory to undertaking the business. 
The year before he had formed a partnership with Mr. John Wight- 
wick, of Clinton, who is the senior member of the tirm. Mr. Stone 
was married February 8, 1876, to Miss Emily J. Smith, who was born 
in London, England, December 6, 1853. They have two children, 
Winnie and Nellie. Mrs. Stone belongs to the Methodist church. 

William B. Andrttss, merchant, Amboy, was born in the township 
of Jerusalem, county of Yates and State of New York, Februar^^ 23, 
1824, and is a son of Henry G. and Pamela (Weed) Andruss. As the 
genealogical history of the family shows, he is the eighth generation 
from John Andrews (termed the settler) who with a brother settled in 
Farmington, Connecticut, in 1640, from England. Mr. Andruss, the 
subject of this sketch, was raised a farmer, received an academic educa- 
tion at Franklin Academy, Prattsburgh, Steuben county, New York, 
taught school a number of terms while a young man. He married 
Miss Dolly Bell, of Gorham, Ontario county, New York, daughter of 
Thomas and Sophia Bell, October 6, 1846, and resided for one year in 
Pittsford, Monroe county, New York, where their only child, Virgil B. 
Andruss, was born, July 21, 1847. He then returned to his native 
town, where lie remained until 1855, when he came west, finally set- 
tling in Amboy, Illinois, in February 1856, where he has since resided. 
He found a somewhat divided village, considerable strife existing as to 
whether the main town should be on the east or west side of the rail- 
road. His lirst location was in what was called Exchange block on the 
west side. His health had failed him, and Mrs. Andruss opened 
daguerreotype and photographic rooms. They remained in that locality 



382 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

about two years, when they came to the east side, and occupied rooms 
near the corner of Main street and Adams avenue. Mr. Andruss' 
liealth gradually improved, and he was elected township collector fur 
four successive years, and town clerk for two years. In 1862 he 
was elected justice of the peace, and with the exception of about two 
years has held the office since to May 1, 1881. He was alderman for 
the second ward eight years. He was county surveyor for the years 
1863-4. He was appointed notary public by Gov. Bissell in 1858 or 
1859, and has been continued such since, his last commission received 
in 1880. In 1806 he engaged in the hardware and farming implement 
trade as partner with C. J. Blackstone. This continued to 1868, wiien 
he purchased his partner's interest, and he, in connection with his son 
Virgil B. Andruss, has continued the business to the present time, for 
some years in the tirni name of W. B. Andruss & Son. Virgil B. 
Andruss enlisted in Co. D, ISith 111. Vols., at its organization in Ciii- 
cago, and remained with the company until the regiment was mustered 
out of the service. Mr. Andruss has been a member of the Presbyte- 
rian or Congregational church since 1842; he and Mrs. Andruss have 
been members of the Congregational church of Amboy since January 
1857, and he a deacon thereof since February 1857; their son, a 
member since May 1863. Mr. Andruss has always advocated the tem- 
perance reform, having been identified with almost all societies organ- 
ized to carry forward the work, but more prominently with the Sons 
of Temperance, having first united with that order in 1845, and now 
being a representative in the National Division of North America. In 
politics he has been a republican since the organization of that party. 
SmoN Badger, deceased, brother to H. E. and Chester Badger, was 
born in Broome county. New York, June 11, 1820. In 1838 he came 
west with his fatlier, who was a millwright, and worked with him at 
that trade until 1841. He then turned his attention to fanning, and in 
1848, in company with his brother Warren, erected the Badger grist- 
mill at Binghamton, the first of consequence in the county. His in- 
terest in this property continued until 1860. In 1850 he went over- 
land to California, accompanied by his brother Chester, and remained 
there nearly a year. His wife, whose maiden name was Emily McKune, 
and to whom he had been married about two years, died in his absence, 
on July 5, 1850. Tidings of his loss decided him to return at once, 
and hd arrived home late in the autumn. By this marriage was one 
child, now Mrs. Joanna Morgan. Mr. Badger married again, taking 
for his second wife Miss Roxy M. Wasson, daughter of Lorenzo Was- 
son, sr., with whom he lived in great happiness until her death. May 
26, 1863. Mr. Badger was a man actively engaged in business during 
his lite, and enjoyed a high degree of confidence and respect from a 



AM BOY TOWNSHIP. 383 

large circle of friends. He filled various township offices, and for six- 
teen years was justice of the peace, and was discharging the functions 
of that office at the date of his death. He was a sufferer several years 
from diabetes, from which disease he died July 28, 1876. In his death 
the community sustained the loss of an upright, public-spirited citizen. 
By his last marriage three children were born : Rush, September 7, 
1855; Stella, September i, 1857; and Claribel, April 25, 1859. Paish 
received a common school education, and supplemented it with a com- 
mercial course at Bryant & Stratton's college at Davenport, Iowa, in 
the winter of 1875-6. In the summer of 1879 he traveled four months 
in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany and Switzerland. 

Oscar A. Comstock, locomotive engineer, Araboy, eldest son of 
Alfred and Harriet (Westbrook) Comstock, was born August 15, 1837, 
in St. Clair county, Michigan, to which his parents had removed from 
Oneida county, New York, at its first settlement about 1830. Here 
his father farmed on a small scale, but owning a saw-mil! and timber, 
he made lumber manufacturing his principal business. In 1849 Mr. 
Comstock went on the lakes as a cook on board a vessel, and after that 
as a common sailor, returning home winters to work in the pineries. 
He kept this up till the fall of 1860, and then located in Amboy in the 
employ of the Central company as locomotive fireman. In August, 
1862, he volunteered in Co. I, 89th 111. Inf. (railroad regiment), Capt. 
Samuel Comstock, a cousin, being his commanding officer. He fought 
at Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Strawberry 
Plains, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, and 
Peach Tree Creek, and followed Hood back to Tennessee and fought at 
Franklin and Nashville. He was promoted to sergeant, and at Mission 
Ridge was wounded by a bullet which broke his arm. In May, 1865, 
he was mustered out at Chicago, and immediately returned to Amboy 
and went to work again for the railroad company. In 1867 he was 
promoted to locomotive engineer. His marriage with Miss Anna Hill 
was on March 31, 1866. Her parents were English, and emigrated to 
New Orleans, where she was born March 17, 1848. The next year 
they came north, her mother dying on the passage, and her father set- 
tled at Galena, and followed lead mining. She is a member of the 
Baptist church, and Mr. Comstock is a republican, and belongs to divi- 
sion No. 72, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. 

Andrew J. Poland, train master Illinois Central railroad, Am- 
boy, son of Benjamin F. and Lucy S. (Sanborn) Poland, was born Au- 
gust 12, 1832, in Standish, Maine, and was reared at Gloucester. His 
father was a captain in the last war with Great Britain. Mr. Poland 
M'ent to Boston in 1850, and to Chicago in 1854. He ran on the Cen- 
tral branch from May till September, and from this date till January, 



384 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

1855, was running between Chicago and Galena, still in the employ of 
the Central company. He then was located at Amboy until 1859, 
when he removed to Chicago and ran between that city and St. Louis 
over the Chicago & Alton railroad sixteen months. In 1861 he re- 
turned to Amboy and remained here till January 1866, being train 
master at this time, and his family residing at Centralia. He was next 
stationed at Decatur until 1873, when he came back to Amboy, where 
he now resides. He was married in 1857, to Miss Caroline Potter, of 
Chicago, who died February 8, 1879, and by whom he had five children, 
as follows: Edward W., Lucy (dead), Lizzie J., Carrie S., and Helen. 

Philip Fi.ack, barber, Amboy, is a native of Oberhoechstadt, near 
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, where he was boi-n May 14, 1837. 
He emigrated to America, arriving at Castle Garden, Xew York, Octo- 
ber 1, 1853. After eight months he went to Virginia, in September, 
1855, he came to Mendota, and in January, 1856, permanently located 
in Amboy, and was the fir.st white barber who followed his vocation in 
the town. He lost his business property, in which his fainil}' was liv- 
ing at the time, by fire, on December 10, 1863. This conflagration 
destroyed all of East avenue except Edwards' livery stable, at the 
north end of the row, and Carson & Pirie's brick building, where 
Bourne's now stands. He was married February 15, 1858, to Miss 
Margaret Hauck, by whom he has had the following children : Franc-is 
Albert, Marion, Philip Andrew (deceased), Josephine Barbara, and 
Clara Amelia. Mr. Flack and his family are Catholics. 

Geokge H. McFatrich, car-builder and assistant foreman of the 
car-shop, Ambo}-, is a native of Mercer county, Penns^-lvania, where 
he was born March 31, 1819. He was the second son and fourth child 
of Hugh and Margaret (Bennett) McFatrich. He spent his early boy- 
hood on a farm, received a good English education, and learned the 
cabinet trade. In 1842 he settled at Hazel Green, Grant county, AVis- 
consin, where he lived by his trade, and was married to Miss Fannie 
Lindsay. In 1854 he moved to Kockford, Illinois, and sold drugs with 
his brother James a year, and in April, 1855, came to Amboy and has 
since had his home in this place. He built on the site of Wheat & 
Gridley's store one of the first business houses in Amboj'. In the fall 
he began work for the Centi-al Railroad Company, in the car-shop, and 
has continued ever since in their employ, a period of twenty-six years. 
During the last sixteen 3'cars he has been assistant foreman. The only 
office he ever held was that of collector, the last year he lived in Wis- 
consin. Mr. and Mrs. McFatrich were formerly Presbyterians, but on 
ciiming here they found no church of their denomination, and so joined 
the Methodist, of which they had been members until two years ago. 
The latter is now a Consreijationalist. Mr. McFatrich was an elder in 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 385 

the Presbyterian church. In politics he was originally a whig, but be- 
came a republican on the formation of that party. They have had five 
children: Sarah Melissa, wife of David I. Finch, of Peoria; Fannie, 
now Mrs. Louis Santee, of Des Moines, Iowa, but formerly of Brook- 
lyn, iSTew York; Hadcssa (deceased), and Ella and Emma, twins 
(deceased). 

Chaeles W. Bell, constable, Amboy, was born in New York in 1826. 
Iq 1840 he emigrated with his parents, Royal and Amanda (Judd) Bell, 
from Chautauqua county to Kendall county, Illinois. In 1852 he came 
here with his brother-in-law, Levi Chapman, of the firm of Chapman 
tfe Roberts, contractors, and worked for them at grading on the railroad 
till August 1853. He then brought his family to the present site of 
the city, and engaged in boarding railroad men, and at the same time 
doing a teaming business for the company in hauling stone from Grand 
Detour, and other building material from Mendota. For several 3'ears 
after he did contract work about the town. In 1858 or 1859 he was 
elected city marshal, and held the office seventeen or eighteen years, 
and was also most of the same time constable and deputy sheriff. In 
1850 he was married to Miss Adeline Butler. They liave had four 
children, as follows: Clara, now Mrs. John Shear; Medora, died 
Fuliruary 5, 1869, aged fourteen years, si.x months and nine days; 
Jessie, died February 15, 1869, aged ten years, ten months and seven 
days; and Lillie, died February 3, 1869, aged seven years, eleven 
months and twenty-four days. These were carried off b}' scarlet fever. 
Mr. Bell is an Odd-Fellow. Mrs. Bell is a member of the Baptist 
church, and both belong to the Sons of Temperance. 

George W. Freeman, train master Illinois Central railroad, Amboy, 
son of Chauncey and Harriet (Johnson) Freeman, was born in Clark- 
son, New York, in 1834, and reared on his father's farm and educated 
in his native town. In 1852, when but eighteen years of age, he came 
west and went to work on the Wabash railroad between Decatur and 
Springfield, and in the autumn of 1853 he went to Knox county, Ill- 
inois, where he was employed until the following March. At this 
time he entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Qiiincy 
Railroad Company as brakeman, and after six months was advanced to 
a regular train, and so continued in the employment of the company 
until April 1861. Immediately on the call of the president for 
troops he volunteered for three months in Co. E, 17th 111. Inf., and 
was appointed sergeant. After serving his time he returned home and 
recruited Co. C, 11th 111. Cav., Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, principally 
about Galesburg. He was commissioned captain of this company and 
went into the service, but was stricken with rheumatism and obliged 
to resign, which he did in March 1862. He recovered sufficiently to 



386 HISTORY OF LEE nOUNTT. 

go to work again in the summer following, and engaged with the Illi- 
nois Central company, in whose service he has been until the present 
date. He was freight conductor nine years, and passenger conductor 
the remainder of the time, until he was transferred in the spring of 
1881 to the train master's office in Amboy. Mr. Freeman was married 
January 13, 1858, to Miss Caroline Dailey, daughter of Edward Dailcy, 
of Galesburg. Edward and Frederick are their two sons. Mrs. Free- 
man is a Congregationalist, and he is a Knight Temphir and a re]iul)- 
lican. 

Joseph E. Lewis, attorney-at-law, Amboy, the youngest child of 
Joseph Lewis, was born in Amboy township, December 21, 1847. His 
father was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and his 
mother, whose maiden name was Rachel Cargill, in Cheshire county, 
New Hampshire, in 1806, and both are now living in Binghamton. 
In 1845 they emigrated from Pennsylvania to this township with five 
children, all of whom are now dead, as follows: Gaylord J., who left 
here March 29, 1852, at the age of nineteen, for California, and was 
never heard from after he had been there three years ; James C, who 
volunteered in Co. I, 89th 111. Vols., was wounded in the knee at Buz- 
zard Roost, Georgia, May 9, 1864, died at Chattanooga July 23 ; John, 
who enlisted in Co. G, 39th 111. Vols. (Yates' Phalanx), August 20, 
1861, served on the Peninsula under McClellan, and in the Shenandoah 
under Shields, discharged in January 1803, came home to Amboy and 
died of disease contracted in the service, November 29, 1864; Andrew 
J., who enlisted in Co. G, (Yates' Phalanx\ August 2, 1861, died at 
Foley Island, Charleston harbor, of typiioid tever, July 4, 1803; and 
Electa Jane, who died in infancy the first year of their residence here. 
These parents have given much to their country. Both have been 
members of the Methodist church since 1824, and Mr. Lewis has always 
held official connection as steward, trustee, or class leader, and some- 
times has filled all three of these positions at once. The subject of this 
sketch did not walk on pavements of gold, nor lie upon beds of roses. 
He obtained a good education by putting two years of schooling at 
Mount Morris Seminary, with much hard private study at irregular in- 
tervals, making his way as best he could by teaching school. He used 
to keep up with his classes and go to school but one-third of the time. 
In 1870 he began the study of law in the office of Norman Ryan, but 
it was necessarily desultory, and several years elapsed before he was 
admitted. In 1871 he was married to Miss Melissa Hayes; and from 
1872 to 1875 he had charge of the Rockton public schools of Winne- 
bago county as priticipal. He is a republican and takes an active part 
in politics. His children have been as follows: Stella (dead), Ada, 
Benjamin B., Paul, and Ethel. 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 387 

Charles W. Deming, grocer, Amboy, is a native of Steuben county, 
New York, where he was born May 1, 1817. His parents were Charles 
S. and Elizabeth (Corbett) Detning, by whom he was reared a farmer 
until the age of fifteen, when he was put to mercantile employment. 
He was married September 24, 1810, to Miss Sabrina Chamberlain, 
who was born September 1, 1823. Their family of seven children are 
all living: Louisa S., now Mrs. Jacob L. Holmes; Charles Gaylord ; 
Ann E., wife of Isaac E. Holmes; Jason L.; Helen A., now Mrs. Na- 
thaniel Burnham ; Carrie, and Olin E. Mr. Deming came west in 
April 1855, and settled at Linden, Whiteside county, where he farmed 
until he came to Amboy in 1864:. Since that time, except one year, 
he has been in business. He is an intiuential member of the Methodist 
church, to wliich he has belonged since 1838. Mrs. Deining has been a 
communicant in the same church since 1840. He has filled the ofiices 
of steward, trustee, class leader, and Sabbath-seliool superintendent. 
His connection with the Sons of Temperance dates from 1844, and he 
is now the oldest member in the state, and is invested with the dignity 
of grand worthy associate of the Grand Division of Illinois. Mr. 
Deming is a republican. His brothers, Asaph C. and George A., died 
of disease in the army ; the former at Nashville, Tennessee, and the 
latter at Grand Gulf, Mississippi. 

Jaked Slautee, railroad yardmaster, Amboy, son of Sylvanus F. 
and Lurena (French) Slauter, was born in West Stockbridge, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1824. His grandfather Slauter was a veteran of the revo- 
lution who fought in several battles. Mr. Slauter was bred to farming, 
and followed that occupation until he removed to Amboy, arriving 
here April 15, 1856. He was married March 30, 1847, to Miss Adeline 
Lord, who died in 1849, leaving one child, Maria Adelaide, who also 
died, aged nineteen. His second marriage was on November 28, 1849, to 
Miss Caroline Bradlej^, whose death occurred May 10, 1861. She was 
the mother of two children, Lurena and Frank F. On April 6, 1862, 
he celebrated his third marriage with Catiierine (Smith), widow of 
Addison Smith, and by this union has one child, George W. Mr. 
Slauter has worked for the Central Compan\' since his settlement here, 
and during the period of over twenty -five years has not lost more than 
two months' time. He was employed on the track for a few months at 
first, next was switchman three j-ears, and in 1859 became yardmaster, 
and has held this position since. He is a republican in politics, and 
has been an Odd-Fellow twentj'-seven years, and filled the chairs of the 
vice grand and noble grand. He was a Baptist when in New England. 
Mrs. Slauter belongs to the Congregational church. 

Frank J. Meerow, marble dealer, Amboy, son of Asa J. and 
Mary C. (Norton) Merrow, was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1852. His 



388 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

ancestors were earl\- settlers in the colonies. His great-grandfather, 
Isaac Norton, was a merchant by occupation and a native of Vingard, 
Maine. He moved from there to Industry, and at a later period to 
Starks, in the same state, where his life closed after over twenty years 
of painful suffering from cancer in the face. He had one brother, 
Benjamin. Mr. Merrow's grandfathers, William Norton and Stephen 
Morrow, were revolutionary soldiers; the former was a captain, and 
was wounded in action; the latter a farmer by occupation, and lived 
at Chapliain, New Hampshire, where his son Asa J., father of our 
subject, was born ; after several years he removed to Dover, in the 
same state, and died there. Mr. Merrow began his trade of working 
in marble when seventeen 3'ears old, and served an apprenticeship of 
three years in Oldtown, Maine. Early in 1869 his parents came west, 
settled in Amboy two years, and then moved to Clear Lake, Minnesota, 
where liis father died June 26, ISSO, aged seventy-one years and nine 
months. In January, 1870, he arrived in Amboy, where he resided a 
short time, and then located at Ashton in the marble business. In 
the fall of 1877 he removed to tiiis city, where he deals in headstones 
and monuments, and executes a fine class of work. 

John H. Long, farmer, Amboy, son of Michael and Margaret 
(Long) Long, was born in Canada in 1829. His maternal grandfather, 
Joi^eph Long, was a soldier of the revolution. His grandfather on his 
father's side moved to Canada after the war, and there Mr. Long's 
father was born. In 18iS he immigrated with his parents to Sublette 
township, where his father entered land. Mr. Long worked during 
that year for Col. Dement, who was at the time receiver of the 
land office, and in 1850 he began farming on his own account. 
About that time he hauled potatoes to Chicago and peddled them 
out by the peck and half bushel at twenty-five cents per bushel. 
In 1850 he married Miss Sarah Jane Fessenden, daugiiter of William 
and Sally (Spafford) Fessenden, who were early settlers in Sublette 
township, having arrived there from New England in 1837. Mrs. 
Long was born on Mount St. Pisgah or St. Helen, New Hamp- 
siiire, in 1830. When the Central railroad was building Mr. Long 
worked with his teams at grading for §1.50 per day at first, and after- 
ward for the reduced sum of $1.37^. He hauled the most of the ma- 
terial for the railroad buildings at Amboy ; the door and window caps 
and sills from Mendota, and the brick from Brad3''s brick-yard in Pal- 
estine Grove, four miles from the town, where Dutcher & Wyman 
carried on the manufacture. Mr. Long owns 300 acres of land, 200 of 
which his father-in-law entered, and on which the old settler's house, 
built from lumber hauled from Chicago, is still standing. Mr. Long's 
farm is worth $15,000. He is a republican, and belongs to the American 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 389 

Legion of Honor. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist 
church. They have had nine cliildren : Ellen J., now Mrs. Walter Scott ; 
Sarah M., now Mrs. Geo. W. Scott; Charles F., who married Miss 
Stella Wooster; Amanda E., wife of Frank M. Laraoile; John H. 
(dead), Samuel A., Dora E., Nettie M. and Emerson H. 

Benjamin Sxirrn, freight conductor, Ambo}', youngest son of Urial 
and Ruth Harriet (Ring) Smith, was born in New Gloucester, Cum- 
bei-land couiitj', Maine, December 8, 1834. He was reared a farmer, 
and in 1847 went to Boston. After eighteen months he returned and 
lived in his native state until 1856, when he again went to Boston and 
worked a year for an ice company. Two years' residence in Maine 
succeeded, and in 1859 lie removed west and settled with his family in 
Amboy. He had been married on June 22, 1855, to Miss Rebecca R. 
Farr, of Poland, in Mr. Smith's native county. She was the daughter 
of William and Anna (Ridlon) Farr, and was born October 6, 1S33. 
From December 1859 until 1863 Mr. Smith was a brakeman on the 
Central, but at the last date he was advanced to conductor. In 1868 
he removed to Livingston county, this state, where he had purchased 
a farm in Sullivan township, and gave his hand for a few years to the 
plow. But he could not subdue the enchantment of railroading, and 
so returned to the old employment, leaving his fatnily to live upon the 
farm. In 1875 they removed to Chatswortli and lived a year, and the 
next spring came to Amboy, where they have since resided. Mrs. 
Smith belongs to the United Brethren church, and Mr. Smith is a re- 
publican, and a member of the American Legion of Honor. They have 
two daughters, Mary Ella, born in Maine, June 12, 1859; and Harriet, 
born July 27, 1861. Both graduated at the Amboy High Scliool in 
the class of 1879. 

George F. Morgan, railroad conductor, Amboy, was born in Car- 
bondale, Luzerne count)', Pennsylvania, September 24, 1843, and was 
the youngest child of William J. and Barbara (Lewis) Morgan. Plis 
pai-ents came from Wales when young. In 1858 Mr. Morgan left his 
home and reached Dubuque, and two years later went to braking on 
the Central. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted for one j'ear as a recruit in 
Co. A, 11th 111. Inf., and joined it at Memphis. When it was mustered 
out he was transferred to Co. H, 46th 111. Inf., and was with this at 
Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans, and was mustered out at 
the latter place in October 1865. During most of the time he was on 
detached service at division headquarters, as clerk. After this he fol- 
lowed railroading on the Central, and selling groceries in Amboy, and 
in 1869 became a conductor. In 1868 he was married to Miss Joanna 
Badger, daughter of Simon Badger, by whom he has three children : 
Mabel R., born March 10, 1869; Simon C, September 11, 1872, and 



390 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Maud E., January 9, 1873. Both parents are members of tlie Meth- 
odist church. Mr. Morgan is a republican, and belongs to Illinois Cen- 
tral Lodge No. 178, A.F. and A.M.; Nachusa Chapter No. 52, Dixon ; 
and Dixon Commandery No. 21. 

Albert E. MeHwine, freight and ticket agent on the Rock Falls 
branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Qiiincy railroad, Amboy, is the 
son of Harris D. and Thurza (Morris) Merwine, and a native of Paw 
Paw in this county, where he was born in 1853. His parents emigrated 
from Pennsylvania about 1845. Mr. Merwine worked at farming and 
tending store for some years, and in 1872 accepted the position of sta- 
tion agent at Hinsdale, on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington ife 
Quincy railroad. In 1873 he was transferred to Amboy. His marriage 
with Miss Irene M. Cole, of this city, was in September 1875. Carrie 
is their only child. Mr. Merwine is a republican, an Odd-Fellow, and 
a workman. His grandfather, Isaac Morris, was a drummer boy of 
1812, and draws a pension. 

Russell W. Rosier, deceased, youngest son of Sylvester and Electa 
C. (Reppley) Rosier, was born in Bennington, Vermont, December 17, 
1829. His parents settled in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, about 
1845, and two or tliree years afterward he went to work as a brake- 
tnan, and followed railroading the rest of his life. He was brakeman 
two years, fireman two more, and then was given an engine, and re- 
mained at that post until his death. On April 2, 1857, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Louisa Hinchcliff, daughter of Titus and Amelia 
(Davis) Hinchcliif, of De Soto, Jackson county, Illinois. She was boi'n 
January 17, 1840. In October Mr. Rosier settled in Amboy. In 1859 
he went to Tennessee and was engineer on the Nashville 6c Chatta- 
nooga railroad; in a few months he was followed by Mrs. Rosier, and 
they established their home at Cowan Station, at the foot of the Cum- 
berland mountains, on the west side. They remained there until the 
cloud of civil war obliged them to take refuge in the north, and then 
returned to this city. Mr. Rosier reentered the service of the Central 
company, and never more tried a change. His death came Februar}' 7, 
1881. His affiliations were with tiie Masons and the Engineers' Broth- 
erhood, and he was chief of division No. 72 of the last organization at 
the date of his death. Himself and his wife were members of tJie 
Methodist church, and he had filled tiie offices of steward and trustee. 
In politics he was a rejniblican. Their only child was an adopted 
daughter, Emma May. Mr. Rosier was an industrious, reliable man, 
of few words but decisive action. He had strong domestic habits and 
attachments, and was known and respected for liis christian kindness 
and benevolent disposition. His remains were interred in Prairie Re- 
pose cemetery. 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 391 

Michael Egan, builder, Araboy, was born in Kiirush, county of 
Clare, Ireland, September 26, 1821. He received a fair education. 
His father, John Egan, was a mason, and from him he learned the 
same trade, beginning when fifteen years old, and serving an appren- 
ticeship of seven years. He was employed largely on government 
works. In the spring of 1S46 he arrived in New York city and went 
to work for Matthias and Freeman Bloodgood, contractors, on a bonded 
warehouse. At the end of twenty months he removed to Springfield, 
Massachusetts, and worked at his trade seven j'ears for Capt. Charles 
McClellan. In the last place he became a naturalized citizen. In the 
winter of 1852-3 he was employed by J. B. Wyman to come west to 
work on the Illinois Central. He arrived in February, and commenced 
on bridges and culverts south of La Salle, and in June following came to 
Amboy and began the erection of the railroad buildings, whose con- 
struction he superintended until the last was finished. From that time 
till the present he has been in the employ of this company, except 
during the four years between 1876 and 1880. He is now their in- 
spector and purchasing and disbursing agent for cord-wood and cross- 
ties. Mr. Egan has been alderman several terms and mayor twice, 
director of the i^ublic schools and secretary of the board of education, 
and a foremost actor in the public business of the community. His 
family are Catholics, and the first services of this church, in Amboy, 
were in liis house. His first marriage was in 1844, with Miss Ellen 
Morrissy, daughter of John and Bridget Morrissy. Her death was on 
January 27, 1869, when about forty-five years of age. She was the 
mother of eleven children, as follows: Bridget (dead), Susan (dead), 
John, Ellen (dead), Peter, Michael Francis, Alfred, Joseph, Mary, 
Benjamin and Teressa (dead). He was married a second time in 1872, 
to Mrs. Helen (Stewart), widow of James Barrie. Her children were 
Lizzie, Robert, and Jemima. By the last marriage there are two living 
children, Ellen and "William A. S. 

Betant B. Howard, general foreman of the Illinois Central rail- 
road shops at Amboy, was born in Chicago September 13, 1836, and 
was the third child of Leonard and Caroline Esther (Smith) Howard. 
His father was a contractor, and came to Chicago from Buftalo, New 
York, in 1836, and built the first brick building ever erected in that 
city. In 1853 Mr. Howard went to learn the machinist's trade, and 
soon after completing it came to Amboy, arriving August 3, 1856. 
He was at once employed in the Central shops, and in 1858 he took 
charge of the Roundhouse as foreman ; in 1866 he was promoted to 
general foreman of all the shops, and has since filled that position. 
He was married January 3, 1860, to Miss Mary Kaley, who was born 
in 1838, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to which place her parents had 



392 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

emigrated from Switzerland about 1836. Four children have been 
born to them, viz : George, Josephine, Fannie and Maud. Mr. Howard 
has been alderman one term ; lie is a member of Illinois Central Lodge 
No. ITS, A.F. and A.M., Friendship Council No. 567, A.L.H., Re- 
form division No. 555, Sons of Temperance, and is a prohibitionist in 
politics. 

Edwaki) S. Reynolds, carpenter and joiner. Amboy, son of Hat- 
field and Lydia (Salsbery) Reynolds, is a native of Susquehanna county, 
Pennsylvania, and was born there August 18, 1827. He was reared 
on a farm, but learned his trade before he became of age. In Septem- 
ber, 1853, he was married to Miss Mary E. Dean, and the next De- 
cember removed to Illinois and located for the time being at Bing- 
hamton. Mr. Reynolds erected one of the two first houses in Amboy, 
and in August, 1854, occupied it with his family, and claims to have 
been the first to move into the place after it was laid out, tliougli this 
point is disputed by Dr. Bainter, who makes the same claim for him- 
self. He was one of the first board of aldermen after Ambo}' became 
a city, and was a charter member of Illinois Central Lodge No. 178, 
A.F. and A.M. His first wife died in 1867, and in 1871 he took Miss 
Mary A. Fairman in marriage. He has two sons by his first wife, 
Edgar W. and Charles L., and by the second, William G. Mrs. Rey- 
nolds is a communicant in the ^letliodist Episcopal church, and Mr. 
Reynolds, who was formerly a whig, is now a republican. 

Henky Chapin, farmer, Amboy, was born in New York in 1824. 
He was the fifth child of Aretus and Anna (Rice) Chapin, who emi- 
grated from A^ermont to New York. He was reared a blacksmith, 
went to his trade at fifteen, and worked at it forty years. In the spring 
of 1845 he came by the lakes to Illinois, and settled in Oswego, Ken- 
dall county. Here he was married on the 1st of May 1850, to Miss 
Adelia L. Butler, sister to C. M. Butler and Mrs. C. W. Bell, of Am- 
bo3'. She came from Michigan to Illinois in 1844. In 1852 he settled 
in Lockport, Will county, and in the fall of 1855 in Amboy. He 
erected the first blacksmith shop on the east side of the railroad, and 
the second in the town, and in the course of time combined with cus- 
tom work the manufacture of wagons and carriages. After forty years 
of intensely earnest, driving work at the forge, he called forth the fare- 
well echoes of his anvil in September 1879. He owns three farms ag- 
gregating 400 acres, and valued at $13,000. These tell the story of his 
toil. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chapin are members of the Methodist church, 
and the former was one of the building committee who had the erec- 
tion of the new edifice in charge. In politics he is a republican. Their 
children are Frank H., Addie G. and Ella May. 

Elavil F. Northway, farmer and stock raiser, Amboy, is a native 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 393 

of Steuben comity, New York, wliere he was born May 4, 18-i-i. His 
parents, Francis H. and Minerva (Stewart) Nortliway, removed west 
in tlie autumn of lS-t4, and settled on the S.E. ^ Sec. 3, T. 20, R. 
10, two miles north of Amboy. He enlisted in October, 1864, in Co. 
C, 7th 111. Cav., Col. Graham. He served his time in Tennessee, Mis- 
sissippi and Alabama, scouting and doing guard and garrison duty, 
and was mustered out in October, 1865, at Huntsville, Alabama. He 
was married in 1873, to Miss Olive S. Tracy. Two children have been 
born to them : Daisy M. (dead), and Guy. Mr. Northway owns the 
old homestead on which he was reared, which is valued at $8,000. 
This was swept by the great tornado of 1860. The buildings were 
Ijlown to atoms. The family, seven in number, escaped with their 
lives, but were more or less injured. This storm killed one-seventh of 
all who were in its track. Mr. Northway is a democrat. 

Tiiere are two Tedde tamiiies in this country, one of French and 
the other of English extraction. The former is the one to which we 
refer in tiie present sketch. John Trude, the founder of the name in 
America, was impressed into the French navy at the age of eleven and 
was held until he had performed eleven years' service. On liis return 
home he could learn nothing of his family, and as the Marquis Lafay- 
ette was preparing to depart for America, he joined him as an adven- 
tui'er, enlisting in the cause of the colonies. After his arrival upon our 
shores he fought at Brandywine and other places, and at the close of 
the war settled at Horseneck, Rhode Island, where he married an 
American woman named Baker. Here tiiey had a son, William B., born 
June 21, 1790. He married Betsy Eldridge, who was born the same 
year in Washington county, New York, and whose father bore arms 
at Crown Point, Bennington, Stony Point, and Saratoga. This couple 
are buried at St. Charles, Kane county. Mr. Trude was aged seventy- 
seven at his death, ajid his companion sixt3'-three. William E. Trude, 
their son, is a locomotive engineer, and resides at Amboy. He was 
born December 29, 1831, in Lisbon, St. Lawrence county, New York, 
and reared on his father's farm. In 1852 he came west, and in March, 
1855, settled in this place in the employ of the Central company. On 
July 6, 1858, lie was married to Miss Candace Rolf, of his native town, 
who was born December 25, 1835. Her mother died June 9, 1839, at 
about thirty-five years of age, and her father in 1879, aged eighty-six. 
Two sons have blessed their union : Fred W., born July 19, 1859, who 
graduated at the Amboy High School in the class of 1877, and married 
March 2-t, 1881, to Miss Josephine McCormack ; and Frank, born 
April 3, 1868. Mrs. Trude is a member of the Methodist church. 
Mr. Trude is a Mason, a workman, and a member of the Engineers' 
Brotherhood. 



394 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Herbert A. Millard, painter, Amboy, is the sou of Ira and Lo- 
rinda (Car<;ill) Millard, wiio moved to this place from La Salle county, 
Illinois, in January 185(1. His father was born September 5, 1S17, 
and his mother in Windham, Greene county, New York, September 
3, 1829. The maternal graiidfatlier of the latter was Amos Parker, a 
revolutionary soldier, who served seven years, and had the distin- 
guished honor of saving the life of Gen. Lafayette at Yorktown. The 
latter, in giving orders for an assault, had directed that not a gun should 
be tired, but this soldier discovered a British sharpshooter drawing aim 
on Lafayette, and he hastened to bring him down in spite of orders. 
When the general visited this country in 1824 he sent to Mr. Parker, 
who was living in Augusta, Oneida county, New York, to meet him at 
Utica, in the same county, and lie did so. During the revolution Mr. 
Parker lived at Wallingford, Connecticut, but in 1793 moved to New 
Yoi-k, and here Mrs. Millard's mother, Elizabeth Parker, was born on 
August 9 of that year. She was thi-ee times married : first to Abram 
Cargill, next to Riverius Wilcox, and last to Calvin Chipman, a vet- 
eran of the war of 1812. Li 1S38 she removed with her second iiusband 
to La Salle county. She died in Amboy April 14, 1881, in her eighty- 
eighth year. Mr. and Mrs. Millard were married in 1849. After their 
settlement here the former was some time engaged in trade in a feed 
and flour store. They had the following children : Ida E., born Sep- 
tember 10, 1850, married April 13, 1870, to Wm. C. Miner, of Mus- 
kegon, Michigan ; Noble J. B., born September 17, 1852 ; Herbert A., 
born January 23, 1859, married Miss Jennie Spencer July 25, 1880 ; 
Clarence A., born August 20, 1863 ; Ira Adelbert, born March IS, 
1868, and an infant born and died March 17, 1856. Besides these chil- 
dren of their own they reared Stephen Z. Hartley, a nephew of Mr. 
Millard, from the age of four till he was eighteen vears old. He 
learned the shoemaker's trade, and the printer's trade in tlie Ainbo}' 
" Jom-nal" office, and was a promising young man. In November. 1862, 
he enlisted in the I7th U. S. Inf, and in the following March 
was sent to Fort Preble, Portland, Maine, where he died on the I7th 
of the next April from small-pox. 

Alexander H. Woostek, farmer, Amboy, born in Owego, Tioga 
county, New York, April 6, 1829, was the son of Calvin and Hannah 
(Matson) Wooster. His ancestors were early settlers in Connecticut. 
Mr. Wooster was graduated at the high school at Cleveland, Ohio, 
about 1846, and bred to mercantile life. On December 9, 1851, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Ruth Harding, of Freedom, La Salle 
county, Illinois, and by her has had four children: Charles IL, Stella 
A., wife of Charles F. Long; Anna, now Mrs. D. C. Badger, and Wm. 
L. lu the spring of 1855 Mr. Wooster came to Amboy, and on his ar- 




ffn]AAy fj .1^ U-PV<J[^^^-- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 397 

rival set up in a general merchandise business with A. E. "Wilcox, and 
continued it subsequently with his brother David G. Wooster and 
others. After a few years he moved to a farm adjacent to the city lim- 
its on the northwest, where he now resides ; this comprises 204 acres. 
Mr. Wooster is a member of Illinois Central Lodge, No 178, A.F. and' 
A.M., and has occupied the master's chair in that lodge nine terms. 
He was first installed in December 1869, and served five years in suc- 
cession, and after an interim of two years came to that position again 
four years more. Both himself and wife are members of the Baptist 
church of Amboy. 

AsA B. Searles, farmer, Amboy, born at Cincinnatns(now Pitcher), 
Chenango county, New York, January 27, 1810, was the next to the 
last in a family of six children by Elihu and Ruth Ann (Hawley) 
Searles. The children were named Harry, Abram, Lemuel, Asa, David 
and Pamelia. The mother had three children, Polly, Phebe, and 
Fanny, by a former marriage. Three of Mr. Searles' uncles, Gideon, 
Abram, and Isaac Hawley, were soldiers of the revolution; and Lemuel 
Hawley was a sea captain in the service of Stephen Girard, and died of 
yellow fever at Philadelphia. His fether was in the military service in 
the last war with Great Britain, and died at Sackett's Harbor; and 
William Morgan, of anti-Masonic celebrity, brought young Searles the 
first tidings of his father's death. At the age of twelve he was bound 
to Edmund Meigs, of Tinkertown (now Hobart), to learn the cabinet 
trade, but being the youngest apprentice in the shop was made to do 
all the drudgery, and was so ill-treated that after staying a year and a 
half he ran away, and at length found a home with his brother Harry, 
at Marathon, and lived with him until he was sixteen, getting in the 
meantime but half a term's schooling. Going now to South Bain- 
bridge, he lived there four or five years, and attended school where his 
brother Lemuel taught. Joe Smith, the coming prophet, was a fellow- 
pupil, with whom, uncle Asa says, he had many a wrestle ; but young 
Smith was a large, strong fellow and could handle any of the boys. 
He was lazy, but kind-hearted, had a large brain and a good deal of 
ability. The whole family of Smiths, including the mother, were bony, 
stout-built persons, and in a little while they had all settled in that 
neighborhood. At nineteen Mr. Searles began teaching school and 
piloting on the Susquehanna river. This last business he followed six 
years; he contracted heavy jobs of rafting and floating logs and lum- 
ber; employed as many as 200 men; and cleared $3,000 in spite of 
some large losses. On September 19, 1832, he was married to Patience 
Stockwell, of Bainbridge. He left that place August 19, 1837, with a 
two-hoi'se team, accompanied by thirteen persons, and arrived at Pales- 
tine Grove October 11, and entered the land and settled where he 
24 



398 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

lives. Altogether Mr. Searles entered sixteen "eighties," and bought, 
besides, 200 acres in May township. At this time tiie land office was 
at Galena, and Col. Dement the receiver. The land about Palestine 
Grove did not come into market until the fall of 18i4r, but in the vicin- 
ity of Dixon it was placed on sale a few j'ears earlier, on petition of 
Father Dixon. Mr. Searles took no little personal interest in the set- 
tling up of the country, and entertained land-huiiters in large numbers, 
and drove about the wild prairies with them days upon days in the un- 
wearvine: labor of showinji; claims. In 1848 he laid out the village of 
Binghamton. He erected a hotel bearing the name of the place ; and 
a store in which he traded nearly two years. We have not the space 
to recount the numerous activities with which his name has been asso- 
ciated, but in short he has been a live man, from whose gettings manj' 
have profited more than he, a result which may be charged with equal 
justice to his generosity and his convivial habits. He was appointed 
postmaster about 1840, by Amos Kendall, and kept the office at his 
house ; again he was commissioned under Polk, and the office was kept 
in his store at Binghamton. He resigned, and Warren Badger suc- 
ceeded only a short time before the removal to Amboy. Mrs. Searles 
died December 19, 1846; and in 1852 Mr. Searles married Miss Am- 
anda Headlee, by whom he has five sons: Lemuel B., Frederick D., 
Jolin Henry, Frank Leslie, and Levi Headlee. Lemuel went with 
Gen. Custer to Dakota in the 7th United States cavalry, and served 
sixteen months. Mr. Searles has been coroner; and he assessed Amboy 
the first time that service was ever performed. 

Mrs. C.\ROLixE A. Bartlett, widow of William C. Bartlett, Am- 
boy, was the daughter of Hosea and Clementine Vinton, of Xorth 
Woodstock, Connecticut, where her English and Scotch ancestors set- 
tled in the earliest days of the colony, when the people of the neigh- 
borhood had to work in gangs of twenty or thirty to be prepared to 
resist the Indians, and at night went four miles together to the fort on 
Muddy Brook. In 1847 Mrs. Bartlett was united in marriage with Dan- 
ford Bartlett, who was killed at Hartford, Connecticut, October 6, 1852. 
He was assisting to load a boiler on a car, when it accidentally rolled 
over him, crushing him to death. On October 18, 1854, she celebrated 
her second marriage, with William C. Bartlett, who was a native of 
Edinburgh, New York, where he was born November 23. 1824. His 
father died wheti he was a lad, and at the age of thirteen his motiier 
started with her family for Racine, Wisconsin, but died on tiie way. 
Orphaned at this early age, he now lived with his brotiier James and 
with his sister, working on a farm until he was cigliteen, when he 
apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade, and followed this the rest 
of bis life. He came to Amboy in the fall of 1853. Immediately on 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 899 

his marriage, the first in the village of Amboy, he settled in Racine, 
Wisconsin, where he at once became iinder-sherifl" of the county, and 
was in this position three years. Returning to this city in May, 1858, 
he was employed in the car shops from that time until his death, which 
occurred suddenly December 10, 187-1. Mr. Bartlett was received into 
the fellowship of the Adventist church in 1859, became a leading mem- 
ber of the society, and was respected by all the community. He was a 
nephew of Olney, the geographer. Mrs. Bartlett was the mother of 
one child by her first marriage. This died in infancy. By the second 
two sons were born to her: William E., died in infancy, and Frank 
Eugene. 

Rkv. Daxiel S. Clark, Amboy, was born of Puritan stock in 
Ellington, Connecticut, January 25, 1822. While yet young his parents, 
David and Sarah (Bartlett) Clark, moved to West Woodstock, where 
be learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1816 was married to Miss 
Nancy M. Vinton, of North Woodstock. With his young wife he 
went to Southbridge and lived four years, and then moved to Racine, 
Wisconsin, for three years. While working at his trade in Chicago he 
was employed by the Illinois Central Railroad Compan}' to put up 
buildings on their line of road, and in the autumn of 1853 he reached 
Amboy, where he superintended the wood-work on the railroad build- 
ings at this place. He afterward built a planing-mill and dealt in lum- 
ber here ; but in 1859 he took leave of this business and of his trade 
and began as a regular e.xliorter in the Second Advent Christian church, 
and in 1860 was ordained at Binghamton to preach. Prior to this 
time Mr. Clark had been a Baptist and a Methodist, and had displayed 
great zeal and activity in labors to suppress the sale and use of intox- 
icating stimulants. He preached for the Adventist society at Amboy 
several years ; he was located at Sparland, Illinois, fifteen months ; at 
Sparta, Wisconsin, two years; at Putnam and Dennisonville, Con- 
necticut, a year and a half; at Scituate, Rhode Island, one year; at 
Boston and Pl^'mouth, Massachusetts, one year; and in July, 1880, he 
returned to his old home in this city, and is now ministering to a 
church at Brodhead, Wisconsin. Mrs. Clark's great-grandfather Leach 
was a veteran of the war of the revolution. She was formerly a com- 
municant in the Baptist church, but has since united with the church 
to which her husband belongs. 

William N. Fasoldt, deceased, was a native of Germany, wliere 
he was born April 5, 1825. He was a jeweler, and emigrated to Amer- 
ica about 1850. He lived in Albany, New York, three years, and then 
at South Bend, Indiana, where he married Miss Pauline Bower. In 
186i he came to Amboy, and set up in the jewehy business. He was 
once burnt out, besides havinir a fire in his new brick hall erected in 



400 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

1871. In this last year Mr. Fasoldt retired from the jewelry business, 
and died June 6, 1880, at the age of fifty-five years, two months and 
one day. His remains lie in Prairie Repose cemetery. He had three 
children l)y his first marriage : Mary, now Mrs. Ciirist. Vogel, living 
at Storm Lake, Iowa ; Edward, whose whereabouts have been un- 
known for nine years, and Anna M. Mr. Fasoldt's wife died in March, 
1865, and he married Miss Kena Teal January 17, 1868. She was 
born November 12, 1844, and was the daughter of Charles and Marga- 
ret (Scholbar) Teal. Her parents came to America from Germany in 
1847, arriving at Lee Center in May, having come all the way to Chi- 
cago by water, and the remainder of the journey by country teams 
which had been to market. The family settled a mile north of Lee 
Center. The father died September 22, 1860, aged fifty-four, and the 
mother June 11, 1880, at the age of sixty-seven years. They are 
buried in the Lee Center cemeter}'. Mrs. Fasoldt is a member of the First 
Congregational cliurch of Amboy. 

M.\KTiN Macs emigrated from Germany in 1850, when twenty- 
four years old. He lived in Chicago till 1854, when he came to Am- 
boy, where he married Miss Christina Teal, who has borne him four 
children: Charles, Rena, Sophia, and Henr}-. He has been in the 
harness business twenty-seven years altogether, and in the trade for 
himself eighteen years. 

WiLLiAii H. Hale, passenger conductor, Amboy, was born in 
Harmony township, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 
1838. In 1845 his parents, Alva and Clara (Root) Hale, removed to 
Lee county, and settled at Temperance Hill, in China township. 
About 1855 they changed their home to Sublette township, where Mrs. 
Hale died, in January 1870, aged sevent^'-six years, and Mr. Hale in 
May 1881, at the age of eighty-five. The subject of this sketch went 
to railroading on the Central in 1857, and in May, 1861, enlisted in 
Co. C, 13th 111. reg. He was severely wounded in the right knee by 
a fragment of shell at Ciiickasaw Bayou, December 29, 1S62. After 
the fall of Vieksburg he was detailed for service in the quartermaster's 
department, where he passed the remainder of his term, except two 
months at the close, and was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, 
June 18, 1864. On his return he resumed the position of baggage- 
man, which he vacated at tiie outbreak of the war, and in two years 
was promoted to conductor. He was married June 5, 1867, to Miss 
Letitia W. Wicks, of Davenport, Iowa. She was born February 22, 
1849. Their son, Henry V., is ten years of age, and their adopted 
datigiiter, Louie, nine. Mr. and Mrs. Hale are members of the Episco- 
pal church. He is an Odd-Fellow, a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, 
belongs to the American Legion of Honor, and Bethany Commandery, 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 401 

No. 28, Mendota, of which he has been eminent commander two years. 
This coramandery presented Mr. Hale an elegant sword in 1880. Mr. 
Hale's father was remarkable for his good health. He was never so 
sick as to need an attendant, and his last illness was only of a few 
hours' duration. He died of heart disease, greatly respected by a 
numerous acquaintance. 

John M. Blocher, retired, Amboy, was born January 8, 1804, in 
the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany. He learned the carpenter's 
trade, and in 1824 went to France and followed that business seven 
years, at 18 cents per day in summer and 10 cents per day in winter. 
Keturning to Germany in 1831, he emigrated to America and lived in 
Connecticut nine j'ears, working as a tarm laborer most of the time. 
On April 9, 1838, he was married to Miss Hannah S. Schafer, who 
was born October 20, 1813. In 1841 he moved to Bradford county, 
Pennsylvania, and settled in the woods, where he cleared a farm and 
lived until 1849. He then came to Illinois and made a home a mile 
and a half north of Amboy, on the farm now owned by Henry C. 
Shaw's heirs. In 1868 he sold this property and moved to Amboy. 
Mr. Blocher united with the Congregational church in Connecticut in 
1837, and Mrs. Bolcher in 1839. Three of their children are now 
members of the same church. Mr. Blocher and his wife assisted to or- 
ganize the Congregational church of Amboy, and they and Mr. and 
Mrs. John C. Church are the only surviving original members of this 
society. Mr. Blocher has given his active support to the temperance 
cause in every practicable way. He belonged to the first division of 
the Sons of Temperance ever in existence here; this was organized at 
Binghamton, but moved to Amboy as soon as Farwell Hall was ready 
for occupancy. He has been a republican since the party was formed, 
and during the war was connected with the Union League. Mr. and 
Mrs. Blocher are the parents of nine children, as follows: John 
G. (dead), Mary E., wife of Newton Campbell, living in Dakota; 
William L. (dead), Hannah S., now Mrs. Thomas Coster, living in 
Dakota; John G., William L. (dead), Henry S., Eebecca B., wife 
of Curtis Bridgfnan ; and Agnes B., born December 16, 1851, wife 
of Joseph Blackman, to whom she was married December 22, 1873. 
Mr. Blackman is a native of England, where he was born June 21, 
1845 ; his parents, John and Mary Blackman, who reside three miles 
above Dixon, emigrated to this country in 1850, and about 1856 
settled in Lee county. He has been on the railroad sixteen years; 
seven years as fireman, and the remainder as engineer, and all the 
time in the employ of the Central company. Mr. and Mrs. Blackman 
have one son, Henry J., born October G, 1874. She has belonged 



402 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

to the Baptist church since the age of fourteen. He is a Mason, 
and a member of the Engineers' Brotherhood. 

Oscar Spanglek, confectioner, Amboy, was born in Muskingum 
county, Ohio, in 1842. In 1857 lie moved with liis parents, Benjamin 
and Lydia (Bell) Spangler, to Lee county, and made a home in Marion 
township, where his fatlier died November 12, 1880. Mr. Spangler 
volunteered in June, 1862, in Co. K, 69th 111. reg., for six months, 
and served his time. In the fall of 1863 he began on the Central 
railroad and followed it as fireman two years, and then was given a 
locomotive to run. He continued as engineer until June 29, 1876, 
when he met with a disaster which nearly cost him his life. Two 
cars, one empty, the other loaded, were let out of the switch, in 
some manner, at Baileyville, and ran down the track in the direc- 
tion of Freeport, crossed the Yellow Creek bridge, and ascended 
the grade on the other side as far as their momentum would propel 
them, and had reversed their motion and were coming back toward 
the creek, and were within fifty j-ards of the bridge, when Mr. Spang- 
ler's train of thirt3'-two cars struck them. The time was midnight, 
and the weather warm, rainy, and a little foggy. The engine 
and twenty-si.\ cars were totally wrecked. A tramp sleeping in one 
of the wild cars was killed. Mr. Spangler's tirenian was seriously 
injured, and he himself still worse ; so that he was two years recovering, 
and was on crutches that length of time; in fact he has not recovered, 
and never will, entire soundness. In December, 1876, he opened a 
cigar and confectionery store and restaurant in Ambo}', and is at present 
engaged in that business. He is an Odd-Fellow and a republican. He 
was tirst married July 2, 1866, to Miss S. A. Shew, who bore two 
children, Harriet and Joseph, and died January 29, 1878. His second 
marriage was November 27, 1879, with Miss E. M. Foskey. She is a 
Congregationalist. 

Jasies H. Pkeston, county superintendent of schools, Amboj', was 
born at Rochester, Xew York, June 3, 1820, and was the son of James 
and Mary (Gorham) Preston. He was reared a fiirmer, trained to hard 
work, and educated in the common schools, in which he received 
thorough practical English mental training. In the East his principal 
occupation was farming, but he taught fourteen winters in succession 
in district schools. On May 16, 1845, he was married to Miss Nancy 
Ann Maydole, who was born in 1824. Their five children were named 
as follows: Albert W. (dead), Frances (dead\ Addio, Charles F., and 
Bertie. On June 22, 1854, Mr. Preston arrived with his family from 
New York, and located in Marion township, on railroad land at $2.50 
per acre. Leaving his family on the farm, the fallowing season he wont 
to Biughamton and took control of the L'nion store, as agent, and con- 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 403 

ducted the business until its affairs were wound up in the spring of 
1857. He fanned from that time till 1865. In that year he was 
elected county superintendent of schools, and served two terms of four 
years each ; in 1873 he ran as an independent candidate against a re- 
publican and a "granger" nominee, but was distanced in the race by 
the former. But in 1877 he recovered the position, and at the present 
time is discliarg-ino^ its duties. Since 1865 his residence has been in 
Ambo}', and he is serving his second year as alderman. In Marion 
township he was justice of the peace and assessor. He is a republican, 
and lias taken a lively interest in political and other matters of public 
concern, and since 1858 has attended every political convention of im- 
portance held in the county. Near the close of the war his son Albert 
(now deceased) enlisted in the 140th 111. Vols, for 100 days, and did 
military service for five months in Missouri and Tennessee. Mr. Pres- 
ton's ancestors came to Massachusetts in colonial times (from Ireland, 
it is supposed). His grandfather Preston was a soldier of the revolu- 
tion, and his father was called into service in the last war witli Great 
Britain, and was marching on Plattsburg when that battle was fought. 
His maternal ancestors were sea-faring people, engaged in the whale 
fishery, and lived at Nantucket. 

Col. George Ryon, physician and surgeon, Amboy, was born in 
Pennsylvania, June 5, 1827. His great-grandfather, John Ryon, was 
an Irishman, and emigrated to New England ; his grandfather, who 
bore the same name, was a revolutionary soldier, who fought through 
the whole war. Col. Ryon passed his early life on his father's farm, 
and when he began on his own account entered the medical profession. 
He studied first with Dr. Isaac Ives, and next with Wheeler & Holden, 
of Kendall county ; and after two courses of lectures at Rush Medical 
College, Chicago, graduated in 1851. He located in practice at 
Paw Paw, in this county, in 1850 ; in 1856 he commenced the study 
of law and was admitted to the bar two years after ; but he did not 
quit liis medical practice, as he found it impossible to shake oti his old 
patrons. In 1860 he was elected by the republican party to the gen- 
eral assembly as representative fi'om Lee and Whitesides counties, and 
was a member when the war broke out. He served one term at that 
time; and in August, 1862, he raised Co. K, 75th 111. Vols., and on the 
organization of the regiment was elected colonel. Within eight days 
after leaving Dixon his command participated in the battle of Perry- 
ville. Owing to failing health he was obliged to resign, which he did 
about the beginning of 1863. In 1866 he was again elected to the leg- 
islature from this county. In 1869 he removed to Amboy, and started 
a private bank; in 1873 he discontinued this business and settled in 
Streator, where he incorporated the Streator Coal Company with a 



404 HISTORY OF LEE COTTNTY. 

capital of $200,000. On his removal to Chicago in 1876 he resumed 
the practice of" medicine, and has since continued it. He returned to 
Amboy in 1879 to reside. In 1852 lie took Miss Ruth Ann Ives in 
marriage, and by her has an only daughter, Carrie S., who graduated 
at the Chicago University, at the age of nineteen, in a four-years 
course, and did not lose a day from lier classes in tiie whole time. 

Hard labor is the most productive when united witii thoughtful 
calculation. A good example of what a perfect union of thouglit, in- 
dustry and energy can do when concentrated upon a single object is to 
be seen in the life of Lewis Clapp. He came from Northampton, 
Massachusetts, as a member of the Northampton colony, and located 
at Princeton, Bureau county. They arrived on June 1, 1836, having 
been just a month on their journey. Some time in the summer Mr. 
Clapp was powerfully converted to religion, and though he never 
chose to become a member of an}- church, he was during the remainder 
of his life an exact, consistent christian, who never omitted to invoke 
the heavenly blessing at his table, or to bring his daily offering of 
prayer to the family altar. From his settlement here till 1846 lie was 
a hard laborer at the plow and in the stock business, but at the same time 
was employing his reflections in a way to make his industry bring the 
most gain. From the last date during a period of twenty years he 
gradually withdrew his hand from rigid toil, until he became e.v- 
clusively a money-lender, and this business engaged his whole atten- 
tion for tiie last ten years of his life. About 1852 he began operating 
in land, which was a lucrative business, and good fortune, made possible 
by good judgment, followed all his transactions. His land speculations 
lasted some five years. People to whom he lent money usualh' pros- 
pered ; not because they paid interest, but because he always calculated 
their ability to pay back the funds borrowed without impairment of tiie 
security, and noted the circumstances favorable or unfavorable to tiioir 
doing so; and if sucii consideration left him any question concerning 
the ajtplicant he would fail to get money. Tiiis speaks not only a good 
deal for his judgment but very much also for his integrity. For twenty- 
five years he was a leading farmer and citizen of Lee county, and took 
a prominent part in all measures for the common welfare. As a matter 
of personal interest lie was a member of the Grove Association, but in 
that he was recognized as a man of wise counsel. It was as a member 
of the Vigilance Committee, however, during the troubled times that 
the country was harrassed bj' the bandits, that he conspicuously dis- 
played iiis earnestness and enthusiasm in pursuit of evil-doers, and the 
maintenance of public order and security. It is interesting to know 
that he espoused the doctrines of the abolitionists with so much fervor 
that he threw open his house to those apostles of emancipation, Owen 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 405 

Lovejoy and Deacon Hannan, for them to preach in, when denomina- 
tional places of worship were closed in their faces. He went so much 
further as to put his principles into effect by operating on the under- 
ground railroad and delivering fugitive slaves in Canada, a place toward 
which they toiled with eager longing while their hearts burned with 
the ardent fires of liberty. His first marriage was in 1836, but his 
wife dying in 1839 he married again in ISiO. His only son, Ozro W., 
was born in 1836. Mr. Clapp bought his first claim, N.W. J Sec. 8, 
in Lee Center township. In 1837 he sold his corn crop for $1,000. 
In 1839 he built the first frame house in the eastern part of the county, 
and hauled his lumber from Chicago with ox-teams. Perfect system 
and aggressive enterprise characterized all lie did, and he startled easy- 
going people by building at an early day a frame barn in the new set- 
tlement. He gave largely toward the construction of the Lee Center 
Academy, and had a lively appreciation of the benefits of popular 
education, and at last gave very striking proof of his faith. 

"William E. Ives, attorney, Amboy, was born in Chautauqua 
county, New York, May 24, 1821. His father was a farmer and sur- 
veyor, and in 1834 emigrated with his family to Kendall county, Illi- 
nois. He was the first recorder of deeds in that county, and subse- 
quently was probate judge two successive terms. In 1854 he removed 
to Amboy, and died here March 18, 1864, aged seventj'-five years. The 
subject of this sketch received an academic education, and in 1854 was 
admitted to the bar in Kendall county; he came to Amboy the same 
year, and is now the only lawyer in the county who has practiced here 
since that date. Mr. Ives was mayor of Ainboy from 1861 to 1865, 
and prosecuting attorney of Lee county between 1872 and 1876. 
Politically he is a republican, and he has belonged to the Baptist 
church since 1841. Mrs. Ives is a member of long standing in the 
same church. On December 8, 1841, he was married to Miss Susan 
Ryan. They have three living children : Charles E., Esther M. and 
James R. Charles is junior member of the law firm of W. E. Ives & 
Son. He served three months in 1862 in Co. K, 69th lU.Yols., and re- 
enlisted in October 1864, in Co. G, 146th reg., and was mustered out 
the next Jul}'. James is a graduate from the Rochester University, of 
New York, and is a practicing attorney in Denver, Colorado. 

Charles K. Dixon, train dispatcher Illinois Central railroad, Am- 
boy, youngest child of John and Matilda (Savage) Dixon, was born in 
1846, in Grandy, Sheftord county, Province of Quebec, Canada. He 
received a good English education in his native town. On May 24, 
1861, he was mustered into the United States service, Co. H, 15th III. 
Inf., Capt. (afterward Gen.) John Pope. This regiment was brigaded 
with the 21st 111., Col. U. S. Grant, the 6th and the 7th Missouri, one 



406 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

battalion of Col. Marshall's 1st 111. Cav., and Capt. Mann's Missouri 
battery, the whole under command of Col. Grant. This was the first 
brigade of the first corps formed in the west. The corps was numbered 
1st and transferred to Fremont's department, and went through his 
whole campaign. Mr. Dixon was at Springfield, Missouri, when Gen. 
Fremont was superseded by Gen. Hunter. He was moved from that 
state to Fort Donelson in time to participate in the brilliant and suc- 
cessful operations against that stronghold. He was next engaged at 
Shiloh, and was wounded in the hip earl^' in the first day's action. 
This disability placed him on the non-effective force ninety days. He 
fought, subsequently, at Metamora, sometimes called " Hell on the 
Hatcliie"; this engagement was followed b}' his service in the siege of 
Vicksburg, and then the second battle of Champion Hills, in which the 
l.jth reg. was on the skirmish line. This service of Mr. Dixon's was 
interlarded with the usual complement of small fights. He was mus- 
tered out at Springfield, Illinois, in August 1864. He at once secured 
employment on the Illinois Central railroad, and has continued with- 
out interruption to the present time. The last eleven years he has 
acted as train dispatcher; prior to that he was ojjcrator. He is a mem- 
ber of Illinois Central Lodge, No. 178, A.F. and A.M.; Nathan Whit- 
ney Chapter, Franklin Grove ; Dixon Commandery, No. 21 ; and in 
politics a republican. 

John Hook, farmer, Amboy, was born in Oriuo, seven miles above 
Bangor, Maine, October 16, ISl-i. He was the son of Aaron and 
Rhoda (Gibson) Hook, the former of whom was a native of New 
Hampshire, and the latter of Vermont. John and Humphrey Hook 
came from England early in the last century. The former was the 
great-grandfather of our subject, and settled in Massachusetts ; the 
other, it is coni'ectured, went to the middle states. His maternal an- 
cestors emigrated from Scotland. His father and his uncle, John Hook, 
were drummers in the last war with Great Britain. His grandfather, 
John Hook, workeil at ship-carpentry, and went upon the seas as cap- 
tain of a schooner. His father was a carpenter and joiner, and he 
worked with him at this trade as long as he lived in his native state. 
On July 20, 1836, he was married to Miss Matilda Berry, who was 
born in Livingston, York county, Maine, June 20,1820. In 1830 they 
emigrated to Illinois, driving all the way with horse teams, except be- 
tween Bufi'alo and Detroit, where they were transported b}' the steamer 
Milwaukee, which came near swamping by having her side stove in 
against the wharf at Ashtabula. The journey was begun August 26, 
and ended when they arrived at La Moille, Bureau county, October 28. 
In February, 1S40, they settled at Rocky Ford, where their home has 
been to the present date, though they twice moved away temporarily. 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 407 

When the removal from Maine was made, Mr. Hook's parents and his 
brother William came also; his brother Aaron had performed the jour- 
ney two years before and located in Bureau county. Where Mr. Hook 
built his house, on the ridge, was an old Iildian camping-ground, on the 
trail which crossed at the Ford. The Indians came frequently and in 
large numbers, but when they found the paleface had taken their camp 
they occupied the knoll south of Mr. George Freeman's. After the 
stage route was established by Eocky Ford the station was at Mr. 
Hook's several years. The subject of this sketch began the practice of 
the botanic system of medicine before he left Maine, and continued it 
ten years after coming west. He lived in Peru from 1845 to 1847, 
laboring in this profession with success. The family was away from 
Rocky Ford from 1851 to 1853, living in Rock county, Wisconsin. 
They have been identified with the church of Latter Day Saints, of 
which Mrs. Hook is a member. Mr. Hook is an old-time democrat. 
They have had seven children, as follows: Hester Ann, wife of Walter 
Brown, of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Abigal Frances, now Mrs. S. J. Stone; 
Sarah Eliza!)eth (dead), Charles Moroni, John Franklin, Hannah Jo- 
sephine, and Emma Eldina. 

Chauncey M. Bobbins, farmei', Amboy, was born in Steuben 
county, New York, November 18, 1828. He was the fifth son in a 
family of eight children by Hosea and Laura P. (Merchant) Bobbins. 
His great-grandfather Sackett, an Englishman, settled in Madison 
county, New York, anterior to the revolution. From George III he 
received a grant of land on the Mohawk river, one mile wide by twenty 
long. This was absorbed by Stephen Van Bensselaer in his immense 
possessions, and has been in litigation for the last sixty years. Truman 
Merchant, Mr. Bobbins' maternal grandfather, served the cause of the 
colonies as a soldier in the war for independence. Mr. Bobbins' father 
was a carpenter, and he worked with him at that trade until he became 
of age. In 1846 the senior Bobbins visited Lee county and purchased 
the S.E. i Sec. 17, and 40 acres of timber, in Amboy township ; and in 
1849 he brought his family here to make their future home. Both 
parents died in this township ; the father April 20, 1852, and the 
mother December 26, 1859. Our subject returned east in 1850, re- 
mained three years, and then came back to Illinois; the winter of 
1854-5 he spent again in New York; but the next spring found him 
in this state to remain. He has been engaged most of the time since 
in farming. In 1862 he bought his present farm of 80 acres, which is 
worth about $4,000. He was married February 22, 1871, to Miss 
Angeline Perkins, by whom he has four children : William, Katie, 
Nelson (dead), and Stanley. 

Jacob Luce, farmer, Amboy, was the youngest of the three sons 



408 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

of Israel Luce. He was born in Florida, Montgomery county, New 
York, September 18, 1805, and was reared a farmer, which occupation 
he lias followed all his life. His great-grandparents emigrated from 
Holland, and his grandparei>ts from New Jersey to New York. Israel 
Luce was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; he was wounded, lost his health, 
and died in consequence of his service in the arm}', and his sons were 
bound out. The subject of this notice was married January 9, 1828, 
to Miss Sarah Covenhoven, who was born November 12, 1805. She 
was the mother of four children : James C, John IL, Emma L. and 
Josephine. The latter married John Y. Henry, and is now dead. In 
1845 Deacon Luce settled at Crete, in Will county, Illinois, and in 
1855 moved to Ambov township, and bought a farm opposite where 
he now lives. He was bereft of his wife February 16, 1857, and on 
January 23, 1859, lie celebrated his marriage with Mrs. Celia Maria 
Forbes, daughter of Jacob Gilde. Her first union was productive of 
two sons, John C. and Arthur S. Their father was David C. Forbes. 
The elder of these enlisted in 1861 in Co. D, 3-lrth III. reg. ; he served 
through the entire war, fought in several hard-contested engagements, 
and was finally killed at tiie battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, as 
the last echoes of the war were sounding. Arthur volunteered in 
either the 51st or the 53d 111. Inf., when but sixteen years old, and 
after a brief service died, as was supposed, while on his way to the 
hospital at St. Louis. Deacon Luce and his first wife united with the 
Baptist churcli in 1832, and he has held the office of deacon forty-five 
years. He assisted with liberality to erect the First Baptist church of 
Amboy, and he has been for many years a man of recognized influence, 
not only in the worshiping society to which he belongs, but also in the 
community at large. He was assessor in "Will county, and since he 
came here was for a long time overseer of the poor. In politics he is 
a republican. 

Jason Chamherlain, deceased, was the youngest son of Joshua 
and Nancy Cliamberlain, and was born in the town of Petersham, 
Worcester county, Massachusetts, September 6, ISll. When he was 
eleven years old his father moved his family to Steuben county, New 
York, and being wealthy, bought a tract of several hundred acres 
of land. Mr. Chamberlain celebrated his first marriage witli Miss 
Mary Ann Goodrich, about 1836. She became the mother of six 
children: George W., Cyrus (died in infancy), Sylvester, Mary 0., 
Lucy G. and Harry R. (died in infancy). Her death occurred in May 
1846, and Mr. Chamberlain married Sally, relict of Freeman Whited, 
September 12, 1847. She was born at Penn Yan, Yates county, New 
York, December 23, 1818. Her parents were David J. and Dorothea 
(Morse) Bennett, and in her father's famil}' were but three children, 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 409 

two brothers and herself. By her first husband Mrs. Chamberlain had 
three children: David J., Lester B. and William M. David enlisted 
in the 13th III. Vols, at the outbreak of the war and was in the service 
until October 6, 1861, when he died in hospital at St. Louis. In 18ofi, 
when seventeen years old, Lester died of fever in New York. Corne- 
lia A. and Elvira F. were the children of the second marriage. The 
first is the wife of Henry Putnam, of Taylor county, Iowa, and the 
second is Mrs. C. C. Morgan, of Sterling. In 1856 Mr. Chamberlain 
moved to Illinois and settled in Whitesides county, where he bought a 
farm of 160 acres, to which, in time, he made additions. In 1867, 
owing to the death of his brother-in-law, Deacon Cyrus Bryant, who 
had left an aged and lonely widow, and to his own failing health, Mr. 
Chamberlain came to Aniboy to reside. After his settlement here, 
under the ministry of the Rev. M. T. Lamb, he was brought to a saving 
knowledge of Jesus Christ, and was baptized into the fellowship of the 
Amboy Baptist church. After his conversion Mr. Chamberlain lived a 
prayerful life, and by his deep, earnest solicitude for the interest of the 
church and the extension of Clirist's kingdom, he gave precious evi- 
dence of the witnessing of the spirit and of God's grace in his heart. So, 
in the practice of the lowly virtues of hospitality, a genial and sunny 
temper, tender sympathy and warm atfection, held to the true course 
by depth of principle and firmness of conviction, he grew in strength 
and power, and proportion to the excellent stature of christian nobility. 
When the hour of dissolution came he remarked to his pastor that "it 
was all settled ; to go or to stay would be all right ; God's will be 
done;" and in great peace he fell asleep in Jesus. Death came to 
him on December 21, 1880, at the age of sixty-nine, when he had 
"Grown ripe in years and old in piety." Deacon Br3'ant, another 
soldier of the cross, whose godly life and veteran service had stamped 
upon his brow the seal of divine peace and usefulness, was one of the 
organizers of the Amboy Baptist church, and a deacon of more than 
forty years' standing. He was a very liberal supporter of the gospel at 
all times. At Monteray, Schuyler county, Few York, he nearly built 
a Baptist church, and on his death he gave by will ^100 to the Baptist 
Publication Society of Chicago; $100 to the Home Mission Society; 
$100 to the Foreign Missions; and $100 to the Bible Union Society. 
Mr. Biyant and Mr. Chamberlain were life members of the Bible Union. 
Mrs. Bryant still lives, in her eighty-third year, in a most pitiable and 
helpless physical condition by reason of fracture of the hip joint. 

CuETis F. BRroGMAN, farmer, Amboy, was born in Bainbridge, 
Alleghany county, New York, in 1836. He had the following broth- 
ers and sisters: Lewis, Sally, Emily, Edgar, Otis, and Emily. The 
latter died in 1868 ; Otis in 1864. The parents were Eeuben and 



410 HISTORY OF LEE COUXTT. 

Cynthia (Dort) Bridgman. In 1S40 this family settled in Amboy 
townsliip, and during the first three years of tiieir residence lived on a 
claim which is now part of the farm belonging to the Shaw heirs. 
They tiien took up their home where Mr. Bridgman is living. He 
has eighty acres, wortli $3,500. Tiie father died in 18G6, and tlie 
mother in 1S71. Mr. Bridgman was married Xovember 7, 1866, to 
Miss Rebecca Blocher, daughter of John M. Blocher. She was born 
May 28, 1849. Tiieir two sons John and Adna, were born respect- 
ively on November 29, 1809, and January 11, 1871. Both parents 
belong to tlie Episcopal church of Amboy. Mr. Bridgman is a repub- 
lican. 

Setii W. Holmes, farmer, Amboy, eldest son of James W. and 
Elizabeth (Curtis) Holmes, was born in Ciiarleston, Montgomery 
county, New York, July 17, 1805. He was reared a farmer, and was 
married to Miss Mary Hill January 21, 1830. In 1846 he removed to 
tiiis township and entered and settled on his present homestead, the 
E. i of S.W. ^ Sec. 9. Mr. Holmes is a republican, and a member of the 
Free Will cliurch at Inlet Grove. Mrs. Holmes was a communicant 
in the same denomination while in the east, and brought her letter 
west, bnt by reason of bodil}- afflictions and infirmities has not united 
with any society here. They have reared seven children, as follows: 
Mary Jane, wife of Cyrus Bridgman; Dimmis H., Isaac A., James 
W., Warren II. (^dead), Alimira, deceased wife of Lee Cronkrite, and 
Jacob C. James volunteered September 26, 1861, in Co. I, 46th 111. reg., 
and fought at Fort Donelson and Shiloh ; was in the siege of Corinth, 
battle of Ilatchie, and siege of Vicksburg, where he was wounded in tlie 
foot and taken prisoner May 25, 1868, and paroled Jun« 1. He was 
discharged on account of his wound December 29, 1863, at Jefferson 
bari'acks, St. Louis. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth Banker was 
on July 8, 1874. In politics he is a republican. 

George D. Baihd, farmer, Amboy, youngest son of James and 
Louisa (Chamberlain) Baird, was born June 24, 1844. In 1858 Mr. 
Baird came west with his parents and settled one mile north of 
Amboy ; in 1874 he sold the little farm which he owned there and 
moved to his present home, three miles north of the city, where he 
has 120 acres valued at $6,000. This farm was in the track 
of the great tornado of 1860. The one occupied by Mr. Baird 
at that time was taken in an arm of the hurricane, and was on the out- 
skirt even of that, but no damage of any consequence was done, and 
tlie only evidence of force was the moving of his granary three feet. 
Mr. Baird was married February 4, 1872, to Miss Jennie Smith, who 
was born in England March 1, 1853, and emigrated to this country in 
1856. Their little boy, Henry, was born February 12, 1881. Mr. and 



AMBOT TOWNSHIP. 411 

Mrs. Baird are members of the Baptist church, and he is a republican. 
His parents died in this township at the following dates: liis father, 
April 27, 1S65; and his mother, March 24, 1877. 

Nathaniel Buenham, farmer, Amboy, was born in Greenfield, 
New Hampshire, April 16, 1836. His parents were Nathaniel and 
Mary (Wilder) Biirnham. He was on his father's farm till he was 
fourteen ; the next three years he worked in a cotton factory, except 
an annual term of three months that he attended school. In February 
lS5i his father moved with his tamily to Lee county, and settled in 
Amboy township, where he died September 19, 1871. His mother 
died May li of the previous year. Mr. Burnham has made farming his 
principal business, though at different times he lias turned his atten- 
tion to other affairs. He owns 310 acres of choice land three miles 
north of Amboy, worth $15,500. He bought 120 acres of this from 
C. C. Cochran in 1852, and the remainder since. He was married 
June 6, 1872, to Miss Helen A. Doming, daughter of C. W. Deming. 
Mrs. Burnham was born in Watkins, New York, in 1849. Their two 
children were born as follows: Clara E., September 18, 1873, and 
Alice, March 6, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham are members of the 
Methodist church, and he is a republican. 

Otiixiel M. Clark, farmer and dairyman, Lee Center, eldest son 
and third child of Sherman and Samantha (Bates) Clark, was born in 
West Hampton, Massachusetts, February 4, 1831. His father was a 
farmer, but he served from 1848 to 1850 at the drug business, and hav- 
ing completed his time abandoned it, as it was not suited to his health. 
In 1852 he made a voyage to California, and in 1856 returned and 
bought a farm in East Hampton. On April 2S, 1858, he was married 
to Miss Mary Wright, daughter of Martin Wright, of West Hampton, 
and who was born August 17, 1838. They have three children : Wil- 
bur G., Carrie A. and Sarah S. In the autumn of 1860 Mr. Clark 
came to Lee county, and taught school the following winter ; the next 
spring his family arrived, and he bought a farm not far from Lee Cen- 
ter, in China township. In 1872 he traded this for the one he now oc- 
cupies, on the Ciiicago road, in this township, one mile west of Lee 
Center. His homestead is one of the oldest places in the neighborhood, 
contains 145 acres, was first improved by Deacon Barnes, and is valued 
at $9,000. Mr. Clark is road commissioner, and treasurer of the 
board, and school director in the Lee Center district, and clerk also of 
that board. This is a union district lying in four townships. Its af- 
fairs are not administered under the general law, but according to the 
terms of a charter procured from the state years ago. In addition to 
these public offices he is the executive agent for the Lee Center Butter 
and Cheese Manufacturing Company, does the buying and selling, and 



412 HISTORY OF I.EE COUNTY. 

has charge of all the business. Perhaps the most responsible position 
of all which lie holds is that of president of the Lee Center Sunday- 
school Association, which is composed of parts of Amboy, China, 
Bradford, and the whole of Lee Center, and includes the Baptist, 
Methodist, Episcopal and Congregational denominations. Mrs. Clark 
has belonged to the Congregational church since she was sixteen years 
old, and Mr. Clark about eight years. The latter is a Conkling repub- 
lican. 

Frank H. Chapix, farmer, Amboy, son of Henry Chapin, was born 
in Lockport, Will county, Illinois, July 23, 1S54, and grew up in Am- 
boy from the time he was two years old. He obtained a fair education, 
and spent two years in Illinois College, at Jacksonville, where he took 
Bryant & Stratton's business course. He learned his trade and worked 
in his father's carriage-shop five or six years. In 1876 he laid aside his 
trade and began farming. Mr. Chapin was married Tuesday, August 
5, 1879, to Miss Stella Van Eiper, who was born August 1.3, 1857. 
Dr. H. F. Walker and his wife, Athelia, were her foster-parents. Mr. 
Chapin is a republican. He owns 120 acres of land three miles north- 
east of Amboy, valued at §4,500. In 1860 this was occupied by a Mr. 
Bixby, and was swept by the terrific hurricane of that year. The house 
was destroyed, but no persons were killed. 

Hknry C. Shaw, deceased, was born in Victor, New York, July 7, 
1820. His parents were John and Polly (Fox) Shaw. In 1841 Mr. 
Shaw left his native state and came to Illinois, and established his 
home at La Harpe, Hancock county, where he started a trade in gro- 
ceries. In 1844 he married Miss Jane Waldron, daughter of Joseph 
and Martha (Perry) Waldron, born in Albany, New York, October 31, 
1822, and came to this state with her parents in 1841. In 1845 he 
moved to Princeton, Bureau county, and being in poor health boarded 
himself and wife there one year. In 1846 he came to Binghamton and 
embarked in the manufacture of plows in company with his brother, 
Zebediah Shaw, and William and John C. Cliurch. The tirm changed 
once or twice, but Mr. Shaw continued a partner as long as it carried 
on the business. In 1852 he bought a farm in Araboy township, and 
from this date was occupied with the cares of farming until his death, 
which occurred October 7, 1874. He was the father of ten children, 
as follows: Olive A., born September 14, 1845, widow of Charles 
Evitts; William M., September 24, 1847; Willfred, July 14, 1840, 
married Miss Martha Ilammitt, and lives in Peoria; De Forist. De- 
cember 17, 1851, married Miss Marietta Wasson ; Arthur H., February 
12, 1854; Chauncey R., June 21, 18.56; Everesto L., May 9,1858; 
Charles D., September 9, 1861; Don Carlos, January 25, 1864; and 
Madeline M., February 3, 1868. These heirs own 160 acres of choice 



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^<(f 



AMBOY TOWNSHIP. 413 

farming land just north of the city limits of Amboy, which has a running 
stream of living water through the body, giving it one of the greatest 
essentials of a stock farm. 

Benjamin Teeadwell, baggage-master, Illinois Central railroad, 
Amboy, second son of Allen and Deborah Treadvvell, was born in 
Pennsylvania, July 31, 1S33. His mother died when he was about 
eight years of age, and as soon as he was old enough to work he began 
to earn his own living, and thereafter made his way independently in 
the world. His education comprised such acquirements as could be 
obtained in the district schools during winter terms. He followed 
stage-driving fifteen years, and owned a line from Belvidere, "Warren 
county, New Jersej% to Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1854 he sold out, 
and on November 18 was married to Miss Caroline Aton. Immedi- 
ately upon this event he emigrated to Polk county, Wisconsin, where 
he remained only one winter, but long enough, however, to lose his 
property. In the spring of 1855 he removed to Amboy and engaged 
the first year in farming; the second year he was butchering; and in 
1858 he went on the Central railroad as baggageman, and has held that 
position to this date. He owns and resides upon the Andrew Painter 
farm, consisting of 78 acres two and a half miles southeast of Amboy. 
Mr. and Mrs. Treadvvell are communicants in the Methodist church, 
and he is a democrat. They have one t:- , Harmon, given them by his 
father, and born July 31, 1866. 

Washington I. Fish, plow manufacturer, Amboy, is the son of 
Henry and Mary (Colony) Fish, and was born in New York in 1833. 
His father was a prominent man in his own section of the state, a doc- 
tor by profession, and represented his district in the general assembly, 
and held various other offices of honor and profit. Our subject received 
a good English education. In 1851 he began learning dentistry, and 
was located in its practice at Mecklenburg, Schuyler county, thirteen 
years. In 1864 he moved to Illinois and settled at Binghamton, where 
his brother, Erasmus D. Fish, was manufacturing plows. He went to 
work at once with the latter in the shop. In November, 1865, his 
brother died and left the property to him by will, and he has since kept 
the factory in operation. He employs hands, makes scouring plows, 
and does general repairing. Mr. Fish was married in 1858 to Miss 
Cornelia A. Ink, of Enfield, New Yorl^ who was born in 1834. Three 
children have blessed their union : Minnie I., William G. and Ira M. 
Mr. Fish is a democrat in politics. 

DuEK C. Badger, stock-raiser, Amboy, son of Chester and Mary A. 

(Cushman) Badger, was born at Binghamton, in 1854. He received 

a good English education, and graduated from the Northwestern 

Business College, at Madison, Wisconsin, in 1875, after eighteen 

25 



414 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

montlis' study in that institution. He lias traveled with profit within 
the United States, having been in nearly every state and territory, 
and made two visits to the Pacific coast. Mr. Badger celebrated his 
marriage with Miss Ann L. Wooster, daughter of A. H. "Wooster, 
March 7, 1878. Mrs. Badger belongs to the Baptist church, and he is 
a Mason and a democrat. Their homestead, a valuable tract well im- 
proved, a mile northeast of Amboy, is the N.E. ^ Sec. 14, T. 20, R. 
10, and is estimated to be worth $18,000. Mr. Badger keeps about 
$6,000 worth of stock. 

David Petticrew, farmer, Amboy, was born in Montgomery 
county, Ohio, February 22, 1820. He was the eldest son by James 
and Elizabeth (Haines) Petticrew. Both his grandfathers did veteran 
service in the war of the revolution, being enrolled during the entire 
period and engaged in a number of battles. In 1826 Mr. Petticrew's 
father settled near where Niles, Michigan, now stands, and in 1837 re- 
moved with his family to Livingston county, Missouri. At a subse- 
quent period his father made another removal to the vicinity of Fort 
Scott, Kansas, where he died about the beginning of the war. In 1847 
the subject of this sketch returned to Michigan and resided until 1854, 
when in November he came to Amboy, and bought the farm where be 
now lives south of the city. Next spring his family came. He was 
married, in 1845, to Mrs. Margaret Miller (Roof). By her first mar- 
riage she had a daughter, Matilda, now Mrs. Henry Somes, of Iowa. 
By the last union there are seven children : Jasper, Sylvester, married 
Miss Maggie May ; Frank, married Miss Ida Clark ; Olive, Alice, wife 
of James Purseley; Emma, and Ella. Jasper volunteered for three 
months at the beginning of the war, and served at Camp Douglas; he 
afterward reenlisted in Co. I, 89th 111. reg., and served to the end of 
the war. He was wounded in the right leg in the battle in front of 
Atlanta, July 22, 1864. Sylvester enlisted in Co. G, 7th U. S. Cav., 
Col. Custer, April 8, 1874, and was in the service nearly a year in Da- 
kota. Frank performed military service in the regular army altout the 
same length of time in 1875 and 187(5. Mrs. Petticrew is a member 
of the Baptist church, and Mr. Petticrew is a prominent republican. 

William H. Dkesseu. farmer, Amboy, oldest son of William and 
Amy (Heath) Dresser, was born in Genesee county. New York, Novem- 
ber 7, 1830. The father was a native of Massachusetts, and the mother 
of Connecticut, and both were taken to new homes in Genesee county 
when young children. Mr. Dresser has always been a tiller of the soil. 
In 1852 he went to Minnesota and stayed two years. In 1854 he set- 
tled in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and lived there until 1866; at that 
date he removed to Amboy, and bought his present home of eighty- 
two acres from Joseph Doan, an early settler of Amboy township. He 



LEE CENTER TOWNSHIP. 415 

was married in 1861 to Miss Nancy Lewis, daughter of Hiel Lewis ; 
she died in November 1865, and he was married a second time, to Miss 
Sallie Eaton, in 1872. They have an adopted son, George, eigiit j'ears 
old. Mr. and Mrs. Dresser belong to the Methodist church. He has 
always been a voter of the republican ticket. 

Carl Hegert, miller, Amboy, eldest son of Carl Hegert, was born 
in Germany, January 10, 1835. He emigrated to America in 1857, 
was forty-two daj's in passage from Hamburg to New York, and 
arrived at Amboy January 1, 1858. He reached this country poor, 
his only capital being the miller's trade, and some knowledge of the 
use of tools, acquired mainly from his father. He could not at first get 
employment at his trade, so he took the first job of carpentering he 
could find, and did not lay down his tools for a year and a half. Then 
he was engaged at farming three years, and in the meantime, March 4, 
1861, was married to Miss Hannah Grothe, daughter of John H. 
Grothe, of Ashton, who settled there from Penns3'lvania in 1851. As 
soon as Mr. Hegert had been able to earn money enough he sent for 
his brothers, Louis and Theodore; and after they had been in this 
country five years the three jointly sent funds to bring over the rest 
of the family — the father, one brother, four sisters and their husbands. 
These are still all living. Mr. Hegert worked on the Dutcher mill 
while it was building, and afterward was employed as miller eight 
months. On June 17, 1862, he entered the emploj' of the Badger 
Brothers, as miller, at Binghamton, and continued with them until 
the second destruction of the mill b}' fire Juh' 21, 1881. He is a 
republican, an Odd-Fellow, and a workman, and both he and his wife 
belong to the Evangelical Lutlieran church. They have si.x children : 
Harriet Jane, born June 22, 1863 ; Sarah Ann, February 4, 1S65 ; 
Carl, February 28, 1867 ; Freddie, May 31, 1869, died February 10, 
1870 ; Ida, September 4, 1871 ; Rudolph, January 15, 1874, and 
Willie, November 26, 1878. 



LEE CENTER TOWNSHIP. 

This township is described in the original survey as T. 20 N., R. 
11 E. of the 4th P.M. The topography is somewhat diversified. The 
general lay of the land is rolling, there being very little flat land ex- 
cept along the creek and river bottoms. 

Green river rises in Inlet Swamp, in the northeastern part of the 
township, and winds through it in a southwesterly direction. After 
leaving the swamp it flows for some distance through an open space, 
and then glides into the shady depths of a forest. For two miles it is 
hidden from the distant observer among the heavy foliage of oaks, 



416 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

whose giant forms have stood for centuries like silent sentinels npon its 
mossv banks, and now leaping again into the sunshine and reflecting 
from its bosom beautiful pictures of blue sky and fleecy cloud. 

The township is dotted over by numerous groves and tine farm 
houses. The Chicago & Rock River railroad enters at about the cen- 
ter of Sec. 25, and leaves at the center of Sec. 19. 

Inlet Swamp extends over an area of about four square miles, in the 
northeastern part of the township. With this exception the land is 
generally good, and for agricultural purposes is inferior to none in the 
county. 

The first settlement in the township was made by Adolphus Bliss, 
who came in 1834, and entered a claim on W. ^ of S.W. J Sec. 4, and 
N. ^ of N.E. i Sec. 9. The next settler was Corrydon R. Dewey, who 
came the following spring, and entered a claim on E. i of N. W. ^ Sec. 
9. A little later in the same spring came Cyrenus and Cyreno Saw- 
yer, who jointly took a claim on N.E. J See. 1. In the spring of 1836 
Louis Clapp settled on X.AY. i Sec. 8. 

The first school-house in the township was erected in 1838, about 
eighty rods west of the present residence of Volnc}' Bliss. Otis Tim- 
othy, of Franklin Grove, was the first schoolmaster to wield the 
hickory within the walls of this antiquated structure, and for his ser- 
vices received the princely salary of $10 per month, and " boarded 
around" among the pupils. 

As the settlers became more numerous it was found that many of 
them, in fact a greater part of them, were connected with a band of 
desperadoes, who at tiiat time spread terror over all of northern Illi- 
nois by their deeds of thievery and murder. One of the settlers, who 
resided near Inlet Grove, allowed his dwelling to be used as a place of 
secretion for stolen goods, and for fugitives from justice. It was be- 
lieved by the early settlers that this man's dwelling was the headquar- 
ters of the gang, as those who passed his house after night frequently 
saw groups of horses hitched in a grove near the house, and inside the 
cabin could be heard boisterous laughter and "sounds of revelry by 
night," and ere the morning dawn the horses and riders would myste- 
riously disappear. At one time, dver^' township officer was supposed 
to have been a member of the banditti; being in the nuijority they 
could, of course, elect their own men to office. This being tiie case, 
one can well imagine the chaotic condition of society, — each man 
suspicious of his neighbor. Acts of thievery were carried on with im- 
punity, and the authorities defied. If some law-abiding citizen at- 
tempted to gain redress for his wrongs an anonymous letter was left at 
his door threatening his life in case he persisted in his eflforts. Law- 
abiding citizens were entirely at the mercy of an enemy as cruel as the 



LEE CENTER TOWNSHIP. 417 

blood-thirsty savage who long years before, on the western frontier, 
sent terror to the hearts of the pioneers. Houses were plundered, 
cattle and horses stolen, and driven off, stages were robbed, and for 
years robbery, rapine and red-handed murder held undisputed sway. 
Finally, honest men driven to desperation at the alarming and unceas- 
ing frequency of these occurrences, saw that speedy measures must be 
taken to protect their homes against the midnight marauders. A vigi- 
lance committee was organized, composed of resolute men in all parts 
of the county. Among the residents of Lee Center township who took an 
active part in the suppression of this band of outlaws were C. F. Ingalls, 
Rev. Luke Hitchcock, Dr. Adams, Moses Crombie, Sherman Shaw, 
Lewis Clapp, Benjamin "Wiiittaker ; also a Mr. Starks and sons, whose 
full names we are unable to ascertain. By their shrewd manipulations 
and persistent efforts this organization succeeded in either capturing 
or driving from the country most of the prominent members of the 
gang, so that after ISiS the citizens of Lee Center, as well as else- 
where, experienced a feeling of security. 

The descendants of some of these outlaws still reside in the county, 
and are men of good standing in the community in which they live. 
This fact renders it a delicate and unpleasant task for the writer to 
give to the world even this brief sketch of the wrong-doings of their 
ancestors. But there are also men residing in this vicinity who, at the 
peril of their lives, aided in restoring law and order to the community, 
and it is but justice to them to place their names in their county's his- 
tory with the credit they justly deserve. Were it not for this tact the 
writer would gladly leave this dark chapter unwritten, and consign 
these unpleasant truths to the darkness of oblivion. 

VILLAGE OF LEE CENTER 

"Was laid out in 1846; is situated in the northwestern corner of the 
township ; present population 240 ; is the polling-place of the town- 
ship. 

The first object liable to attract the attention of the visitor is the 
old seminary. This building was erected in 1847, at a cost of $2,000. 
This school was for some years the principal educational point in this 
part of the state, and attracted to Lee Center many students from ad- 
joining counties who wished to avail themselves of the excellent edu- 
cational advantages the school then afforded. The branches taught 
were the same as are taught in our preparatory academies of the pres- 
ent day. A. J. Streetor, who has since that time attained a consider- 
able prominence as a politician, and who was the greenback candidate 
for governor in the campaign of 1880, was at one time a student in this 
seminary. The school first opened in 1847. The first principal was 



418 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Hiram McChesney, a graduate of Eensselaer Institute, of Troy, New 
York. Tlie average attendance at that time is estimated at 150 pupils, 
a large percentage of whom were from abroad. Mr. McCiiesne}' served 
one year and was tlien succeeded by H. E. Leonard, of Napierville, 
Illinois. Mr. Leonard after having taught two years was succeeded by 
the Rev. James Brewer, a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of 
the Jamestown college in that state. Mr. Brewer presided over the 
school for one year. Mr. Simeon Wright, formerly of Battle Creek, 
Michigan, comes next on the list of instructors. Mr. Wright took an 
active interest in the welfare of the school, and during the three years 
that he was principal the seminary passed through an era of prosperity 
never exceeded before or since. The attendance was very large and 
the school was in a flourishing condition. Mr. Wright was succeeded 
by Prof. Nash, a native of Massachusetts, who conducted the school 
until 1859, in which year he died. In the meantime other institutions 
of a similar character had sprung up in different points that were ac- 
cessible by railroads: at Amboy a high-school building was erected in 
1857; academies had also been established in Dixon and Paw Paw ; 
60 that in 1859, the attendance being very small, an act was passed au- 
thorizing its incorporation as a graded district school. 

CHURCHES. 

There are three churches in the village: 

The Methodist Episcopal congregation was first organized in 1837, 
at the residence of Corrydon R. Dewey, at Inlet Grove. Their first 
church building was erected in 18-12, in which services were held until 
1858, when a larger and more commodious one was erected, which 
building i\iej still occupy. The congregation now numbers thirty-four 
members. Trustees are John Lane, B. F. Lane and S. Trowbridge. 
The present stewards are S. Trowbridge, John Lane, J. H. B. Thorn- 
ton, S. Thayer and Mrs. M. A. Fox. Present pastor, J. G. B. Shad- 
ford. 

The Congregational Church. — This society was organized in 1843 
at the residence of Moses Crombie, near Binghamton, in Amboy town- 
ship ; the congregation then consisted of eleven members. First pastor 
was Rev. Joseph Gardner. The building now occupied by them was 
erected in 1856, at a cost of $1,500. The congregation now numbers 
fifty members, and is in a flourishing condition. Present pastor is the 
Rev. F. C. Cochran. 

The Episcopal Chvrch. — Congregation organized in 1855, and the 
church building erected in 1857, costing $2,500. The windows of the 
church were presented to the congregation by Bisho]) Whitehouse. 
The present rector is Rev. N. W. Ilerrmans, who has presided since 1879. 



LEE CENTER TOWNSHIP. 419 

Tlie only secret organization now in existence in Lee Center is the 
Masonic Lodge, No. 146. Tiiis lodge was organized on July 28, 1854; 
charter granted on October 2 of the same year. The first officers 
were A. P. Stinson, worsliipful master; John Gilmore, senior warden ; 
Daniel Frost, junior warden ; Simeon Wright, secretary ; Lot Chad- 
wick, treasurer. This was the second Masonic lodge organized in the 
county; and from the time of its organization to the present date 142 
members have reached the degree of master mason. James A. Haw- 
lej', who was for two years grand master of the Grand Lodge, was here 
initiated into the mysteries of Masonry. The present membership 
of the organization is thirt3'-one members. Present officers are Wm. 
S. Frost, worshipful master; Wallace Hicks, senior warden; W. W. 
Depew, junior warden ; B. F. Lane, secretary ; Willard Salsbury, 
treasurer. 

Shaw station, situated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail- 
road, near the center of the township, promises to be one of the 
prominent trading points of this part of the county. Mr. F. D. Clapp, 
an enterprising young merchant, is here engaged in the dry-goods and 
grocery business and also owns a half interest in a large and commodious 
elevator on the north side of the railroad track. Surrounded by an 
excellent farming country, this station promises to become one of the 
thriving villages of Lee county. Prominent among the celebrities of 
which this village can boast is Mrs. Eva Katharine Mink, a young 
authoress of growing popularity, who has recently embarked upon the 
sea of literature, and whose productions have created quite a sensation 
in the literary world. 

ROBBERIES. 

Among the many daring robberies perpetrated by the banditti in 
different parts of the country is the case of Mr. Haskell at Inlet Grove. 
On a stormy night in June, 1844, Mr. Haskell's residence was entered 
by masked men, one of whom afterward proved to have been the 
notorious Fox. Creeping silently into the bed-room occupied by Mr. 
Haskell and wife they succeeded in dragging a trunk containing money 
from under the bed. The noise caused by sliding of the trunk on the 
floor was drowned by the rumbling thunder, and so cunningly was the 
deed planned and executed that the sleepers were none the wiser until 
the next morning. 

CASUALTIES. 

On the evening of June 3, 1860, a terrible tornado passed through 
the northern poi-tion of the township, spreading death and desolation 
in its path. Isaac Gage, now a resident of Lee Center village, lost two 
sons in this terrible storm. The loss of life and property was not so 



420 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

great in this as in other portions of the county, however, but persons 
who were in or near its path will remember it to their latest day. 

WAR RECORD. 

In the spring of 1861, when the news came over tlie wires that 
b'ort Sumter iiad fallen and the banner of the stars had been trampled 
under rebel feet, the citizens of Lee Center were among the first to 
send up the shout;" down with the rebellion," her hills and forests 
echoed to the stirring strains of the " red, white and blue" and "star 
spangled banner;" and when the long roll sounded scores of her 
patriotic sons stepped to the front and helped to swell the vast throng 
of troops hurrying forward in response to their country's call ; many 
of them took their places by the side of the flag-staft' and followed it 
to the sea. In the great battles of Stone river, Pittsburg landing, 
Lookout mountain, and Chickamauga, her sons bore a noble part, and 
many of them fell, mangled and bleeding, under the shadow of the 
banner they had so bravely defended. Lee Center township furnished 
troops for the 13th, 75th and 34th 111. Inf., and for the 7th 111. Cav. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 
Chaeles F. Ingai.ls, farmer, Sublette, Lee county, Iliitiois, born 
in Windham county, Connecticut, in 1817. At the age of twelve went 
to Windsor county, Vermont, attending school for ^ome time and 
afterward teaching. In the summer of 1834 came to Morgan county, 
Illinois, where he also taught school two years. In 1836 he in com- 
pany with his brother George A. Ingalls removed to Lee county and 
entered claims in the southern part of Lee Center township. Mr. 
Ingalls was married September 6, 1838, to Miss Sarah Hawkins. At 
that time an Indian village stood on a part of his farm, the inhabitants 
of this village were Pottawatomies. Mr. Ingalls frecpiently found 
buffalo horns and carcasses in the vicinity of his farm, which, from 
their fresh appearance, convinced liini that among the 'former inhab- 
itants of the country the king of the prairie had been a con6j)icuous 
member. Mr. Ingalls is father of five children : Charles II., Ephriam 
F., Sarah D., Ara M. and Mary S. With the exception of the latter 
named daughter they are all grown and married. He has been a 
member of the Baptist church since 1841. In 1850 he had an attack 
of the gold fever and consequently took a berth in a wagon-train bound 
for California, and was there four years, during which time he was 
engaged in mining and stock raising. He returned in 1854 by way of 
New York city. Mr. Ingalls was left an orphan at an early age, and 
was cast adrift to fight life's battles single-handed and alone. By in- 
dustry and enterprise he has acquired a respectable portion of the 



LEE CENTER TOWNSHIP. 421 

world's goods. He has a beautiful residence, surrounded by all the 
luxuries necessary to make a bright and happy home. His parlor- 
walls are adorned by beautifiil oil paintings, the handiwork of his 
accomplished daughters. And here in this sequestered spot, surrounded 
by the fruits of his toil, under tlie sliadow of the tall oaks who have 
been liis silent companions in his adversities and triumphs, he will 
spend his remaining years. Mr. Ingalls furnishes an instance of how, in 
this great broad land of ours, an orphan boy with nothing to rely upon 
but a strong will and an energetic brain may, by industry, economy 
and honesty acquire both wealth and honor. 

Lewis B. Rex, teacher, Lee Center, born in Summit county, Ohio, 
in 1831, received his early education in tliat county, and attended one 
term at the Mount Vernon Seminary, after which he was three years 
a student in the Otterbise University, at Westerville, Ohio. He after- 
ward taugiit school in different parts of the state until 1859. In that 
year he came west to Mcndota, Illinois, and taught one year in that 
place ; afterward taught one term in Sublette. Devoted his time 
entirely to teaching until 1862, when he enlisted in the 75th 111. Inf., 
and served three years in the army. Was married in 1866, to Miss 
Electa Jane Minnerly, a native of Ohio, and is father of two children. 

Edwin Moeey, farmer, Shaw Station, born in Cortland county, 
New York, in 1820, came with his father in 1836, to Calhoun county, 
Michigan, where he resided nine years. In 1845 he removed to Cook 
county, Illinois. Worked three years on a canal in that county. At 
the end of that time he came to Lee conntj', and located in Lee 
Center township. Mr. Morey brought the second grain separator ever 
used in the county. Was married in April 1849, to Miss Harriet 
Mayo, a native of New York state. Is a member of the Masonic 
Lodge, No. 146, at Lee Center. 

John Deer, farmer. West Brooklyn, born in Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1820. In 1863 removed to Lee county, where by 
industry and careful calculation he has become possessor of a large tract 
of excellent land. Mr. Derr is a member of the Reformed church, 
with which he united in 1840. Was married in 1849, to Miss Re- 
becca Gersinger; is father of ten children, nine of whom are living. 

MosES Ckombie, grain dealer, Lee Center, was born in Cheshire 
count)'. New Hampshire, in 1804. He was married in 1828, to Miss 
Louisa Morse, a native of tlie same state. In the same year he 
removed to Rocliester, New York, where he resided nine years. In 
1837 he removed to Lee county, residing near Rock river, opposite 
Grand Detour, where he resided three years. During that time lie 
was engaged in millwrighting and other work of a like nature. He 
done the wood-work on the first plows made in Lee county. He re- 



422 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

moved to tlie village of Lee Center in 1840. In 1841 he took the 
contract for building the seminary at that place. Was on the grand 
jury in the first court lield in Lee county. Is now dealing in grain 
at Shaw Station, in Lee Center township. 

Thomas Nicholson, fanner, Lee Center, was l)orn in England in 
1826; resided there until twenty-three years of age. Came to Lee 
county in 18-48. Bought land in China township, where he I'esided 
four years. In 1852 went to California, and was there engaged in the 
mining business for three years. In 1855 sailed to Australia, where 
he also spent three years in the mining district near Victoria. From 
there he sailed to England and spent several months in the home of 
his boyhood; while there he was married to Miss Ann Burrows. He 
then returned to Lee county. Located in Lee Center township in 
1859. Is a member of the Episcopal church, and is also a Freemason. 

Oeein M. Lewis, farmer, Amboy. Mr. Lewis' father, Hiel Lewis, 
settled in Lee county in 1842. Orrin M. was born in China township 
in 1847 ; received most of his earh' education in a district school in that 
township. Removed with his father to St. Croix county, Wisconsin, 
in the spring of 1855, where he resided until 1860, when they returned 
to Lee county, and resided in Amboy one year; then bought land 
al)out three miles northeast of Amboy, where he now resides. Mr. 
Lewis united with the United Brethren church at the age of twenty- 
five. Was married in 1871, to Miss Luella ^latteson, a native of 
Wisconsin, who died in March 1881. 

Sabin Trowbridge, merchant, Lee Center, was born in Broome 
county. New York. He received his earl}' education in the town of 
Windsor. In 1821 came to Illinois. Located in Lee Center in 1858, 
where until the year 1868 he earned a livelihood by tilling the soil. 
In that year he embarked in the dry-goods and grocery business. Was 
made postmaster under Grant's administration ; is doing a thriving 
business and is a very popular merchant. 

Lewis Complon, stone dealer, Lee Center, was born in the southern 
part of France in 1823; married to Miss Julia Henry in 1860; came 
to Lee Center in 186L Has four children: the elder, Emil Altonso, 
born 1861 ; Alfred, born 1863 ; Theodule, born 1866 ; and Leona Alice, 
born 1876. 

Christopher Wellman, farmer, Lee Center, was born in New Mil- 
ford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1821 ; here he received his 
early education ; married in 1850 to Miss Amanda E. Brown, also a 
native of Pennsylvania; came to Lee county in 1851; resided in the 
village of Lee Center seven years; in 1858 removed to Knox's grove, 
in Sublette township, where he resided five years; then bought land 
in W. i of Sec. 7 in Lee Center township, where he has since resided. 



LEE CENTER TOWNSHIP. 423 

Is the father of four children : Annie D., tlie elder child, aow the wife 
of James Johnston, and resides in Brooklin township, born in Decem- 
ber 1851 ; Levi William, born in 1853, died in 1877; Mary Ann, born 
April 1856; Henry H., born in 1859. 

L. Cyeenus Sawyek, fanner, Lee Center, Illinois, was born in 
Clarke county, Ohio, in 1818; came west in 1835; entered a claim in 
N.E. i of Sec. 1 in Lee Center township ; married in 1842. His father, 
Joseph Sawyer, was the first postmaster in Lee Center township, ap- 
pointed during the administration of James K. Polk. Mr. Sawyer has 
three children. Was a democrat up to the time of the formation of the 
republican party ; since that time has been a staunch republican ; owns 
240 acres of good farm land, and is surrounded by all the modern im- 
provements and conveniences of the model Illinois farmer. 

WiLLARD Salsbuey, Carpenter, Lee Center, was born in 1820, in 
Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania; resided where he received his 
early education ; came west in 1847 and bought land near Temperance 
Hill, in China township, where he resided two years; then removed to 
Lee Center. Mr. Salsbury was married in 1849, to Lydia Jane Frost, a 
resident of Lee Center. Is father of three children : Florence, born in 
1850, died in 1854; Frederic Augustus, born in 1853; and Willard 
Aurthur, born 1859. Mr. Salsbury is a prominent member of the Epis- 
copal church, with which he united at an early age. 

VoLNEY Bliss, farmer and stock raiser, Lee Center, was born in 
Milan, Huron county, Ohio, in 1827; in 1829 removed with his father, 
Adolphus Bliss, to Michigan. The family remained in that state iintil 
1834; in that year they removed to what is now Lee count}', then a 
part of Jo Daviess. His father entered a claim on W. ^ of S.W. J Sec. 
4, and N. ^ of N.E. J Sec. 9. Volney received his early education in a 
log school-house that stood eighty rods west of his present residence. 
When at home his only playmates were Indian boys who lived in a 
village that stood near his father's dwelling. Mr. Bliss was married 
in 1853, to Miss Paulina Tredwell. Deals largely in stock, and by in- 
dustry' and economy has become owner of a half-section of excellent 
land. His residence is beautifully situated in the center of a beautiful 
and spacious lawn, and possesses all the beauties and attractions of a 
model country residence. Mr. Bliss was a lieutenant in Co. D, 15th 
111. Inf. 

Ebenezer Woodbkige, farmer, Lee Center, was born in Wayne 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1814; removed from there to Tioga county, 
New York, where he received liis early education ; resided there 
eighteen years, then removed to Jay county, Indiana, in 1838; was 
married in 1840, to Eliza Ripley, a native of New York state ; remained 
in Indiana until 1855 ; in that year he removed to Illinois; desiring to 



424 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

locate in a place possessing good educational advantages he selected 
Lee Center ; bought N.E. ^ of Sec. 1, where be erected a residence and 
lias since resided. Mr. "Woodbrige is a prominent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, with which be united in 1840. Has four 
children, the elder being Sarah B., now the wife of B. I. Hitchcock, 
of Cliicago, born in 1841 ; Joseph Egbert, born July 1844; Ann Eliza, 
born March 1848; and John Eiple}-, born 1851. 

John Wedlock, farmer, West Brooklyn, was born in Cornwall, 
England, in 1825. At twenty-three years of age he came to Lee county, 
and bought land in China township near Temperance Hill, where he 
resided eight years. He then removed to Lee Center township, where 
he has since resided. Was married in 1858, to Miss Mary Jane Phillips, 
a native of New York, who died in 1876 ; was again married in 1880, 
to Mrs. A. L. Miller. In politics he is a republican. 

Warrek D. Clink, farmer, West Brooklyn, was born in Susque- 
hanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1835; came with his father in 1841 to 
Bradford township, their postoffice being at Bliss's Grove, now known 
as Inlet Grove, in Lee Center township; was married in 1862, to Miss 
Amelia Perkins. Mr. Clink has been -a successful farmer and stock 
raiser, and has accumulated considerable property. Was a witTiess to 
the great storm that passed through the county in 1860, and after the 
storm had passed he assisted in giving relief to many of the sufferers. 

Jaiies W. Winbolt, farmer. West Brooklyn, was born in Port 
Round, Canada east, in 1835 ; removed with his father in that year to 
Cuyahoga count}-, Ohio; received his early education in Cleveland. In 
1850 he again removed with his lather to Chicago, Illinois, and was 
there for seven years, engaged in the upholstering business on Ran- 
dolph street; was married in 1864, to Miss Sarah A. Hart; united with 
the Methodist Episcopal church in 1877; has been a staunch repub- 
lican since the organization of the part}'. 

Ephraim Whitney, farmer, Amboy, was born in Somerset county, 
Maine, in 1801 ; removed to West Virginia in 1816 ; resided for a num- 
ber of years in that state and then removed to Ohio; in 1845 he moved 
from that state to Lee county ; was married in that year to Miss Mary 
Livingstone, a native of Ohio. Mr. Whitney is now eighty years of 
age, and in so feeble a state as to render his memory very poor; conse- 
quently the information the writer receives from him in regard to his 
past life was very meager. 

JosEi'u A. IIoDGEs, farmer, Sublette, was born in Lawrence county, 
Indiana, in 1825, where he remained until twenty years of age. 
Came to Lee county in 1845, and settled in Sublette township, where 
he resided until 1850. In that year he bought land in the southern 
part of Lee Center township, where he located and still resides. Mr. 



LEE CENTER TOWNSHIP. 425 

Hodges was married in 1850, to Miss Olive Tourtillott. Is a promi- 
nent member of the Baptist chiircli, witli which he united in 1876 ; is 
also a Freemason. Mr. Hodges is quite an extensive farmer and 
stock raiser, and owns one of the model farms of the county. 

Sherman Shaw, stock raiser, Lee Center, was born in Ontario 
county. New York, in 1811 ; received his early education in Erie county 
in the same state. In 1837 Mr. Shaw packed his earthly possessions 
into a wagon and started toward the setting sun. He drove from New 
York to Lee county in this rude conveyance, bringing two hogs, which 
followed after the wagon the entire distance. Mr. Shaw is a member 
of the Baptist church, with which he united in 1841. Was married 
in 1835, to Miss Malinda Dcwolf. Is father of seven children, three of 
whom are living. Owns quite a large amount of land in different j^arts 
of the township. He is one of the landmarks of Lee county, and one 
of its most respected citizens. He came to the county when the great 
State of Illinois was almost a wilderness, and has lived to see towns, vil- 
lages, churches, school-houses and beautiful dwellings rise, as if by 
magic, where but a few years ago nothing greeted the eye of the 
observer but a vast expanse of prairie, over which bounded the wild 
deer and the prairie wolf. 

John W. D. Blake, merchant, Lee Center, born on Staton Island 
in 1833, resided there until eighteen years of age, then removed to 
New York city, where he was for two years employed in a wholesale 
dry-goods house. Came to Logan county, Illinois, in 1853; remained 
there until June 1854, at which time he i-emoved to Lee Center and 
embarked in the dry-goods and grocery business. Remained in Lee 
Center until 1857 ; in that year he removed to Niles, Michigan, re- 
maining until 1877; then removed to Kansas and bought land, and 
was there engaged in farming until 1879. In that year lie returned 
to Lee Center, where he has since been engaged in tlie dry-goods and 
grocery business. 

Dr. Clark E. Looms, Lee Center, was born in November 1839, 
at Pulaski, Oswego county, New York ; and in 1845 he removed to 
Auburn, Cayuga county, where he lived until 1856. Ho came west 
and stopped at Chicago one year, and in October, 1857, settled at 
Franklin Grove in this county. The next spring he began tiie study 
of medicine with Dr. G. W. Hewitt ; and on the 15th of February, 
1862, graduated from Rush Medical College at Chicago. He located 
at once in Grand Detour, Ogle county, to practice his profession. At 
this place, on the 15th of July 1863, he married the only daughter of 
John Parkhurst, by whom he has become the father of four children, 
all daughters, the youngest of whom died in 1879. From Grand 
Detour Dr. Loomis went to the army in 1864, and served until the 



426 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

close of the war as first assistant surgeon of tlie 115tli reg. 111. Vols. 
Shortly after his return home he settled with his family in Lee Center, 
where he has since had his residence. On February 1, 1881, he pur- 
chased from E. W. Fa.xon & Co. the " Amboy Journal " newspaper 
and job office, and has done the editorial work of the paper in connec- 
tion with his practice at Lee Center. 



BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP. 

Brooklyn township is described in the original survey as T. 31, 
R. 1 E., 3d P.M., bounded on the east by Wyoming, on the north by 
Viola, on the west by Lee Center and Sublette townships, and on the 
south b}- La Salle county. The present population of this township is 
largely German. 

Standing on an eminence in the southeastern part of the township, 
and looking north and west, a scene of remarkable rural beauty meets 
the eye of the observer. Stretching away as far as the e^'e can reach 
is a vast expanse of gently rolling land, dotted here and there by 
handsome dwellings, waving orchards and fields of grain. Had you 
stood there fifty years ago, dear reader, a dift'erent scene would have 
met your view. Half a century ago the red man chased the deer and 
biiflfalo where now villages and churches rise as a mausoleum over the 
graves of his forgotten dead. Fifty years ago 'the long howl of tlie 
wolf and the scream of the panther echoed among the hills that now 
resound with the click of the reaper, the shriek of the locomotive, and 
the chiming of church bells. Civilization in its onward march has 
blotted out all traces of the red man's abode. His villages have disap- 
peared, his light canoe is seen no more darting down the crystal streams 
of Illinois, and he has been driven onward toward the setting sun. 
His name is heard no more, unless perhaps to a village or wood-girt 
stream he has left as a legacy an Indian name. 

The earliest settler in Brooklyn township was Zacariah Mallngin, 
who came in the spring of 1834 and located on what is now the N.E. 
^ of Sec. 4. Mr. Mallngin built a hotel on the old Chicago stage 
road, and was one of the first landlords in Lee county. In the spring 
of 1836 John Gilmore came and located on the X.E. ^ of Sec. 3. In 
1836 William Guthrie came and located near Mallugin's Grove. 

The first school-house in the township was erected in 1838 on the 
farm of A. V. Christiance, about a mile northeast of his present resi- 
dence. The first teacher who presided was Zacariaii Mallngin. The 
first white child born in the township was Cornelius, son of A. V. 
Christiance, in 1835. The first justice of the peace was J<jhn K. Rob- 
inson, now residing in Mendota ; first constable, A. V. Christiance. 



BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP. 427 

VILLAGES. 

West Brooklyn, situated on the Chicago, Burlington & Qnincy 
railroad in the western part of the township, was laid out in 1873 on 
land owned by Messrs. O. P. Johnston, D. L. Harris and R. N. Woods. 
The school-house at that place was erected in 1874, at a cost of $1,200. 
First teacher, F. M. Yocum. For the past two years the school has 
been under the supervision of Prof M. M. Young, a teacher of marked 
ability, under whose care the school is in a prosperous eonditioTi. 

There are two churches in West Brooklyn, a Roman Catholic and 
one Methodist Episcopal church. The latter named society was organ- 
ized in 1878, and the building occupied by them was erected in the 
same year. The first pastor was the Rev. C. H. Hoffman ; present 
one is the Rev. B. H. Dickens, a young gentleman who is just begin- 
ning liis labors in the field of Christianity, and for whom we predict a 
life of usefulness. Membership of this organization, forty-nine. 

Compton was laid out in 1873 upon land owned by Joel Compton, 
from whom the village derived its name. It is situated on the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy railroad in the eastern part of the township. 
Compton has one church, the Methodist Episcopal, which society was 
organized in 1837 at the residence of Zachariah Mallugin. Their first 
pastor was the Rev. Stephen R. Beggs. Until about the year 1850 
they held services in a school-house at Mallugin's Grove. The build- 
ing now occupied by the society was erected in 1860 in that village and 
was removed from there to Compton. The membership of this organ- 
ization is forty ; present pastor, B. H. Dickens. 

Masonic Lodge, No. 282, was organized at the residence of O. P. 
Johnston in 1858. The first officers were : Master, John C. Corbus ; 
Senior Warden, John Gilmore; Junior Warden, S. H. Finley ; Senior 
Deacon, Jonathan Hyde ; Junior Deacon, O. P. Johnston ; Secretary, 
J. R. Bisbee ; Treasurer, Wm. Gutiirie ; Tyler, Robert Ritchie. The 
present officers are : Worshipful Mastei-, Theodore Doty ; Senior 
Warden, W. W. Gilmore ; Junior Warden, David Holdren ; Senior 
Deacon, W. C. Holdren ; Junior Deacon, S. W. Carnaham ; Secretary, 
A Bradshaw ; Tyler, Edwin Ellsworth ; Senior Steward, Abrara Ben- 
nett ; Junior Steward, Andrew Compton. 

Carnahan station is situated on an eminence about equidistant 
between West Brooklyn and Compton ; is the result of the labors of 
A. J. Carnahan. The expense of the side-track, station-liouse, and other 
improvements, were all borne by iiim. And whatever of convenience 
the neighbors in the community may enjoy in the future must be 
credited to his determination. When the project of the Canada 
Southern railroad was started he entered into it with enthusiasm and 
received assurances of having a station located on his farm. To get 



428 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

possession of certain lands, it is said, the company located the station 
at Compton. But Mr. Carnahan, nothing daunted by this defeat, laid 
his claim before the Chicago, Burlington & Quincj Railroad Company 
when they became owners of tiie road. After some effort on his part 
a station was granted him, which was to be made at his own expense. 

In Jul}', 1874, a man named Layden, employed as agent for Payne, 
of Ashton, collected all the money he could belonging to the latter 
named gentleman, which together with notes he had taken in his own 
name amounted to about $7,00U. With this amount of lucre in his 
possession he absconded. 

In February, 1874, Leroy Blanchard, while a guest at the residence 
of Mr. Van Cisco at Mallugin's Grove, arose very early one morning 
and departed, taking with him fifty-five dollars belonging to Mr. Cisco, 
who on missing the money brought the telegraph into requisition and 
the thief was captured at Shabbona and brought to Di.xon, where he 
was placed in custody. 

Wx\R RECORD. 

In sending troops to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, 
Brooklyn was not behind her sister townships. She was prompt in 
responding to her country's call. Scarcely had the echoes of the first 
rebellions cannon-shot died away, when her patriotic people, filled 
with indignation at this insult to their country's flag, joined in the 
universal cry, " the Union forever." In 1861, when the great yawning 
chasm opened between the north and south, upon one side of which 
was heard tiie rumbling of cannon and the mighty tread of armies 
marching under the old banner of the stars, keeping step to the strains 
of "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail Columbia,'' and upon the other 
might}' hosts were advancing to the conflict under the flag of secession 
— in this, the darkest hour in our nation's history, the citizens of 
Brooklyn township did their part toward administering a terrible 
rebuke to southern arrogance and treason. Her sons took part in most 
of the great struggles of the war, and some of them still lie by the 
shores of the Atlantic, whose waves sing a wild requiem by their lonely 
graves. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Ja^ies p. JonN.SToN, West Brooklyn, born in Brooklyn township, 
Lee county, in 1851, is a son of O. P. Johnston, jr., who was one of 
the pioneer settlers in the township. Received most of liis early edu- 
cation in Lee county. In 1867 he attended two terms at Douglas 
University, in Chicago. In 1868 he embarked in the drug business, on 
the corner of State and Twenty-second streets, in that city. In 1869 
he returned again to Lee county, where he has since been engaged in 



BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP. 431 

farming and stock raising. He was married in 1873, to Miss Annie D. 
Wellman, a native of Pennsylvania. 

Daniel Miller, Mendota, was born in Somerset county, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1822, where he resided until fourteen years of age. In 1836 
he went to "Wayne county, Ohio, were he resided four years, after 
which he returned to Pennsjdvania and remained until 1844, again re- 
turned to Wayne county, Ohio, and after living there eleven years 
came to Lee county and bought land in the N.E. J Sec. 33, Brooklyn 
township. In 1873 was elected supervisor of Brooklyn township, 
which office he has held since that time. He was married in 1843, to 
Miss Elizabeth Lewis, a native of Pennsylvania, and who died in 1848. 
He was again married in 1869, to Miss Leah Gittinger, also a native of 
Pennsylvania. He is father of twelve children, ten of whom are living. 

Halsey H. Miller, Compton, was born in Fredericktown, Knox 
county, Ohio, May 8, 1847. In 1851 he moved from there with his 
father, Harmon E. Miller. He received his early education at Mount 
Gilead, Ohio. In 1856 he came with his father's family to La Salle 
county. In 1861 he went to Linden, where he attended school until 
1863. In April of that year he enlisted in Co. K, 38th 111. Vols., 
which regiment was stationed on the frontiers of Kansas and Missouri. 
He was discharged in October 1864, when he returned home and 
worked on his father's farm until 1868. In that year he began to work 
for the Fox River Horse Collar Company, with whom he was engaged 
until 1870. In June, 1871, he entered the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy office at Dayton, as student operator, and in the latter part 
of the same year took charge of the office at Yorkville, Illinois, as 
operator and ticket agent. He remained there six weeks, after which 
he took charge of the depot at Fox station. He remained in this place 
until 1872, when he came to Compton, where he for a time constituted 
the entire population. Mr. Miller was the first police magistrate in the 
village, which office he still holds, and is also local editor of tlie 
"Compton Record." He was married in 1870, to Rhody I. Dominy, 
a native of La Salle count}'. 

Samuel P. Faiechilds, was born in Queensbuiy, Warren county, 
New York, in 1801. In 1836 he moved to Canada, where he 
was for eighteen years engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1854 
he came to Lee county and bought land in N.W. J Sec. 5, where he 
has since resided. Mr. Fairchild was married in 1825, to Miss Wilmot 
Ogden, a native of New York state. He is father of ten children, six 
of whom are living. Four of his sons enlisted in the Union army 
during the rebellion. Samuel enlisted in May 1861, in Co. C, 13th 
111. Inf ; David O. enlisted in the 13th III. Inf., Co. C ; Ogden enlisted 
in the 13th III. ; Lewis enlisted in August 1862, in Co. K, 76th 111. Inf. 
26 



432 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

A. V. Christianck, Compton, was bom in Sclienectady county, New 
York, in 1S08. In 1817 he moved with liis father, Evart Cliristiance, 
to tiie city of Schenectady. Mr. Christiance received most of his early 
education in tiiis t.-it\', and at an early age was apprenticed to a wagon- 
maker, and served six and a lialf years' apprenticeship. He resided in 
Schenectady until 1829. In tliat year he came west to visit his brother. 
He returned in the same 3'ear and bought out the business of his former 
employer, which he carried on about three years. By this time his 
health, which had been very poor, began to grow worse, and his phy- 
sician advised him to come west, and he accordingly moved to Lee 
county in 1835, and bought land in N.E. J and part of the N.W. ^ 
Sec. 3 in Brooklyn township. At that time the surrounding forests 
abounded in game of all kinds, and there were but two other settlers 
in the township. Roving bands of Indians frequently passed iiis cabin, 
and he became quite familiar witii the old Indian chief Shabbona, who 
was an occasional visitor at his home. He frequently had as guests 
the notorious Fox and Birch, and also the Mormon propliet, ,To Smith. 
Mr. Christiance is father of sixteen children, five of wiiom are living. 
Four of his sons responded to their country's call and engaged in the 
great struggle against disunion and slavery. James enlisted in the 
13th 111. Inf., and George W., William and Cornelius enlisted in 
Cheney's battery. The latter-named son was the first white child born 
in Brooklyn townsliip. Mr. Christiance is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, with which he united in 1870; is also a member of 
Masonic Lodge No. 282, at Compton. He is one of the landmarks, in 
Brooklyn township, and has been closely identified witl> its history 
from its organization to the present day. 

Alexander Gil.moke, Compton, was born in tlie city of New York, 
in 1826. His father, John Gilmore, removed to Miciiigan in 1830 ; 
resided in that state until June 183.5, when he removed to Lee county 
and bought a claim from Zachariah Maliugin in N.W. J Sec. 2. Alex- 
ander received most of his education in an old log school-house that 
stood a short distance north of the cemeter}' at Mallugin's Grove. Mr. 
Gilmore was married in 1S55, to Miss Mary L. Frost, a native of 
Maine. His first wife died in 1865, and his next choice was Miss 
Eliza Fisk. He is father of ten children, eight of whom are living ; 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united 
in 1845. Mr. Gilmore is one of the oldest settlers in Leo county and 
is also one of her most respected citizens. 

Oliver P. Johnston, West Brooklyn, was born in Erie county. 
New York, in 1812. In 1821 he removed with his father, Oliver 
Johnston, to Sangamon county, Illinois, six miles from Springfield, 
which at that time consisted of two stores and three dwellings. Tiiev 



BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP. 433 

remained there four years, and tlien removed to Logan county, where 
they resided eight years. At the end of that time Oliver P. removed 
to La Salle county and remained one year and then went to De Kalb 
county. In 1838 he came to Lee county and took a claim in S.E. J of 
N.E. i Sec. 5, in Brooklyn township. He helped erect the first dwell- 
ing built in Wyoming township. Mr. Johnston was quite well 
acquainted with the Indian chief Shabbona, wliose name is familiar to 
the early settlers of northern Illinois. He was at different times 
strongly urged to join the banditti who infested the country in early 
days, but on each occasion respectfully declined. He kept a hotel in 
Mallugin's Grove for twenty years, and during that time had many 
unpleasant experiences incident to hotel-keeping in early days. Mr. 
Johnston was married in 1834:, to Miss Elizabeth Ross, a native of Vir- 
ginia, and is father of six children. He has been one of the most 
successful farmers in Lee county and is now the possessor of over two 
thousand acres of land, the fruits of many years of economy, hardship 
and toil. 

Benjamix F. Holdeen, wagon-maker, Compton, was born in 
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1823. He resided in that state un- 
til he was nineteen years of age. In the fall of 1841 he came to Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin ; at that time the population of that city numbered 
about 500 souls. He remained there until the following spring, when 
he together with two companions walked to Chicago, a distance of 
ninety miles. While in Chicago he worked in the first sash and blind 
factory erected in the city, which stood on South Water street. In 
1850 he began working at carpentering in the capacity of contractor, 
and continued until 1862, when he enlisted in the S9th 111. Inf., which 
regiment took part in the great battles of Stone River, Mission Ridge, and 
others equally severe, and returned to the north crowned with the lau- 
rels of a grateful nation. Mr. Holdren was discharged in April 1804, 
and returned to Mallugin's Grove and began working at wagon-making, 
which business he has since followed. He was married in 1848, to 
Miss Zurich Cowen, a native of New Hampshire. 

John F. Clapp, West Brooklyn, was born in Hampshire county, 
Massachusetts, in 1835. He resided there until he was nineteen years 
of age. In 1854 he came to Bureau county, Illinois, and engaged in 
the grain business with his uncle, Caleb Cook. In 1857 he came to 
Lee county, and bought land in Amboy township. In 1859 he sold iiis 
property in Lee county and returned to Bureau county, where he re- 
mained two years. At the end of that time he bought land in the 
S.W. i Sec. 16, in Brooklyn township, and since that time has been one of 
the most successful farmers and stock raisers of Lee county. Mr. Clapp 
was married in 1857, to Miss Sarah S. Smith, a native of New York 



434 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

State. lie is the fotlier of six children, four of whom are living. He 
is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which 
he united in 1867. In politics he is a republican. 

John W. Dorx, blacksmith, Compton, was born June 14, 1S16, in 
Morris count}', New Jersey, where he resided until he was twelve years 
of age, when he went to Chemung county, New York, where he remained 
with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. At the age of 
lifteen Mr. Dorn commeuced working at the blacksmith trade. In 
September, 1837, he came to Illinois and located near Marseilles, La 
Salle county, where he farmed for two years. At the end of that time 
he built a shop three miles north of La Salle, and worked at his trade 
there until 1857. In that year he came to Willow Creek township, 
and resided there until 1862, when he located in Mallugin's Grove, 
where he has since resided. He was first married in 1S36, to Miss 
Elizabeth Reeser, who died in 1838. He married again in the fall of 
the same year, to Miss Lovisa Rood. His second wife died in 1850. 
He was again married in September 1850, to Elvira Parker, a native 
of Indiana. He is the father of five children, three of whom are liv- 
ing. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which 
he united in 1837. Although Mr. Dorn is sixty-five years of age he is 
still hale and hearty, and swings a hammer as dexterously as he did in 
the palmiest days of his youth. 

James P. Anglemier, furniture dealer, Compton, was born in Mon- 
roe county, Pennsylvania, in 1S48. At the age of twent^'-two he came 
to Willow Creek township, Lee county, where he worked at the carpen- 
ter trade until 1879, when he embarked in the furniture business at 
Compton, where he is doing a Nourishing business, and is one of the 
most popular business men in the village. Mr. Anglemier was mar- 
ried in 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Kettley, a native of Lee county. 

Samuel W. Caknahan, farmer, Compton, was born in Montour 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1840. lie came with his father, Samuel Car- 
nahan, to Lee county in 1848. His father bought land in N.E. i Sec. 
10, Brooklyn township. !Mr. Carnahan received most of his early 
education in Lee county. He remained at home with his father until 
twenty-five years of age, and then went to farming for himself. His 
father took quite a prominent part in political and other public affairs 
while living, and died leaving a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances to mourn his loss. Samuel W. is a member of Masonic lodge 
No. 282, at Compton, of which he has been a prominent member for 
some years. He was married in 1865, to Miss Celestia Jones, a native 
of New Jersej', and is the father of four children. 

TuoMAS D. YocuM, farmer. West Brooklyn, was born in Colum- 
bia county, Pennsylvania, in 1819. He resided in that state until 1855, 



BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP. 435 

when he came west and located in Sublette township, wliere he remained 
until 1860. In that year he bought land in N.E. ^ Sec. 6, in Brook- 
lyn township, upon which he has since resided. Mr. Yocum was mar- 
ried in August 18i3, to Miss Lena Lemon, a native of Pennsylvania, 
who died in 1845. He was again married in 1849, to Miss Rachael 
Steadman, also a native of Pennsylvania. His second wife died in 
1878. Mr. Yocum is the father of two children : Francis M., born 
March 1851, and Lena Ellen, December 14, 1856. In religion Mr. 
Yocum is a Universalist, and in politics a democrat. 

Samuel Akgeaves, farmer, Compton, was born in Lancashire, 
England, in 1825. His parents came to America when he was four 
years of age, and located in Essex county, New York, where they 
remained si.x years. In this country Mr. Argraves received his early 
education. In 1835 the family removed to Canada "West and remained 
there until Samuel was twenty-one years of age. Mr. Argraves then 
started out in life for himself He came to Lee connty in 1845 and 
hired out by the month on a farm in Viola township and worked one 
year in this way. In 1846 he entered a claim in S.W. J Sec. 25, in 
that township, erected a dwelling on it, and began the great battle of 
life single-handed and alone. The first furniture he had in his house 
was mostly constructed by his own hands. He says that he and his 
wife were as happy in their rude little home a& though it had been a 
marble palace. In 1850 Mr. Argraves was stricken with the "gold 
fever " and accordingly set out for California by wagon. Soon after 
reaching "the land of promise" he embarked in the mining business, 
from which he realized enough to give him a fair start in the world. 
He spent two years in that state and then returned home by way of 
New Orleans. While absent his wife became very destitute, but 
owing to the kindness of Mr. John Gil more and William Guthrie she 
was well supplied with the necessaries of life until Mr. Agraves' return) 
when thej' were repaid for their kind deeds, for which he still feels 
very grateful. Mr. Argraves enlisted in 1865 in Co. I, 15th 111. Inf., 
and was in the service eight months. He was married in 1845, to 
Miss Martha Miller, a native of Canada West, and is the father of 
four children. 

MiNOE M. AvEKV, merchant, Compton, was born in Wayne county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1845. He resided there until nine years of age, when 
he removed with his father to Lee county. Mr. Avery received most 
of his education in Lee county, where he resided until 1865. In that 
year he enlisted in Co. I, 15th 111. Inf., which regiment went to New 
York city, thence to Morehcad eit}'. North Carolina, and finally joined 
Sherman's army at Goldsboro. At Raleigh Mr. Aver}' witnessed the 
surrender of Johnston's army. He was married in 1867, to Miss 



436 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Angelina Argraves, a native of Lee county. Mr. Aveiy has been en- 
gaged in the dry-goods and grocery business in Compton since the 
laying out of the village. lie is a man of broad, liberal views upon 
all subjects, public-spirited and enterprising, a desirable citizen, a pop- 
ular merchant, and we predict for him a bright and prosperous future. 

Anduew J. Caenahan, merchant, West Brooklyn, was born in 
1816, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. He resided in that county 
until 1816. He received his education at the Danville College. Mr. 
Carnahan came to Lee count}' in 1850 and bought land on which 
Carnahan station now stands. Ho was engaged in tanning until 1872. 
Through his influence a railroad station was established on his land) 
where he built an elevator, flou ring-mill, saw-mill, and store building. 
Since that time he has done an extensive business in dry-goods, grain 
and stock. Mr. Carnahan has been justice of the peace for sixteen 
years. He was married in ISSi, to Miss Elizabeth Holden, also a native 
of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
He is the father of nine children, six of whom are living. 

Lewis Compton, farmer, Compton, was born in Luzerne county, 
Penns^-lvania, in 1847, where he resided until nine years of age. In 
March, 1856, he came with his father's family to Lee connty, where he 
followed the occupation of farming until 1863, when he enlisted in 
Co. L, 17th 111. Cav., and served until June lS6i, at which date he 
was discharged. He was married in 1866, to Laura L. Covey. He is 
father of five children. 

Hiram Caenahan, physician, Compton, was born June 10, 1830, 
in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until eighteen 
years of age, when he came with his father's family to Lee connty. 
In 18-18 his father, Samuel Carnahan, bought land in S. ^ of E. J and 
K. i of S.E. ^ Sec. 10, and afterward the remainder of the S. ^ of that 
section. The doctor resided with his father until 1855, in which year 
he went to Chicago and attended two terms in the Rush Medical Col- 
lege. In 1857 he was married to Miss Sarah Christiance, and shortly 
afterward, in the same year, moved to Floyd county, Iowa, where he 
practiced two years. In the fall of 1859 he brought his family to Lee 
county, and again returned to Chicago, resumed his studies in the 
Eush Medical College, and graduated under the auspices of that insti- 
tution on February 16, 1860. In that year he commenced practicing 
in MalUigin's Grove, where he remained until 1875, when he moved 
to Compton, where he has since resided. The doctor is a staunch 
icpublican and has taken quite an active part in politics. He is the 
father of nine children, four of whom are living. 

David Holduen, fanner, Compton, was born in Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1827. He learned the carpenter trade in that county, 



NELSON TOWNSHIP. 437 

and came to Chicago in 1848, bringing a kit of carpenter's tools. 
While in Chicago Mr. Holdren worked on the old Tremont House 
that was destroyed in the great fire. At that time there were very 
few buildings west of the river. He worked in Chicago three months, 
and then went to RockFord, Illinois, and remained there two years, at 
the end of which time he returned to Pennsylvania, and was married 
to Miss Lucretia McCoy. He remained in Pennsylvania until 1863. 
In tliat year he came to Lee county. In 1865 he enlisted in the 15th 
111. Inf., and served until the close of the war. He then returned home 
and worked at his trade until 1876. In that year he went on a farm 
which he liad bought in 1869. Since 1876 he has been engaged in 
farming and stock raising. He is a member of Masonic lodge No. 282. 



NELSON TOWNSHIP. 

Tliis township is bounded on the east by South Dixon, on the south 
by Harmon, on the north and west by Rock river and Wiiitesides county. 
The soil is sandy and not so productive as in some other portions of the 
county, and consequently was not settled as earl3^ The principal prod- 
ucts are corn, wheat, oats, barley and rye. The land is nearly all 
tillable and devoted to grain raising. The fanners of Nelson do not 
devote as much of their attention to grazing and stock raising as do the 
people in some portions of the county. Her people are a quiet, well- 
to-do class of farmers, and intelligent, enterprising and patriotic. Polit- 
ically the township is republican, yet as a rule her citizens are rather 
independent, and do not so far forget the welfare of the common 
country as to allow party prejudice to cause them to overlook errors 
and corruption simply because they exist in their own part}'. They do 
not believe in permitting a scoundrel to evade justice simply because 
he bears a party trade-mark. Neither do they believe that patriotism 
is confined to party lines. They are broad-minded enough to see that 
a man whose lot is cast in America, who has a home on her soil, whose 
father and mother lie side by side under the sod made free by patriotic 
blood, whose children are taught to lisp the names of Washington and 
Lincoln, regardless of his political opinion, is as deeply interested in the 
common welfare of the nation as themselves. 

The earliest settler in Nelson township was Luther Stone, who 
came in 1836 from Erie county. New York, and located on Sec. 29. 
Burrel and Samuel Stone, who are still residents of the township, are 
sons of Luther, and shared with their father the dangers and 
hardships of pioneer life. In the winter of 1837 Burrel, his brother 
Samuel, and their father, were getting home a supply of wood from 



438 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Scott's Grove, eight miles south of Bnrrel's present residence. During 
the father's absence with a load of wood a snowstorm of unnsnal 
severity came on. Alone in the timber, without shelter or food, the 
bojs became alarmed and saw that something must be done or tliey 
would perish in the storm. The snow came down in such quantities 
as to darken tlie air. The wind roared through the leafless branches 
of the forest and night was coming on. With this gloom}- prospect, 
together with that of passing the nigiit in the forest, filled their hearts 
with dismay, and they set out in a westerly direction, hoping to find a 
deserted cabin that stood aljout two miles distant. Fortunately, aftoi- a 
long search, they came in view of the siianty, which, although in a very 
dilapidated condition, afforded them a shelter from the merciless storm. 
With the aid of some tow they succeeded in making a lire with their 
guns, and for three days were cooped up in that gloomy prison, sub- 
sisting during their imprisonment on a coon the}' had shot in the forest. 
At the end of that time the storm subsided, so that they were enabled 
to make their waj' home. At another time, in the winter of 1S-J:2, 
Burrel was drivinj; home from Dixon. A few scattering: flakes of snow 
were falling when he started, which soon developed into a howling 
blizzard. Owing to the density of the falling siiow darkness came 
on earlier than usual, and Burrel lost his way in the blinding storm. 
Knowing that if he did not keep himself and horses in motion death 
would be certain, he kept the horses going around in a circle until day- 
break, when he found to his surprise that he was within a short dis- 
tance of home. 

The first supervisor of the township was Abner Coggswell. The 
first justices of the peace were Daniel Uhl and George Jones; first 
assessor, Michael Troutman ; first collector, R. Ilohry Ileaton, all of 
whom were elected in 1860, in which year the town was organized. 

When the rebellion broke out Nelson township furnished her quota 
of troops without a draft, and deserves great credit for the prompt 
manner in which she responded to the call of her country. She fur- 
nished troops for the 13th, 3-tth and 75th 111. regiments. The only 
church in the township is Zion's Evangelical Lutheran, which society 
was organized February 23, 1867, with 58 members. The first elders 
were Conrad Hartman and Daniel Uhl ; deacons, Lewis F. Long, 
Gerhart Missman. The first pastor was Rev. A. A. Trimper; the 
second, Ephraim Miller, who was made pastor in September 1871, and 
served until February 20, 1875. The next pastor was the Rev. J. 
P. Sanderson, wiio was elected pastor March 29, 1875, and served 
until October 1877. Rev. J. W. Henderson took charge of the con- 
grcgation November 1, 1877, and served until April 1, 1879. A. 
J. B. Kast became pastor June 15, 1877, and still presides. 



NELSON TOWNSHIP. 439 

The church building now occupied by the congregation was erected 
in 1880, at a cost of $3,500, on the land of Conrad Hartnian. The 
present elders are Thomas Clayton and Jacob Harden, and the deacons 
are Gerhart Missnian and S. G. Cook. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Abner Coggswell, farmer. Nelson station, son of John and Re- 
becca Coggswell, was born in Oneida county, New York, where he 
resided with his parents until 18i3. In that year he came to Lee 
county and bought land in Sec. 30, Nelson township. Mr. Coggswell 
served as road commissioner four years, when Nelson and South and 
East Dixon townships were one, and was the first supervisor of Nelson 
township. He was married June 10, 1838, to Miss Phalinda Hawley, 
who died in 1860. He was again married in October 1861, to Mrs. 
Rachel Ferguson, a native of New York state. Politically he is a re- 
publican, with which party he united in its infancy. 

Ubiah Geoovee, farmer, Dixon, son of George and Pheba Groover, 
was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1818. When Uriah 
was nine years of age his father, with his family, removed to Berks 
county, where they remained nine years. In 1836 the family removed 
to Amherst county, Virginia. After remaining here one year Uriah 
returned to Columbia county and apprenticed to a carpenter. After 
working two years as an apprentice he went to Danville, Montour 
county, where he worked at his trade until the spring of 1854. In that 
year he came to Dixon, where he again worked at his trade for some 
time. In 1857 he bought land in Dixon tovt^nship, which he sold in 
1865 and bought in Sec. 26, Nelson township. In 1862 his son Joseph 
enlisted in Co. A, 75th 111. Inf In 1861 his son James enlisted in the 
12th 111. Cav. and started to join his regiment. He was taken suddenl}^ 
ill at Vicksburg and died in the hospital in November following. Mr. 
Groover was married in 1812, to Miss Catharine Ritzs, also a native of 
Columbia county. His first wife, Catharine, died in December, 1862, 
and in 1868 he was again married, to Elizabeth Kelly. He is the father 
of twelve children, nine of whom are living. He is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1863. 

William Covert, farmer, Dixon, was borii in Seneca count}'. New 
York, May 27, 1824, where he resided until fourteen years of age, when 
he went to Cuj-ahoga county, Ohio, and remained about four years. At 
the end of that time he returned to Seneca county and remained there 
until 1858. In that je&r lie came west and located in McHenry 
county, Illinois, where he resided five years. He then removed to 
Cook county, where he remained a short time, after which he removed 
to Lee county and bought land in S.E. ^ of S.E. i Sec. 26, where he 



440 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

bas since resided. He was married in 1849, to Miss Mary Geer, a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, witli wiiicli lie united in 1S56. 

Chakles F. HrBBAHD, farmer, Dixon, son of Rugglesand Catherine 
Hubbard, was born in New York city, in 1817. He resided with his 
parents in that city till nineteen years of age. He received his early edu- 
cation in the city, and in 1829 was sent to liennington, Vermont, where 
he attended school three years, and was a class-mate of Gen. Robert 
Marc'3' and Gov. Cornell. After having completed his education he 
returned to the cit}- and was engaged as clerk for an importing mer- 
chant. In 1837 he left New York for the Rocky mountains, in com- 
pany with his brother-in-law, William Graham. They came from New 
York to Pittsburgh by canal, thence down the Ohio b}- steamboat to 
Cairo, and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, which at that time was but 
a struggling village in the heart of the great frontier. On their 
arrival at that place they found that the Santefe wagon train had 
departed several days before, and not caring to embark alone on a 
journey so full of peril, thej' abondoned the idea and took a boat 
for Galena. After remaining here a short time they went across the 
country to Dixon, for the purpose of spending a few days in hunting. 
This country at that time he describes as being a paradise, the clear, 
sparkling river abounding in fish. The green hills adorned with 
flowers of every hue formed a scene well calculated to fascinate the 
young travelers just out of the city, with its great, gloomy buildings 
and dusty streets. Mr. Hubbard, being desirous of making his home 
in this beautiful land of flowers, purchased a claim from John Dixon 
in what is now the N.E. ^ Sec. 11, in Nelson township, where he 
cast his lot. His jiresent residence is situated on a blufl" overlooking 
the river, on whose banks he expects to pass the remainder of his life. 
Among all the many pioneers of Lee county whom the writer has in- 
terviewed we have not found one more interesting in conversation 
than Mr. Hubbard. He is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, 
broad-minded and liberal in his views, and possesses the respect of all 
who know him. He was married in 1844, to Miss Helen Graham, also 
a native of New York city. He is father of live children, one son 
and four daughters. 

Samuel Stone, Rock Falls. Luther Stone, father of Samuel, was 
born in Massachusetts in 1795. He was married in 1817, to Miss 
Tamina Warren. In ISoO lie came to Lee county and located on the 
banks of Rock river, in what is now Nelson township. Here he 
erected a large log hotise, over which he presided in the capacity of 
landlord, keeping travelers, which were then becoming quite numerous. 
The names of Lutiier Stone's children are as follows: Willard, born 



NELSON TOWNSHIP. 441 

in New York, February 4, 1819 ; married July 10, 1840 ; died Febru- 
ary 13, 1841. Henry B., born January 12, 1821, in New York state ; 
married April 27, 1851. Samuel, born December 18, 1824, in New 
York state; married Novembers, 1843. Alonzo Stoue, born March 
1, 1827; died at Dixon, October 9, 1847. Savina, born January 21, 
1830; married March 10, 1853. Albert Stone, born March 11, 1834. 
Samuel Stone is one of the oldest residents in Nelson township, and 
his name is closely interwoven with her early history. In 1879 a 
large barn belonging to him, and containing fifty tons of hay and all 
of his machinery, was burned to the ground. 

Jacob Harden, farmer, son of George and Hester Harden, was 
born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, within fort}' rods of Mason 
and Dixon's line, where he remained with his father's family until 
twelve years of age, when they moved to Alleghany county, Mary- 
land. At the age of twety-nine Jacob returned to Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, and remained three years. He then came west and 
located in Lee county, purchasing land S.E. ^ Sec. 23 in Nelson town- 
ship. In 1880 Mr. Harden was elected supervisor of the township, 
and reelected in 1881. He is a member of the Lutheran church, with 
which he united at an early age. In politics he is a democrat. 

Lewis F. Long, Nelson Station, son of Henry and Elizabeth 
Long, born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, where he 
remained until twenty-five years of age. In 1856 he came to Lee 
county and located in Nelson township. In 18G5 he bought land in 
E. ^ N.W. i Sec. 28 ; since that time he has been engaged in farming 
and stock-raising. In 1869 Mr. Long was elected supervisor of the 
township, and was again elected in 1870. He was married in 1853, to 
Miss Sevilla Haas, a native of Pennsylvania, and is father of seven 
children. Mr. Long united with the Lutheran church in 1865, and 
since that time has been a prominent member. In politics he is a 
republican. 

Albert Hubbard, Dixon, farmer, son of Walter and Lucinda Hub- 
bard, was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1824, where he 
resided until thirty 3'ears of age. His grandfather, Judd Hubbard, was 
one of the pioneer settlers of Berkshire county, having located there 
prior to 1800. His father was one of the militia ordered to Boston in 
1814 to repel an expected invasion. At the ago of thirty years Albert 
came to Lee county and located in Nelson townsliip; in 1879 was 
elected justice of the peace, which office he held two years; married in 
1850, to Miss Hanna Catharine Hunter, 'also a native of Berkshire 
county ; is father of five children, four of whom are living. Politically 
Mr. Hubbard is a republican, having joined the party in its infancy. 



442 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

His brother Alouzo, who came west with him, went to Colorado in 
1874, and has become quite wealtiij. 

Elijah Walker, Dixon, son of Peter P. H. and Sarah Walker, was 
born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 183'2, where he i-emained 
until twenty-seven years of age ; in 18G0 came to Lee county and bought 
land in N.W. ^ of See. 25 ; married in 1852, to Miss Joanna Fricca, a 
native of Hanover, Germany, and is father of three children. Mr. Wal- 
ker started out in the world with nothing, and by long years of persist- 
ent toil has accumulated a large amount of property, and is one of the 
model farmers of Lee county. He is in his political belief a democrat, 
yet is not so narrow in his opinions as to overlook wrongs in misdoings 
in his party, and does not hesitate to denounce such. Mr. Walker is 
kind and courteous among his neighbors. Liberal in his views on all 
questions, yet firm in his convictions, he is a citizen of merit and an 
ornament to the communitv in which he resides. 



HARMON TOWNSHIP. 

This township is bounded on the south bj' Hamilton, on the east by 
Marion, on the north by Nelson, and on the west by Whitesides county. 
As yet the land is not as productive as in some parts of the county, 
being very flat and inclined to be marshy, but as drains are being made 
in all parts of the township it is rapidly improving, and when thoroughly 
drained will be as good as the average. Owing to the sterility of the 
soil the township is sparsely settled, the present population not being 
more than about six hundred. The inhabitants are largely Irish. 

In early times, owing to the numerous swamps and ponds, ducks 
and geese were very plentiful, and hunting was a favorite pastime 
among the early settlers. The first settler was John D. Rosebrook, 
who purchased a large tract of land in the eastern part of the township. 
Among the settlers who came soon after Mr. Rosebrook were Louis 
Hullinger, Thomas Sntton, John L. Porter and James Porter, jr. 
The first school-house in the township was built on Sec. 23 in 1856. 
The first school was held at the residence of Mrs. Tuttle and conducted 
by her daughter, Vienna Tuttle. 

The first supervisor of the township was Mitchell Rosebrook. 

The village of Harmon, situated on the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy railroad, was laid out in 1871, on land owned by A. Kenyon. 
The present population of the village is about three hundred. Sur- 
rounded by a wide scope of country, which, owing to the industry of 
its enterprising citizens, is rapidly improving, Harmon promises to 
become one of the thriving inland villages of Lee county. It has two 



HAEMOK TOWNSHIP. 443 

extensive elevators, wliich receive large quantities of grain, three dry- 
goods and grocery stores, one jewelry store, three blacksmith shops, 
one livery stable and one hotel, one creamery and three churches, the 
Methodist Episcopal, Weslej'an Methodist and Catholic. 

The Weslej'an Methodist church was accepted by the Illinois con- 
ference September 20, 18G2. The first pastor of this organization was 
the Rev. J. Pinkney ; Secretary, L. Wakeman ; the present pastors 
are the Rev. J. P. Spalding and William Clalworthy. ,Tiie present 
membership is si.xty-four. Tlie trustees are Levi Jennes, W. L. Smith, 
A. Berlin. 

The Methodist Episcopal society was organized in 1871. The first 
pastor was the Rev. Rice, whose initials the writer was unable to ascer- 
tain. The first class-leader was James Backus ; the present pastor is 
the Rev. Edward Breen, who took charge in October 1879. In March, 
1881, the following-named persons were elected as trustees for the 
purpose of building a church : A. B. Smith, W. E. Mechem, J. U. 
Fry, W. H. Kline, Daniel Swartz. 

Silas Ackeet, Harmon, son of Edward and Sarah Ackert, was 
born in Ulster county, New York, in 1836, where he resided until 
nineteen years of age; he then came to Marion township, Lee county, 
and was there engaged in farming. After remaining there nine years 
he removed to Amboy and remained one year, after which he went to 
Woosung, Ogle county, where he worked at his trade (blacksmithing) 
for six years. At the end of this time he removed to Harmon town- 
ship. In 1879 he was elected supervisor of the township, and reelect- 
ed in 1880. Is a member of the Baptist church, with which he united 
in 1869. Married in 1865, to Miss Mary J. Rosebrook, a native of 
New Hampshire. Is father of one child. Politically Mr. Ackert is 
an independent, owing no allegiance to any faction or party. 

George W. Hill, merchant, Harmon, son of George and Margaret 
Hill, was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1848. His father was 
here engaged in manufacturing soap. When George was fifteen years 
of age his father, with his family, removed to Monongahela City, where 
they remained three years ; at the end of that time George went to 
Frostburg, Maryland, and remained two years, and then came to Lee 
county, where he farmed and worked at carpentering until April 1877, 
when he engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business. He was also 
appointed postmaster in that year in the village of Harmon. Mr. Hill 
was married in 1871, to Miss Gula E. Porter, daughter of James Por- 
ter, jr., one of the early settlers of Harmon township. Mr. Hill 
started in business with but a few iumdred dollars of borrowed capital, 
and by close attention to business has placed himself in good circum- 
stances. Mr. Hill is a young man of enterprise and public spirit, and 



444 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

alwaj's enters with enthusiasm into any movement calculated to 
advance the interests of the village or benefit the community. 

John T. Swan, Harmon, son of James G. and Susan Swan, was 
born in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1852. He remained there until 
twenty years of age, when he went to Peru, Illinois, and attended high 
school one year; at the end of that time he came to Harmon and 
engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business. Mr. Swan is one of 
the many prosperous merchants of Lee county. Was married in 1S75, 
to Miss Clara Shelliatner, a native of Lee county. 

Thomas Surrox, f^irmer, Harmon, son of Joseph and Hanna Sut- 
ton, was born on Wheeling Creek, Virginia, in 1820. At the age of 
live years his father, with his family, moved to a point about fifteen 
miles north of Zanesville, Ohio, where he resided two \'ears; from 
there they went to Jackson county, Ohio, and remained until Tliomas 
was seventeen. At this time they sold their farm and located in Hock- 
ing county, Ohio, and remained until 1851:. In that year they re- 
moved to Lee county and bought land in the S. i Sec. 25, Harmon 
township. Mr. Sutton was married in 1840, to Miss Mary Ann Petit, 
a native of Ohio. 

Abner C. Welch, Stone Station, son of Russell and Louisa M. Welch, 
was born in Oneida county. New York, in 1848. In 1856 he went with 
his father's family to Michigan, and received his early education in 
Grandville, in that state. In 1805 Abner removed to Lee county, and 
began farming in Nelson township, where he remained until 1875, 
when he removed to Harmon township and bought land in section 6. 
In 1878 he embarked in the grain and stock business at Stone Station, 
at which he has since been engaged. He was married in 1870, to Miss 
Ada Stone, a native of Lee county. 

Wilson E. Mechem, farmer, Harmon, son of John and Abigail 
Mechem, was born in Belmont count}-, Ohio, where he resided until 
he was twenty-seven years of age, when he removed to Magnolia, Put- 
nam county, Illiudis, where he worked at his trade (carpenter) for three 
years, after which he went to Marshall count}' and resided there from 
1854 to 1868; in that year he removed to Petis county, Missouri, and 
remained five years, then returned to Marshall county and remained 
three years. He then removed to Lee county and bought land in sec- 
tions 22 and 27, in Harmon township. Mr. Mechem is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1870. He 
was married December 31, 1851, to Miss Rlioda Simson, a native of 
Ohio. 

Lewis Hullinger, farmer, Stone Station, son of Frederic and 
Catharine Hullinger, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 
1820. Wiien Lewis was seventeen years of age his father's family re- 



HARMON TOWNSHIP. 445 

moved to Baltimore county, Maryland, where they remained aboutfive 
years. At the end of this time they went to Bradford county, Penn- 
sylvania. At the ao;e of fourteen Lewis was apprenticed to a black- 
smith at a place called Flint Stone, in Alleghany county, Maryland. 
He served five years' apprenticeship, after wliich he embarked in busi- 
ness alone. He carried on a shop at Polish Mountain, three and a half 
miles east of Flint Stone, for four years. From that place he removed 
to Mount Savage, in the same county, where he remained until the 
spring of 1855. In that year he came to Lee county and bought land 
in S.W. ^ Sec. 7, in Harmon township. Mr. Hullinger was married 
in 18i7, to Miss Snsan Long, a native of Pennsylvania, and is the father 
of nine children, six of whom are living. He is the present supervisor 
of the township. 

W. H. Allen, farmer. Stone Station, son of John and Mercy 
Allen, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Jul}' 18, 1824. The 
famil}' remained there until William was ten years of age, when they 
removed to Erie county. New York, where they remained until 1839. 
In that year William, actuated by a desire to see some of the sights 
and wonders of the boundless West, left home and started on a journey 
toward the setting sun. Before his return he traveled over nearlj^ all 
of the United States east of the Mississippi from Canada to New Or- 
leans. After an absence of two years he returned to his old New Eng- 
land home and attended school three years at Dartmouth. In 1847 
lie sailed as a common hand on a merchant vessel that left the port of 
New York bound for Vera Cruz, and was in sight of that famous old 
city during the bombardment. From Vera Cruz he returned to New 
Orleans and was there made captain of a vessel engaged in the coast- 
ing trade, and was engaged in that business for several years. In 1848 
he again returned to New Bedford and remained there until 1852. In 
that year he sailed on a whaling vessel, occnpying the position of first 
mate. On the first voyage he was absent two years, during which 
time he was in nearly all of the important seaport towns in the world. 
Mr. Allen has in his possession a large diary, or sailor's log-book, kept 
by himself during his life on the ocean wave, containing sketches de- 
scriptive of the people he saw in the different countries he visited, also 
containing descriptions of the countries, records of every storm en- 
countered, of every whale captured, etc. In perusing this time-worn 
book the writer found sketches dated at Melbourne, Australia, Hong 
Kong, China, Gibralter, and many places of historical interest, among 
which was some notes written at the island of St. Helena. While 
here Mr. Allen visited the burial-place of the dead conqueror, who 
had once electrified the world by his brilliant military movements, and 
who ended his days on that lone, barren isle with no loving hand to 



446 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

caress him, no voice to bid him a last farewell, save that of the wild 
waves as they dashed against the bleak and rocky shore. Mr. Allen 
spent abont fourteen years of his life on the sea, and has now changed 
his occupation from that of plowing the billowy deep to that more 
humble and less exciting vocation of tilling the soil. He came to 
Lee county in 1864 and bought land in K.W. i of Sec. IS, Harmon 
townsiiip. He was married in 1859, to Miss Caroline Dean, also a 
native of Massachusetts. 

Abraham Berlin, farmer, Harmon, son of Abraham and Maria 
Berlin, was born in Xorthampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, 
where he remained until tifteen years of age. His father died in 1847. 
In 1853 Abraham came with his mother to Stephenson county, Illinois, 
where they resided two years and then removed to Bureau county, 
Illinois. They resided in that count}' live years, and then came to Lee 
county and bought land in S.W. ^ Sec. 26. Mr. Berlin is a member 
of the Wesleyan Methodist church, with which he united in 1SG5; was 
married iii 1863, to Miss Nancy Jane Swan, a native of Kentucky, and 
is the father of five children. 

Asa B. Smith, farmer, Harmon, son of Obediah and Lorena Smith, 
was born in Norwich count}', Connecticut, in 1822, where he resided 
until twenty-one years of age. His father was engaged in the clothing 
business in New London, but as Asa's tastes did not run in that direc- 
tion he was apprenticed to a stone-cutter at an early age, and served 
until the fall of 1843. In the spring of 1814 he went into the city of 
Buffalo, where he worked five years at his trade. At the end of that 
time he went to far\ning, and was engaged in tilling the soil until 1855. 
In February of that year he came to Lee county and located in Di.xon 
township, where he was for three years engaged in burning lime and 
afterward in farming. In the spring of 1861 he removed to Ogle 
county and remained there until January of the same year, when he 
returned to Di.xon township, and was engaged in farming and ferrying 
until the spring of 1865, when he moved to Harmon township, and 
since that time has been a prominent citizen of that township. Mr. 
Smith was married in January 1846, to Miss Sarah M. Rogers, a 
native of Erie county, New York, and is the father of three children, 
two sons and one daughter. In 1871 was elected justice of the peace, 
which oflice he held for a period of ten years. Politically Mr. Smith 
is a democrat, although quite liberal in his views on all questions, and 
a very desirable citizen in any community. 

Jkssk Hktlku, farmer, Dixon, the son of Nathan and Catherine 
(Kulp) Hetler, was born in the township of Dixon, on April 27, 1839. 
His father migrated from Columbia county, Pennsylvania, to Dixon, 
and was one of the oldest settlers in the township ; when he came to 




/ 




BRADFORD TOWNSHIP. 447 

Dixon there were only three log-houses in the city. Jessie received 
his education at the old Bend sciiool-house, and worked on his father's 
farm till the age of twenty-four, when he married Miss Mary E. Beal, 
daughter of Mr. John Beal, of South Dixon, now of Iowa, in which 
latter state Mr. Hetler lived for seven years after his marriage. Re- 
turning to Palmyra, Lee county, he bought a farm of 160 acres, which 
he cultivated successfully for five years, when he sold it and bought in 
Nelson township, December 1, 1879, a homestead of 156 acres, which 
to-day ranks among the best farms in the township, and on which he 
now dwells. His family consists of two boys and three girls, named 
John T. Imogene, Alice Amanda, Nathan and Catherine, aged respect- 
ively sixteen, fourteen, twelve, eight and six years. Mr. Hetler is a 
member of the temperance organization. His first vote was cast for 
Abraham Lincoln. 



BRADFORD TOWNSHIP. 

This originally included T. 21 and half of 22, R. 11 E., of the 4th 
P.M. Its limits remained unchanged till the separation of the north 
halt-township in the organization of Ashton township in 1861. 

The first meeting was held April 1850, at the house of Ralph B. 
Evitts; Elisha Pratt, chairman, and Thomas S. Hulbert, secretary. 
Charles Starks was duly elected moderator and T. S. Hulbert, clerk, and 
both were sworn by Geo. E. Haskell, justice of the peace. The town 
was divided into three road districts. A fence law was passed. Charles 
Starks was elected supervisor, receiving 27 votes ; Ira Brewer, town 
clerk, 19 votes; E. W. Starks, assessor, 18 votes; Samuel S. Starks, 
collector, 29 votes; Ralph B. Evitts, overseer of the poor, 20 votes; 
Sherman Shaw, Stephen Clink and George Yale, highway commission- 
ers, 29, 26 and 28 votes respectively ; Samuel S. Starks and Daniel 
Barber, constables, 27 votes each ; Elisha Pratt and Lafayette Yale, 
justices of the peace, 24 and 21 votes respectively. Jesse Woodruft 
was nominated and elected as the defendant and prosecutor of suits 
of law and equity where the town is interested. On motion it was 
voted that the next meeting be held at R. B. Evitts'. Meetings were 
held at private houses till 1856, when a meeting was held in the school- 
house at Ogle Station (now the village of Ashton). 

Bradford is an excellent townsliip for farming. About three sec- 
tions in the southeast corner consist of marsh or swamp land, used 
only for pasturing. Sec. 5, and a little adjoining land, is flat ; the 
rest of the township is probably equal in natural productiveness to any 
other equal portion of Lee county. The land is in a good state of cul- 
ture and mostly well improved. The inhabitants are German by a 
27 



448 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

good majority. Nearly all of the first occupants of the town, nearly all, 
settled in Lee Center, and thence spread out over the prairie north. 
Some made their claims as soon as they arrived in this locality ; others 
lived at the "Inlet" a year or two before making any claim. Nearly 
all worked their claims before settling on them and building. Mr. 
Whitmore and Siierman Shaw were the first to build houses within 
the limits of Bradford. The house of the former was standing as 
early as the spring of 1839, on land now owned by Mrs. Schott, in the 
western part of the township. In 1840 Shaw built a frame house on the 
N.E. corner of Sec. 31. This building is still standing. Egbert Shaw 
is said to have been the first white child born within the towiisliip. 
Omen Hillison's house was bnilt soon after those mentioned. Several 
claims were made in 1839, and but few, if any, before. In 1838 Charles 
Starks came to Inlet Grove, and the ne.xt year claimed the E. ^N.W. ^ 
of Sec. 32, and the W. ^ N.E. J of the same section. About this time 
the Whipples claimed a short distance north of here. Starks at once 
began breaking his claim, and built and moved on to it in 1842. In 1839 
George and Milo Yale claimed the N.W. ^ Sec. in Bradford. In 
1842 their father, N. C. Yale, moved from Franklin Grove to where 
Jacob Schmucker lives. Sec. 1. Before 1842 Jesse Woodruff settled on 
Sec. 32, R. B. Evitts on Sec. 29, and at about this time C. Bowen 
settled north of Bowen on the same section, and Stephen Clink built 
the stone house on the place where V. Hicks lives, Sec. 33. As early 
as 1845 John Ilotzel was keeping what might be called a bachelors 
hall in a slab shanty on the E. ^ S. W. -J- of Sec. 31, claimed by him two or 
three years before. Hillison also was for several years a bachelor in 
Bradford, and lived in a sod house on the prairie before he put up his 
frame house. In 1842 Elias Hulbert claimed the S. ^ S.E. i of Sec. 19, 
and moved on to it in the fall of the same year. John Owen was an 
early settler on what is now known as Bradford street. 

Many of the first occupants were from Bradford county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and from this circumstance the town took its name. Lewis 
Clapp located quite a number of land warrants at an early period ; and 
much land was bought with money furnished by him to parties many 
of whom would otherwise have been unable to purchase so soon as 
they did. It may be justly said of Mr. Clapp that directly or indirectly 
he did more than any other man for the early development of this 
township. As it now is it presents an appearance of thrift and abund- 
ance. Its population is industrions and peaceful. The town is not 
thickly settled, many of the farms being quite large. Inlet swamp 
covers Sec. 36, nearly all of 35 and 25, besides a little of 24 and 34 in 
the southeastern part; this has no dwellings upon it. 

There are eight school-districts and part of a union district in 



BRADFORD TOWNSHIP. 449 

Bradford. The eiglit school-buildings are fully an average of the coun- 
try school-house, and doubtless the instruction given in them is not 
materially different from work generally done in the country school ; 
and yet the writer cannot dispossess himself of the idea that an over 
industry or greed for "eighties" and "forties" possesses many of the 
foreign-born farmers, to the serious detriment of their children, in that 
mental culture is lacking. 

As early as 1850 meetings of the Evangelical church of Bradford 
were held at the house of John Hotzel, just over the line in China, 
nearly opposite William Ross' place. Hotzel had a room fitted up for 
the purpose, and a Sunday-school was also started. These were the first 
German meetings in the county. The preachers came from Perkins' 
Grove, Bureau county : McLean was the first, "William Kolp was the 
next. Reinhart Grass, John Ascheubrenner, John Hotzel and his fam- 
ily, members of the families of C. Reinhart and Conrad Hotzel were 
among the original members. In 1859 a church was built on Sec. 17 
at a cost of $1,300. In 1874 an addition was made and a steeple 
erected at a further cost of S2,700, making the total about $4,000. The 
present membership is si.xty, all but two of whom live in Bradford 
township. The Sunday-sciiool numbers 125 pupils and 18 offices 
and teachers. The present pastor is Adam Goetshel, who has charge 
of this and another church in Reynolds township. These are in the 
Ashton circuit and Mendota district. All services are in the German 
tongue. The trustees of this church are Reinhart Grass, Peter Eisen- 
berg, Nicholas Killmer, William Ross, and Charles Krug. The first 
trustees were C. Reinhart, R. Grass, and John Ascheubrenner. 

There are two cemeteries within the limits of Bradford. One is 
on Sec. 29, on the southwest corner of the southeast quarter. Here 
between forty and fifty have been interred. The earliest inscription, 
October 25, 1842, is on the stone over the grave of Mrs. Hannah 
Hulbert. Here are the graves of Omen Hillison, who died June 21, 
1853 ; Lucretia Sawyer, wife of C. Sawyer, June 20, 1848 ; Sarah A., 
wife of John Methorn, January 21, 1857 ; Lurany, wife of Elisha Pratt, 
April 9, 1858, aged sixt^'-eight years ; Eliza A., wife of R. B. Evitts, 
February 28, 1877, aged sixty-eight years, six months and twenty-eight 
days; Stephen Clink, August 5, 1858, aged fifty years and ten months; 
Susannah, daughter of M. W. and L. A. Welden, August 17, 1848, 
aged nineteen years and four months. The other is on Sec. 15, a little 
north of C. Gehant's house. There have not been so many burials 
here as in the former, having been opened later, and these are chiefly 
of foreigners. 

The Bradford Ins\irance Company was incorporated March 30, 1869, 
by a special act of the state legislature. Ira Brewer, R. B. Evitts, 



450 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Thomas S. Hiilbert, Cliarles D. Hart, Valentine Hicks, C. F. Starks, 
and George Hulbert were the incorporators. It was to be styled " The 
Fanners' Mutual Fire Insurance Conapany of Bradford, in the county 
of Lee." At the first meeting, held Xoveniber 1869, fifty -four appli- 
cations were received, and fifty-one were appros'ed and signed. Since 
its organization the company has had but three losses, amounting to 
§2,i40. It has had no loss for two years. The number of policies in 
force December 31, 1880, was -±40, amounting to $51)2,190. About 
twenty policies have since been written; making the total risk at this 
writing (July 1881) about 8620,000. These policies are held chiefly 
in Lee county, in the north and eastern parts. A few are held in 
Bureau and Ogle counties. The oflicers of the companj^ are Ira 
Brewer, Samuel Dysart, George A. Lyman, 0. D. Hart, William V. 
Jones, R. Grass, William Ross, managers; Ira Brewer, president; 
Samuel Dysart, secretary; 0. D. Hart, treasurer; William V. Jones, 
general agent. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

William S. Frost, farmer, Lee Center, was born in October 1832. 
His father, Daniel Frost, was born in New Hampshire in 1799. Eulalia 
Frost, his mother, was born in Maine in 1798. In 1837 Daniel Frost 
emigrated from Maine to Illinois. Leaving his family in Morgan county, 
he came to Lee county and built a log house about half a mile north 
and east of the Binghamton mill in Amboy township. The follow- 
ing spring the family came on, and in the fall of 1838 they settled on a 
place about a mile and a half east of Lee Center. In 1852 Mr. Frost 
moved into the village of Lee Center, where he lived till his death, 
October 18G8. His wife, Eulalia Frost, died May 6, 1875. Of his 
eight children six survive him, Charles, Elizabeth (Mrs. Smith), Lydia 
(Mrs. Salsbury), William S., Silas D. and Marcia (Mrs. McKay). 
Mary (Mrs. Gilmore) died October 1865; Almira died March 1875. 
In the winter of 1853-i William Frost went to California and returned 
in the fall of 1858. In the following spring he went again to Califor- 
nia, overland, and remained till the summer of 1861, when he came 
home by way of Panama. At this point of his journey he heard of 
the battle of Bull Run. In May, 1862, he began raising a company, 
which was mustered at Dixon in June. On or about June 1 Mr. 
Frost received his commission as captain of Co. E, 75th 111. Inf This 
was a full company from Sublette and Lee Center. Frank Ells was 
first lieutenant. Tlie companj' left their camp at Dixon September 27, 
1862, and were first engaged at Perryville October 8. Here Co. E lost 
heavily : eleven were killed, twenty-six wounded, and two taken 
prisoners ; Lieutenant Ells was killed and Captain Frost wounded. 



BRADFORD TOWNSHIP. 451 

The latter was removed to the New Albany, Indiana, hospital, where 
he remained two months. He joined his company in the battle of 
Stone river. He was in the engagements at Liberty Gap and Chica- 
maiiga. In October, 1863, the 75th was assigned to the 3rd brigade, 
1st division, 4th Army Corps, General "William Grose commanding. 

Capt. William S. Frost was with his company in the battles ot 
Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and through to Atlanta, 
before which city he was wounded July 23, 1864, in consequence of 
which he was in hospital at Lookout Mountain till October, and then 
was sent home. He was mustered out February 23, 1865, at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, because of physical disabilities. In November, 1865, he 
married Sophia E. Shaw, daughter of Sherman Sliaw. Their issue 
are Frank E., born November 3, 1866 ; Silas D., February 3, 1871 ; 
"William S., September 22, 1872; Melinda S., February 11, 1868; 
Mary A., June 27, 1878. Mr. Frost is now living on Sec. 28, where 
James Phillips settled, having bouglit him out in 1871. He has a farm 
of 400 acres in Sees. 27 and 28. In 1873 he was burned out ; but 
built again immediately, and two 3'ears ago completed his residence, at 
a cost of $4,000. He is chiefly engaged in the raising of and trading 
in stock. He is a Mason, and for several years has been supervisor of 
Bradford. We wish him all the success that his generous nature 
deserves. 

Ira Brewer, farmer, Lee Center, was born in Hampshire county, 
Massachusetts, in 1820. He is the son of Jonas B. and Betsey 
(Miller) Brewer, of English ancestrj'. His father was a farmer and he 
was reared to the same occupation. After he was ten years old he 
received but four terras of schooling of three months each. In 1842 
he was married to Mary Phillips, who was born in Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts, November 1822. In the following year he and his wife 
came west, arriving in Lee Center in June 1843. Here they lived in 
a house previously occupied by Charles Starks, on the place now owned 
by Alva De Wolf The same year Mr. Brewer bought from O. W. 
"Wriglit a claim, "W * N."W. ^ of Sec. 32, Bradford toM-nship, for $40 
in trade; also the E. ^ N.E. ^ of Sec. 31, from Sturdevant, for which, 
with ten acres of timber at "the grove," he paid $100. He afterward 
entered both these claims. In 1845 he build a house, 19x24 feet, on 
his claim, about one hundred rods north of his present dwelling, which 
is situated on the E. i S.E. J of Sec. 31, having built the latter in 
1859. Mr. Brewer now owns ^70 acres in Bradford, Sees. 31 and 32, 
and a large tract in Lee Center township, on Sees. 3, 16, 17 and 23. 
He has had six children, four of whom are living: Louisa, bora 
March 30, 1846 ; George W., April 25, 1848 ; Ella J., December 11, 
1849; Clara A., August 16, 1852; Luna C, August 22, 1854; and 



452 HISTORY OF LEE COUXTY. 

Mary Jane (deceased, aged ten months). Clara A., wife of B. Starks, 
died October 2-lr, 1872. Mrs. Brewer was the oldest in a family of 
eight. Her father died in Massachusetts and her mother in Chippewa 
county, Wisconsin, at the residence of her youngest son. Two of 
Mrs. Brewer's brothers were in the Kansas struggle. One was killed 
there in 1856 and the other lost an arm. In politics Mr. Brewer is a 
greenback republican. He was the first town clerk of Bradford, and 
for several years was supervisor. He with his family belongs to the 
Congregational church. He has in his possession several valuable 
relics: one is a powder-horn used in one of the early Indian wars, 
another is a continental dollar "Printed by Hall & Sellers 1775." 
Mrs. Brewer has an old Gaelic bible brought to this country by her 
grandfather McCiillum more than one hundred years ago. On the 
first cover are written these words: "Malcum McCullum augh this 
book 1772. I am eighteen years old 1772. I have five brethren and 
tue sisters." On the next page is written : "'Malcum McCullum is 
my name; Bradalban is my nation; Ardchoie is my dwelling place, 
my boni habitation 1771. Malcum McCullum augh this new testa- 
ment." On the title-page is inscribed: "Le Balfour, Auld, agus 
Smellie, M,DCC,LXVII." The book is in a good state of preser- 
vation, the only disfigurement being the marks of a wetting it received 
on Its voyage from Scotland. But for lack of space the writer would 
gladly testify to the many excellent qualities of the subjects of this 
sketch. 

LoRiN T. Wellman, farmer, Lee Center, was born in Susquehanna 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1821. He is the son of David and Abagail 
(Taylor) Wellman. His father was descended from one of two brothers 
who came from England about two hundred years ago. David Well- 
man came with his parents to Pennsylvania from Connecticut about 
1808. Jacob Wellman, the grandfather of our subject, was all through 
the revolutionary war. In 18-10 the latter married Waity Hopkins, of 
New York state, and in 1848 came to Lee county, and at first lived 
about one and a half miles west of the village of Lee Center, and sub- 
sequently in the village. His father settled at the same time in Du 
Page county, Illinois. In 1852 Lorin Wellman located a land warrant 
on the N.E. ^ N.E. ^ of Sec. 27, for his father, and at the same time the 
X.W. of Sec. 23 for himself. In the meantime he followed the mason's 
trade till 1856, when he bought his father's property and moved to 
where he is now living. David Wellman having moved to Bradford 
in 1853, and died in August 1S55. Mr. Wellman owns 240 acres of 
land in Bradford, and an improved farm of 219 acres in Lee Center 
township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He is a Mason and a republican, but was a staunch democrat 



BRADFORD TOWNSHIP. 453 

till the democratic platform of 1856 was formulated. His family con- 
sisted of Charles H., William (deceased, aged seventeen years), Dennis, 
Trnman E., Seth A. and Ida M. The first and third of these are mar- 
ried and living in Kansas. Seth A. is married and lives in Indiana. 
Ida M. is the wife of German Lewis. Truman E. Wellman died in 
1864, in his twenty-second year. He was a dwarf, and during his 
entire life was a sufferer from chronic humors and erysipelas. Not- 
withstanding his great affliction, he was remarkably intelligent and 
sprightly, and will long be remembered by all who knew him. 

Haelow a. Williamson, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in 
Addison county, Vermont, January 8, 1830; son of Samuel and 
Sibyl (Delong) Williamson, both of Vermont. Their ancestors were 
early English settlers in that state. Harlow Williamson was the son 
of a farmei', and one of a family of four boys and three girls, all of 
whom are west, except one brother, who lives on the homestead in 
Vermont. The subject of this sketch came to Lee county in 1850 ; 
worked around by the month four years. He bought the N.W. ^ Sec. 
21, Bradford township, from Lewis Clapp, and in 1853 built a house. 
He now owns a farm of 180 acres with good buildings. His house, built 
since " the war," cost him not less than $3,000. In 1857 he married 
Emeline S. Starks, of Lee county. Their family consists of two adopted 
children, Harry and Katie Belle, aged fourteen and seven years respect- 
ively. Mr. W. is a republican in politics, and with his wife belongs 
to the Lee Center Congregational church. He is a careful farmer, and 
liis place presents a tasteful and thrifty appearance. 

Philip Runyan, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in Columbia 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1818; son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Swisher) 
Runyan, both of Pennsylvania. His mother's people were from Vir- 
ginia, and his paternal grandfather was a native of New Jersey. Philip 
was the eldest in a family of twelve, ten of whom are living. He was 
raised a farmer, and enjoyed the benefits of a common schooling. He 
was married March 28, 184-4, to Elizabeth Savage, born September 8, 
1819. Their issue are Anna, born February 1, 1847; Esther, Novem- 
ber 8, 1850 ; Elizabeth, September 10, 1854. In 1849 Mr. Runyan 
located a land warrant on the W. I N.E. i S.E. J N.E.i, and S.E. I 
N.W. i of Sec. 7, Bradford township, and in 1859 came from Pennsyl- 
vania and settled on the same. He has since improved this land, and 
his buildings have cost at least $4,000. Mr. Runyan and his wife are 
members of the Baptist church. He is a member of the Franklin 
Grove Masonic Lodge No. 264, and is also a Royal Arch Mason, Nathan 
Whitney Chapter. Though a democrat, Mr. Runyan has for many 
years held office in a strong republican township. He has been a 
justice of the peace since 1862, and town clerk since 1868. 



454 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Peter Eisenberg, farmer, Asliton, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Ger- 
many, in 1831 ; son of Asinan and Christine (Sebrar) Eisenberg. His 
father served thirty years in the German army ; was in the battles of 
Waterloo and Metz, in the latter of which he was wounded. In 18.52 
our subject, with his father and mother and their family, sailed from 
Bremen to New York, and arrived in Lee county in December of the 
same year. The family settled on Sec. 23, Bradford township, and 
bought the E. i N.E. ^ from Lewis Clapp, and subsequently forty 
acres in See. 16. Mr. Eisenberg now owns ten acres more than a sec- 
tion of land, and lives on the N.AV. J Sec. 23. His father died in 1872 ; 
his mother is living with him. He was married July 1, 1855, to Cath- 
erine Bower. Their family consists of nine children : Christine (wife of 
John Fauble), George, John, William, Henry, Adam, Mina, Mary, 
Emma. Mr. Eisenberg is a republican, and with his family belongs 
to the Evangelical church of Bradford. 

Luther Baldwin, farmer, Ashton, son of Joseph and PolU' 
(Smith) Baldwin, was born June 22, 1820, in Connecticut. Here his 
lather and mother were born, tiie former in 1797, the latter in 1796. 
These parents had a family of ten children, eight of whom, with the 
mother, are living. Different researches trace the lineage of the family 
to several Baldwin brothers who landed in New York at an early day. 
In 1849 Luther Baldwin married Nancy Talmage, of Connecticut, by 
whom he has six children : Polly Ann, Sarah J., Joseph W., Esther, 
Phoebe, and Charles H. In 1852 Mr. Baldwin came to Lee Center, 
where he lived three months; thence to Ralph Evitt's, and in the 
spring of 1853 he located a land warrant on the E. ^ of S.W. J and 
S.W. J of S.W. J Sec. 14, Bradford township. Here he has since 
lived, having built the following fall, and subsequently improved the 
farm. He is a republican and Odd-Fellow, and a member of the 
Ashton Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. 

Mrs. Catherine E. AscHExiiHENXER, Lee Center, one of the most 
prominent characters in the history of Bradford, was born in Hesse 
Cassel, Germany, in 1832. Her parents were Christian and Cliristine 
(Denhart) "Reinhart. She is the eldest in a family of six, live of 
whom survive. Christian Reinhart was twelve years a soldier in the 
German army, and in 1845 came to New York with his family ; thence 
to Chicago, and from there with an ox team to Lee countj'. The next 
year they rented a farm owned by Othro Wright, now A. DeWolf 's 
farm, and from here they went to China township, to where Andrew 
Reinhart now lives. Mr. Reinhart got eighty- acres of government 
land and subsequently eighty from Lewis Clapp. Here he settled and 
lived till his death in 1865, at which time he was the owner of nearly 
500 acres of land. Their first year in America was a hard one for the 



BKADFORD TOWNSHIP. 455 

family. The father was taken sick in cradling time and was confined 
to his bed for many months. His wife and Catherine, his daughter, 
worked very bard to support the family and pay doctor bills. They 
cleaned grain, husked corn, and dug potatoes in early winter. Noth- 
ing by which they could earn a little was considered too hard. In 
November 13, 1849, Catherine Reinhart was married to Omen Hilli- 
son, born December 14, 1814. He was an early settler in Bradford, and 
at first lived in a sod house. His frame house was quite conspicuous 
in an early day, and was seen over the naked prairie by the Reinharts 
at Melugin's Grove on their way out from Chicago. The fruits of this 
union were Henry W. and Betsey, born September 12, 1850, and Oc- 
tober 11, 1852, respectively. Mr. Hillisou died June 21, 1853, from 
sunstroke. He was a native of Norway ; he came to America in 1835, 
and for a few years was a coast sailor. He is held in grateful remem- 
brance by all of the early settlers, many of whom first found shelter 
under his roof on their arrival here. His widow was married, October 
1, 1854, to John Aschenbrenner. Three children are their offspring : 
Christian, Reinhart, and Andrew. About 1870 Mrs. Aschenbrenner 
paid her husband $7,000 for all the realty in his name, and they parted. 
She has since obtained a divorce. She now owns 360 acres in Bradford, 
131 in Brooklyn, and a large tract in Iowa. She has given two of her 
sons 160-acre farms. Her mother died in 1870. 

Redsthaet Gross, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in Hesse Cas- 
sel., Germany, in 1829 ; son of John and Martha (Schnider) Gross. 
His mother died when he was six or seven years old, and his father 
two or three years later. The latter was nine years a German soldier. 
In 1847 R. Gross came to America with Jacob Reiss, in whose family 
he lived from his father's death till he was of age, at which time he 
went to work for John Hotzel, continuing in his service four years. 
In 1853 he married Martha Reinhart. He began farming for himself 
on eighty acres in Sec. 24, China township, on which he lived till 
1867, when he moved to Bradford, N.E. \ Sec. 19, and built on the 
■west lialf of the same. His farm is well improved, the buildings having 
cost him about $5,000. To the above quarter section he added the 
W. ^ of S.E. i Sec. 18. He also owns an improved farm of 150 acres 
in Sec. 15, and eighty acres in See. 24. His children are : Christian, 
Lizzie, Catherine (deceased), Henry, Mary, and Emma. The family are 
members of the Evangelical church of Bradford, of which Mr. Gross 
is a trustee. His eldest sister lives in Germany, and a brother and 
sister are living in Iowa. 

Ontone Reinhart, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born May 13, 1840, 
in Hesse-Cassel, Germany. He is the son of C. Reinhart, who gave him 
a good education. The first land he owned was eighty acres in China 



456 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

township, now owned by Andrew, his brother. This land was entered 
by Lewis Ciapp, and afterward bought from him by the father of our 
subject. In 1861 Ontone Reinliart married Catherine Kersten. About 
this time he sold his land in China and bought from Samuel Crawford 
the E. ^ of S.E. ^ Sec. IS, Bradford township. This he broke up and 
built on it the same year. He now owns 360 acres in Sees. 18, 19 
and 20, Bradford, and 45 acres of wood land in Lee Center. His prop- 
erty is highly valuable, there being but little, if anj', better land in 
Lee count}'. In two of his pastures there is living water. Mr. Ttein- 
hart has a family of nine children : Henry, Andrew, Charles, Lizzie, 
Martha, Gust, Lena, George, and Christian. Henry is married and 
lives in Bradford. 

Beeghaedt Albeecht, farmer, Ashton, was born February 10, 
1839, in Hesse Cassel, Germany; son of George and Christine 
Albrecht, who had a family of eight children. The former was in the 
German military service six or seven years. In 1855 the subject of 
this sketch left his native land, both of his parents being dead, and 
arrived in Lee county June 19. For nine years he worked for Adam 
Schuhart, Bradford, and during the last year of his service there he 
was married to Martha Kersten, by whom he has had nine children: 
Martha, Ontone, Kate, Marcus, Charles, Mary, Clara. Two died, aged 
one year and eighteen months respectively. After his marriage Mr. 
Albrecht farmed rented land four years in Bradford, and then bought 
160 acres in Reynolds, S.E. J Sec. 17, from Mr. Baden. Here he 
lived si.x years, when he sold out to George Kersten, and bought from 
the administrators of his deceased brother John's estate the farm he 
now owns in Bradford. This consists of the N. i of S.E. ^ and the S.E. 
i of N.E. ^ Sec. 19. Mv. Albrecht and his family are members of the 
Ashton Lutheran church. He had always voted the republican ticket 
till the last presidential election. He is interested in the education of 
his family much more than are the majority of the German people 
in this vicinity. 

EnwARD W. Po>rEROY, farmer, Lee Center, was born in Northamp- 
ton, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, in 1823. His parents were 
Elihu and Miriam (Wright) Pomeroy, both of the same state and of 
English ancestry. His father was a cooper, but he was raised a farmer. 
He received a good education. In 1844 he came west to Princeton, 
Illinois, and remained there from August till the following February; 
thence he came to Lee Center. He lived with Mr. Ira Brewer three 
years. In the meantime he bought from S. Shumway a claim to the 
W. i of N.W. i Sec. 31, Bradford, where he is now living. In 1S4S he 
bought the Alva DeWolf farm, Lee Center township, but soon sold it. 
About this time he bought an "eighty" on Sec. 30. This is land now 



SOUTH DIXON TOWNSHIP. 457 

owned bj William Ross and J. Croinbie. It was here that Mr. 
Pomeroy began housekeeping, having married, in 1852, Lora J. Adams, 
of Steuben county, New York. In 1856 he sold this land, built on his 
first claim, and moved to his present home. Since then he has farmed 
but little. For several years he was buying and shipping hogs and 
cattle. In 1868 he went into partnership with Lewis Clapp, in a grist- 
mill, at Northampton, Massachusetts. Mr. Pomeroy has owned this 
mill since the death of Mr. Clapp in 1880. In an early day our sub- 
ject drove a breaking team and run a threshing machine for several 
years. In 18-16 he and J. H. Gardner bought the first reaper used in 
the vicinity. It was a " McCormick," brought from near Rochester, 
New York. This machine was first tried in a piece of winter wheat, and 
many came from all around to see it work. In 1852 Mr. Pomeroy 
raised the first crop of timothj^ seed marketed from this section of 
country. It consisted of 150 bushels, which he hauled to Aurora and 
shipped from there to Chicago, by rail, receiving for it $1.75 per bushel. 
His family consists of two daughters and one son : Mary, Lucy, and 
Edwin. Tbe former were educated at Rockford, Illinois. Mary is the 
wife of Henry "Wright, and is living in Massachusetts. Mr. Pomeroy 
is a republican, and was formerly an Odd-Fellow. 



SOUTH DIXON TOWNSHIP. 

The town of South Dixon was organized in April 1867. The 
cause of its separation from Dixon, the parent town, was the desire of 
the outlying farmers to restrain cattle from roaming at large, an evil 
which was not snfiiciently comprehended by the people of Dixon. 
Mr. Abram Brown, in conjunction with others, prepared and presented 
a petition to the supervisors praying for the division, which was event- 
ually made. 

South Dixon comprises all of T. 21, R. 9 E., of the 4th P.M., and 
contains thirty sections, having an area of 19,200 acres. It ranks 
among the first in agricultural resources, the land being in a very high 
state of cultivation. The soil for the greater part is a black alluvial 
and is irrigated by numerous small tributaries of the Three and the 
Five mile branches, which latter traverse the township from east to 
west ; the source of the last mentioned is on the farm of Mr. Burkett, 
at the southeastern portion of the township. 

The surface of the country is gently rolling. The hills and dales 
are beautified by many groves, under whose grateful shelter comfort- 
able farm-houses appear. A perusal of the biographical sketches will 
show that for the most part the present or previous occupants of this 



458 HISTORY OF LEE COU>"TY. 

portion of Lee counU' migrated from Somerset count}', Pennsylvania. 
They are a thrifty, industrious and persevering people, whose energy 
has transformed a prairie into a garden ; tiiey support schools for the 
education of their offspring and are commendable for their religious 
tendencies, and their homes possess all the comforts and many of the 
luxuries of life. 

Among the early settlers appear the names of Charles Edson, 
Abram Brown, Cliriston Stevens, Henry B. True, Caldwell Bishop, 
Keuben Trowbridge, Henry Page, Jacob McKenney, Jacob and E. H. 
Groh, James Rogers, Matthew McKenney, Wm. A. Judd, Nathan 
Hill, Wm. I. Fritz and others, to whom particular allusion is made in 
the memoirs. 

There are three churches in the township: two Evangelical Lu- 
theran and one Methodist Episcopal, the last mentioned being also a 
union church. 

St. James' Evangelical Lutheran church is on the Chicago road and 
was erected in the year 1877, by the representatives of the various 
religious bodies in the vicinity, but is now exclusively used by mem- 
bers of tJie persuasion previously mentioned. It can accommodate 
about 280 members. It is a wooden structure, cost 83,200, and is now 
entirely out of debt. Wiien this church was built the Sabbath-school 
was removed thither from the old brick school-house ; it is well 
attended, has a staff of eight teachers, and for the past fifteen years 
Mr. Hiram Uhl has been superintendent. The first pastor was the 
Rev. J. P. Sanderson ; the present one is the Rev. A. J. B. Cast. The 
church belonging to the Methodist Episcopal body is situated in the 
village of Eldena. It was built in the year 1870. It is built of wood 
and can seat 150. It is also a union church, being used by the Evan- 
gelicals and United Brethren for church purposes. The first and 
present pastor is the Rev. M. A. Rice. 

SCHOOLS. 

There are four schools in South Ui.xon. Particular allusion may be 
made to the old brick sciiool-house in Dist. No. 3, T. 21, wiiere the attend- 
ance at one time was one hundred and twenty ; the average attendance 
now is about twenty-seven. The present teacher is Lorenzo Wood ; the 
directors are Messrs. Abram Brown, HiramlJhl and Isaac Seitz. Apropos 
of education here, the first school was lield by Miss Edson, in a room in her 
brother's house. In the same room was organized the first union Sab- 
bath-school in Lee county, outside of Dixon. Mr. E. B. Edson was 
appointed the first teacher of the new school. The gentlemen most 
active in its erection were Abram Brown, John and Charles Beal, 
Joseph Smith, Hiram Uiil, William J. and John Fritz. The Kellogg 



SOUTH DIXON TOWNSHIP. 459 

school is in Dist. No. 8, T. 21, R. 9. The present directors are A. E. 
Fellows, Frederick Bollman and William Missman. It can accommo- 
date eighty children ; average attendance about twenty-five. It was 
erected in 1867. The first teacher was A. M. Jennes; the present one 
Lydia Conderman. The Lievan school can accommodate seventy ; 
daily average about twenty-five. Eldena school, in the village of 
Eldena, can seat one hundred pupils; average attendance about fifty. 
The first teacher was A. F. Parker. 

The county farm is situated in Sec. 26, South Dixon, and contains 
one hundred acres. The Illinois Central railroad cuts oft' a small por- 
tion, which is used as a bnrying-ground, in which five interments have 
taken place within the past three years. The farm latterly has exceeded 
the expectations of its founders, and though the land is now of the best, 
yet under its present management the returns for the past three years 
have exceeded those of any former similar period. In 1879 there were 
sold hogs to the amoixnt of $292.82; corn, $164; total, 8396.82. In 
1880 the proceeds from hogs, corn and oats were $254.12. The pros- 
pects for 1881 are fair. There are at present under cultivation thirty- 
four acres of corn and eighteen of oats. There are ten cows and four 
horses on'the farm. It were well to explain that the farm is an asylum 
for the poor, idiotic, crippled and infirm, as well as for those afiected 
by indulgence in strong drink. There are at present fifteen inmates, 
nine males and six females. Four only are valuable as farm hands, 
who are set to suitable work only, such as hoeing, milking, hog-feeding, 
etc. Dr. Edmond R. Travers, of Amboy, is physician to the institution, 
and visits whenever notified by the superintendent, Mr. Thomas L. 
Stetson, who is a salaried ofiicer. He works the farm to the best 
advantage and hands the proceeds to the board. 

LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETIES. 

The only association of this nature in the township was organized 
in the year 1858, under the title of the Edsonville Literary and 
Debating Society. Its first meetings were held in the old brick school- 
house at Edsonville, so called from a family of that name having been 
the first settlers here. Mr. Abram Brown was its first president. He 
evinced an unceasing interest in its welfare and progress. The debates 
were characterized by vigor and ability, many clever men of Dixon 
participating therein. This society exercised a beneficial influence in 
forming the habits and educating the taste of the young in this district. 

The Illinois Central railroad passes through the township from 
north to south. There is a passenger station at the village of Eldena. 
Mr. H. Hursey is the agent who fills the oflices of the express agent 
and operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company. The 



460 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Chicago & Northwestern railroad runs through the northern portion 
of the township. 

ELDENA VILLAGE. 

Tliis is on the line of the Illinois Central railroad, and is situated 
in the N.E. ^ of N.W. J Sec. 36, and comprises about forty acres. 
The first store and house was built by Reuben H. Cheney, deceased. 
The first and only church belongs to the Methodist Episcopal body, 
vide chnrelies. The first grain-house was built by Messrs. Reuben 
Trowbridge, Reuben H. Cheney and Daniel Brown. The school has 
been referred to under its ]>roper head. The only elevator in the 
village is owned by Jeremiah Mottoller, who ships annually about 
300,000 bushels of corn. The elevator is capable of handling 3,000 
bushels daily. The onl}' stores in the village are owned by Frederick 
Glessner, George N. Stahn, and A. H. Brubaker, who keep an assort- 
ment of goods suited to the requirements of the neighborhood; but the 
majority of the people choose Di,\on for their market town. The 
village has improved of late years ; the population is now about 200. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Abeam Bkown, farmer, Di.\on, the son of George and Elsie Brown, 
formerly of York, latterly of Michigan, was born November 17, 1816, 
in the township of Yarmouth, at Temperanceville, Eighth Concession 
north of Lake Erie, Middlesex county, district of London, Upper 
Canada, where he subsequently filled the ofl^ices of clerk and deputy 
postmaster. He migrated to the State of Illinois on September 21, 
1887, and settled in the town of Grand Detour, Ogle county, where 
he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was appointed postmaster of 
that place February 18, 1840, which position he held for three years. 
In the fall of 1843, having resigned that post, he moved to Dixon and 
entered into the blacksinithing business, and on his a))pointment to 
the postmastership of Dixon he declined his share of the partnership 
in the blacksmithing business, and having creditably filled the office of 
postmaster for three j^ears, impaired health compelled him to resign 
the post, when he moved to Franklin Grove, Lee county, where he 
engaged in farming and established the first post-office; he was also 
the drst postmaster appointed there. In February, 1849, he sold out, 
and on July 3 following he moved to the place he now occupies, in 
Sec. 13, in the town of South Dixon, and has since followed the occu- 
pation of farming. He has always taken a leading part in politics, 
being a democrat, and was twice honored by his party with the nom- 
ination to the legislature. He was si.x times elected to the office of 
justice of the peace, in which capacity* he commanded the respect of 
his fellow citizens. He has held the offices of highways commissioner, 



SOUTH DLSON TOWNSHIP. 461 

school trustee, and for eighteen years the post of school director in his 
district. He took a very active part in liaving the town of Dixon 
divided, and the town of South Dixon set off, in March 1868, the 
supervisors finally acceding to Mr. Brown's petition. Subsequently 
he held the post of supervisor of South Dixon for four years and that 
of magistrate for eight years. For a number of years Mr. Brown has 
been crop correspondent of the Bureau of Agriculture at "Washington, 
and has acted in a similar capacity for the agricultural department at 
Springfield, and has contributed various articles on the topics of the 
day for the press and literary journals. He possesses a fine library, 
is a man of extensive reading, and is the mainstay of a once pros- 
perous and talented literary debating society, being its first president. 
On May 14, 18-i4, he was united in wedlock to Correlia Wiiitney, 
daughter of Col. Nathan "Whitney, of Franklin Grove, Lee county. 
Mr. Brown has a farail}' of three girls and two boys, all highly 
educated. "Virginia H., the eldest daughter, has taught school for the 
past fifteen years, and has graduated from Rock River Collegiate 
Institute. Olga and Mary remain at home. Henry A. Brown, the 
elder son, studied medicine and is one of the supervisors in the institu- 
tion for feeble-minded children at Lincoln, Illinois. George M., the 
younger son, is a student in Champaign College, Illinois, and is 
naturally an inventor, having patented a device for grinding mower 
sickels. Mr. Brown is the oldest resident in South Dixon and one of 
the oldest in the county. 

Daniel Brown, farmer, Eldena, the son of John and Nancy 
("Westcott) Brown, of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was born No- 
vember 6, 1820, in "Windsor, of the same county and state. "When 
eight years old his father moved to Aurora, Erie county. Now York, 
where he attended school for about six j'ears. In the spring of 1834 
his father settled in Du Page county, Illinois, where Daniel availed 
himself of the means of education till he reached the age of twenty- 
three, when he entered Belvidere Seminary, near Rock river, and at- 
tended there for one year, when, his father dying, he left the seminary 
and took charge of his father's farm, which he shortly afterward pur- 
chased from the heirs; it consisted of 300 acres of very choice land. 
In tiie year 1854 he sold the above farm and moved to Lee county, 
Sec. 31, in the township of Nachusa, at that time Chinatown, where 
he remained till 1871, when he disposed of his farm, but had to retake 
it, the purchaser being unable to pay ; he then rented it till the spring 
of 1880, in the interim residing in Dixon; since that time Mr. Brown 
has occupied the farm. In Novembei", 1842, he married Miss Adelaide 
J. Cheney, eldest daughter of Reuben and Sarah Cheney, of Du Page 
county, near Naperville, and they have a family of six children, five 



462 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

boys and one girl. Clara, the eldest, has married, and resides in Iowa; 
Frank, the eldest boy.Jwas in the Union army in the war of the rebell- 
ion, and at its termination went with the command into Dakota to the 
Indian territorj^, where he conducted himself creditably, and located a 
claim at Ellsworth county, Kansas ; Eugene M., the second son, is 
engineer on the Texas Pacific railroad ; Walter B. tills the post of 
clerk in Parsons, southeast Kansas, and Harry E. and Edwin are at 
home. 

Jacob Guoh, farmer, Dixon, was born in Berks count}', Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1806, where he spent his youth and received a limited educa- 
tion. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to learn the 
potter's trade, but because of bronchial affections he could not con- 
tinue in it. In 1828 he was married to Miss Kathrine Hoffman, and 
for some years lived at Catawissa, Pennsylvania. In ISiS they moved 
to Lee county, Illinois, and a little later entered 160 acres of land near 
his present home, with a Mexican land warrant. He is the father of 
ten children, only two of whom are now living: Mrs. Susan Statlsmith, 
of Eldora, Iowa, and Ephram H. Groh, Esq., a justice of the peace 
and prominent citizen of South Dixon township, Lee count}'. He has 
a beautiful farm home two and three quarters miles from the city 
of Dixon, on the Chicago road. Politically Mr. Groh is a republican, 
but has led a quiet, private life all his days, holding no office save that 
he was the first overseer of the poor in South Dixon township. He 
has been a member of the Lutheran church for many years, and was 
one of the prime movers in the establishment and building of the St. 
James church, located a few miles from Dixon, on the Chicago road. 
He helped to build the present school-house in his district, a brick 
structure, which at that time was the finest in Lee county. 

Oliver E. Fellows, farmer, Dixon, the son of Simon and Eliza- 
beth (Deyo) Fellows, was born June 12, 1837, in Cherry Grove, Jo 
Daviess county, Illinois. His father was from New Hampshire and 
his mother from Xew York state. From Cherry Grove his father 
moved into Palmyra township, Lee county, to Sugar Grove, where his 
father rented a farm and where the subject of this sketch attended 
school for a short time. On March 25, 18G0, Mr. Fellows was married 
to Miss Mary E. Boyer, daughter of Abram and Elizabeth Boyer, of 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He has a fine family of ten children, 
five boys and five girls, all living under the parental roof The census 
taker said he had the premium family in the township. On March 11, 
1878, Mr. Fellows moved from Sugar Grove to South Dixon, Sec. 29, 
and rented a large farm from Col. Noble. The land is most suitable 
for pasturage and agriculture. It is intersected by the Five-mile 



/ir* 





SOUTH DIXON TOWNSHIP. 465 

branch and contains a beautiful grove, which was planted since the 
termination of the war. 

William J. Fritz, farmer, Dixon, the son of John and Eve (Mowrj') 
Fritz, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born there July 1, 
1825, and attended school with much difficulty on account of the 
absence of roads. At the age of twenty years he commenced working 
on his father's farm, which he continued till his marriage with Miss 
Eliza Phillippi, eldest daughter of John and Rebecca Phillippi, of 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, which event took place October 16, 
1819. After this he went on his own farm in that place. In April, 
1853, he moved to Lee county, Illinois, South Dixon, Sec. 24. Mr. 
Fritz, sr., had previously' bought land in this section and gave eighty 
acres of such property to his son, who subsequently bought from his 
father eighty acres more. Mr. Fritz has now in this township, in dif- 
ferent sections, 390 acres of as good land as can be found in Lee 
county. He has also eight and a half acres of timber lands, owns 
besides 758 acres in Kansas, and is an example of what industry, 
integrity and perseverance can accomplish. Mr. Fritz had ten 
children : the eldest boy, Peter Freeman, died at the age of eleven 
years, and rest, seven boys and two girls, are living, and with the ex- 
ception of one boy who has gone east are all at home. Mr. Fritz 
spares no expense in the education of his family, sending them to 
the best colleges. Noah, the third son, is at Carthage College, Han- 
cock county. Mr. Fritz is most anxious that a superior education 
should be imparted in the district school. 

Hiram Uhl, farmer, Dixon, is the offspring of Daniel and Mary 
(Long) Uhl, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and was born in the 
same county and state September 21, 1828. He was educated at the 
district school till he arrived at the age of eighteen years. He followed 
the occupation of teaming and farming for a considerable number of 
years, when he moved west and bought a farm in Sec. 13, at that 
time Dixon township, which he farmed till the year 1860, when he 
moved into Dixon and engaged in the milling business for two years. 
On September 12, 1850, he married Miss Margaret Wilhelm, daughter 
of Philip Wilhelm, of Mar3'land, by whom he had four children, two 
of whom are dead ; the other two are comfortably married. Mrs. Uhl 
died July 8, 1858, aged twenty-eight years, ten months and twenty-five 
days. March 20, 1862, Mr. Uhl married Miss Nancy Hughes, daughter 
of Joseph Hughes, of Cumberland, Alleghany county, of whom the 
issue is four children, all girls : Ida May, Bertha Almeda, Eva 
Olive, and Grace Guthrie, all of whom are attending school. Mr. 
Uhl's farm is a good one of 300 acres, watered by a tributary of the 
Three-mile branch. 
38 



466 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Epubam Fritz, fanner, Dixon, son of Ananias and Harriet Fritz, was 
born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 18i< His 
parents migrated to South Dixon, Lee county, m April lb52, and 
bought a farm of 135 acres in S.E. i Sec. 13. It has a southern aspect 
and is well adapted for agriculture and pasturage. His mother died in 
18Gi and his father has removed to Kansas, where at present he tarms 
140 acres. The subject of this sketch, July 10, 1873, was united in 
marria-e to Miss A. C. Seibert, daughter of Rev. James L. W. Seibert, 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania. They have three children two girls 
and one bov, named Flora Amelia, Harry Seibert, and Ida May, aged 
respectiveh' seven, five and four years. Mr. Fritz was for three years 
in the Illinois Central railroad othce at Eldena. „. „ ., , 

DuASF W. Bailey, farmer, Dixon, son of Capt. Hiram Bailey and 
grandson of Mai-Gen. William Bailey, was born in Rupert, Bennington 
countv, Vermont, December 10, 1838. He came from Michigan to 
Illinois in the spring of 1866 and engaged in the dry-goods business in 
Polo for some years, when he came to Dixon and bought a farm m the 
vicinitv of the town. Mr. Bailey has honorably tilled the position ot 
town clerk of South Dixon and now occupies the position of supervisor 
He returned to Vermont and married Miss Jul ia E. Graves, the youngest 
dau.^hter of Francis Graves, of Rupert, Bennington county. They have 
had'live children, but tWo have been removed by death, and two girls 

and one boy remain. 

J MosTOLi.ER, grain, stock and coal dealer, Eldena, was born in 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1836, and came to this county in 
1855 and engaged in farming till 1861. He entered the army in Capt. 
Cheney's battery, of Dixon, in which he remained tor three years, 
having discharged his duties efficiently and having enjoyed the esteem 
of his comrades'. He passed unscathed through thirteen battles Alter 
leavin- the armv he returned to farming for two years, when he 
embarked in the dry-goods, lumber, coal and grain business, and now 
owns the only elevator in the village, from which l;.^/^"""''^^'^"^' 
about 300,000 bushels. This elevator is capable ot handling 5,000 
bushels per day. In 1877 he married Miss Rachel Morris, ot Lee county. 
I.AAC Seitz. farmer, Dixon, was born near Dayton, Ohio, Novem- 
ber 18 1843 His parents were Isaac and Elizabeth (Flora) Seitz, the 
former born in Lancaster county, and the latter in Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, and both removing to Ohio in an early day. During 
life the elder Mr. Seitz was a farmer and cooper, and died ot apo- 
plexv about Februarv 20, 1877, in Lee county, aged sixty-seven years, 
and Mrs. Seitz died about 1848, also in Lee county, in the same house 
that her husband died in. Mr. Seitz, jr., came to this county when 
about the age of two and a half years, and has resided here ever since. 



SOUTH DIXON TOWNSHIP. 457 

His education was of a limited cliaracter, and his occupation through 
life lias been that of a farmer, having under cultivation some eiglUy 
acres in excellent condition, all amassed by hard labor. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Susan Landers December 2, 1869, in Sterling, Whitesides 
county, Illinois. She was born March 17, 1850, in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, her parents also being natives of the same state. They 
have five children: Cora A., born September 11, 1870; L-vino- o' 
December 17, 1874; Isaac H., March 10, 1876 ; William A., February 
12, 1878; and Agnes May, March 27, 1880; Ollive Frances, born July 
9, 1872, and died March 27, 1873, aged eight months. 
■ Frederick Glessner, genera! merchant, Eldena, was born in 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1817. His parents were 
Jeremiah and Amy Ann (Laub) Glessner, both natives of Somerset 
county, Pennsylvania, the father still living, and the mother dying 
February 1868, in this township. Frederick, with his parents, came to 
this country in 1864, locating near Eldena. He received the usual 
winter schooling, and during the summer season he worked on the 
farm. In September, 1877, he opened a store in Eldena, carrying 
a general stock of merchandise, in which, bv perseverance, industry 
and integrity he has built himself up a tine business. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Luphema Hill March 31, 1868, she having been born 
February 11, 1848, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Her parents, 
both deceased, were natives of the same state. Mr. Glessner has a 
family of five children: Jeremiah, born January 28. 1869; Frank 
October 1, 1871 ; Percy, February 9, 1874 ; Esther, March' 30 1876' 
and Arthur, August 26, 1880. Georgiana was born October 28 1879^ 
and died February 25, 1880. ' ' 

Jacob Senxeff, farmer, Eldena, was born in Fayette county, Penn- 
sylvania, July 11, 1836. His parents were William and Phojb'e (Bar- 
nedt) Senneti; the former being born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania 
June 1795, and died in Carroll county, Illinois, in June 1875, in his 
eightieth year. The latter was born in the same county in 1797 and 
died in 1842, aged forty-five years. Mr. Sennefl-'s father and grand- 
father were born in the same house, and he was born not a half mile 
distant. Our subject's great-grandfather was a genei'al in the German 
army during the twenty-one years' war, but resigned and came to 
America, settling in Pennsylvania, his nearest neighbor being sixty 
miles distant. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Sennefl' mo^ved to 
Di.xon township (1854), and to Carroll county in 1859, returning in 
1861 to Dixon. In the latter year he enlisted in the 34th III. Vol 
Inf., Col. Edwin M. Kirk commanding. His first engagement was 
at Shiloh, followed by the battles of Stone Eiver, Chattanooga, Mission 
Eidge, Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's march to 



468 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

the sea, as well as the campaign of the Carolinas in 1865. He was 
wounded in both anus at Bentonville, North Carolina, March 19, 1865, 
having his right arm amputated above the elbow, liis left being still in 
a crippled condition. He received his discharge July 24, 1865, and 
returned to his home, moving to Carroll countj' the same year and re- 
turned to Lee county in 1874, where he has since resided, following 
the occupation of a farmer. He was married to Miss Sarah Fritz 
November 15, 1855. Her parents were John and Eve (^Mowry) Fritz. 
Mrs. Sennefi' was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, December 8, 
1831. They have four children living: Mary Ann (wife of E. AI. 
June), Harvey M., Ellen A. and Susan V. Mr. Senneff has never 
been the recipient of any office, nor has he ever sought for one, having 
always been content with the position of "high private." 



MAY TOWNSHIP. 

This township derives its name from a military officer. by that name, 
who fell in the l)iittle of Palo Alto. It is known as T. 19, R. 10 of 
the 4:th P.M. Tiic first settler to cast his lot in this township was 
Joseph Bay, who located on Sec. 13, south of Palestine Grove. The 
next settler was Ira A.xtle, who came in the same year, and located 
on Sec. 6. 

In 1840 "William Dolan settled on Sec. 14. Mr. Dolan is one of 
the most prominent citizens in the township, and has always since the 
organization of the township held some position of trust. He served 
twelve years as supervisor, was justice of the peace fourteen years, and 
also held the office of town clerk and commissioner of highways for a 
number of terms. 

Martin McGowan, J. Moran and John Darcy also came in 1S40, 
and took claims in Sees. 14 and 23. Of these early settlers, Dolan, 
McGowan and Darcy are the only ones who are at jiresent residents of 
the township. 

Mav and Sublette towns were once a part of what was known as 
Inlet voting precinct, and the voters were obliged to go to Inlet to cast 
their votes. Elections were for a number of years held at the residence 
of Joseph Sawyer at that place. The citizens of May were led to 
expect the Illinois Central railroad to run through the town, but were 
disappointed. 

A post-office was established in the town at the residence of Mr. 
Morrison, known as'May Hill post-office. Through the efforts of some 
interested parties the stage route was changed and a post-office estab- 
lished at the residence of Daniel Beard, which office was known as 
Brooklield. 



MAY TOWNSHIP. 469 

In 1850 William Dolan wrote to the Postmaster-General in regard 
to the removal of the office, and three months afterward the mail route 
was again ehansred and the office restored to its former location, and a 
Mr. Hnbbard appointed postmaster, which position he held until the 
railroad had been completed, when the office was removed to Sublette. 

In 1850 the township was organized by Joseph Crawford, Harry 
Morgan and Lorenzo Wason, county commissioners. 

In early times a brotherl}' feeling existed among the settlers, and 
favors were exchanged in an open-hearted manner. 

An organization existed known as the Palestine Grove minute 
men, which had been organized for the purpose of protecting the 
rights of tlie settlers in i-egard to tlieir claims. In 18-15 the land was 
surveyed and the market opened, after which the minute men were 
kept bus}'. The first claim jumped and entered in the township was 
that of Hiram Anderson, which was deeded by a man named Bull, who 
drove stage between Peru and Dixon. This difficulty called the 
minute men together from all directions. They met in the barn of a 
Mr. Fessenden and passed resohitions which gave Mr. Bull some un- 
easiness. He afterward deeded the land back to its former owner, and 
gave him one 3'ear in which to pay the entrance fees. 

The first school-house erected in the township was on Sec. 3, 
which was also used for a church by the Catholics in the vicinity. 

In 184:3 the township was made a voting precinct. In 1860 the 
township east but 120 votes, yet furnished forty-seven men to aid in 
tiie suppression of the rebellion. Co. F, of the 75th 111. Inf., was com- 
posed mostl}' of men from May. 

Shortly after the war the German Catholics erected a church, wliich 
was named St. Mary's. The Irish Catholics also erected a church on 
the west side of the town, which surpassed &x\y building of the kind in 
the vicinity. This building cost about $9,000. 

Among the other institutions in the town of May the academy 
stands prominent. For this educational advantage the citizens are in- 
debted to Mr. Patrick Riley, who on his death bequeathed his propert}- 
to his wife until her death, after which it was to be used for the pur- 
pose of establishing an academy in May township. 

Mr. Riley emigrated from the city of Philadelphia in 1848, and 
settled on Sec. 23. By economy and hard labor he accumulated a con- 
siderable amount of the world's goods. In 1860 Mr. Riley's health 
began to fail him, and in spite of the efforts of the most skillful phy- 
sicians, grew rapidly worse, and in 1868 he passed through the dark 
valley, leaving his property to be used in the establishment of an insti- 
tution of learning accordingly. The property, consisting of 120 acres 
of land, was sold by the trustees, Martin McGowan and Patrick 



470 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

MeCann, and tlie work of constructing the acadein)- was at once entered 
upon. It was decided to erect it on a piece of land belonging to the 
estate, on the Rocky Ford and La Moille road, eight miles south from 
Amboy. The main building is 30x4S. The L is 16x18 feet, and 
the whole is twenty feet in lieight. Tlie institution is divided into* 
several different compartments. On the first floor are the school-rooms, 
music-rooni, parlor, sitting-room, dining-room and kitchen. On the 
second floor is the chapel, which is nicely liiiishcd and has a vaulted 
roof. The rest of the upper floor is divided into sleeping-rooms, oc- 
cn])icd by pnjiils who board at the academy. The building is sur- 
mounted by an observatory, from which a view of the surrounding 
country may be had. The seminar}* was dedicated early in September 
1880, and is now occupied by si.\ sisters of the order of Benedictine 
nuns, who are teaching, in addition to the common branches, German, 
French, music, and drawing. They receive none but young ladies as 
boarding scholars, but will admit boys as day pupils. The fact that 
the school is crowded, together with the universal satisfaction expressed 
by all whose children attend, is a sufficient guarantee of the success of 
the institution, and of the great benefit which will undoubtedly be 
derived from it in years to come. 

The soil of this township is ratheribelow the average in productive- 
ness. The population is principally Irish. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John McGinn, farmer, Amboy, was born in Ireland about 1811. 
He is the son of William and I'ridget (McGnirk) McGinn, and second 
in a famil}' of seven. About forty years ago he came to Canada and 
lived a few years. Returning to Ireland, he was married to Mary Jane 
Montague (deceased 1S66\ by whom he has had eleven children, eight 
of whom are living: James F., Marianne (Mrs Millard, widowed and 
living in New York city), Michael M., Patrick Henr^', Joseph, Dilia, 
Catherine, Margaret. James and Michael McGinn, clergymen in the 
Catholic church, are living in Philadelphia. In 1860 Mr. McGinn 
came to the city of New York and engaged in mercantile business till 
1876, when he removed to this township and bought the S.E. J of Sec. 
16, where he has since resided. All but two of his family were born 
in Ireland. In the old country Mr. McGinn owned forty acres in 
Ulster, county of Tyrone, besides other property ir the same county. 
He was in a general dry -goods and grocery business in the town of 
Carrick More, near which his jjroperty was situated. 

Peter Lannen, farmer, Amboy, was born in the county of Louth, 
Leinster province, Ireland, March 182.5. He came to New York in 
18i7, being the first of his family in America. Thence he went to 



JfAT TOWNSHIP. 471 

Berkshire county, Massacliusetts, where he worked several years for a 
farmer. He next came to Prophetstown,Whitesides county, Illinois, and 
worked two years for a farmer. From there he went to Bureau county 
and staid five years, thence to Ma}' township. He first bought eighty 
acres in Sec. 19, where he is now living, and built upon it. He now 
owns the north half of this section. While in Massachusetts he mar- 
ried Mary Smith. Their issue are nine children : Thomas, Bernard, 
James, Mary Jane, Rose, Peter, Maggie (deceased), Theresa, and Lizzie. 
Bernard is married and living with his wife and three children in May 
township. The family belong to the Roman Catholic church. Mr. 
Lannen is an enterprising man and is devoting his large farm chiefly to 
dairying. In 1865 he built a good dwelling, at a cost of about $1,800. 
His father died when he was only about two years old. His mother was 
a hundred years old when she died, iu 1879, having come to America 
with her son, Owen, a few years after Peter came. Two of his brothers 
died in Savannah, Georgia, of the yellow fever, about 1859, having 
gone there about five years previous. 

John Daecy, farmer, Amboy, was. born in Cavan county, Ulster, 
Ireland, in the year 1818; son of Bernard and Mary (Lee) Darcy. His 
father was a farmer, and died when John was quite young. In 1837 
Mr. Darcy came to Canada, landing in Quebec June 15. In the fall of 
1838 he started for Cincinnati, but wintered in Toledo, and went the 
next spring to Chicago. While here he was working most of the time 
on the canal. In the fall of 1840 he settled in May township, Lee 
county, and claimed the N.E. J Sec. 23. He built a house the same 
fall. There were then but two or three dwellings between his and La 
Moille, Bureau county, and none between his place and East Grove. 
About this time Mr. Darcy worked a few weeks on the old State rail- 
road, then being graded througli May. Mr. Darcy, like many others, 
received nothing for his labor but some worthless paper issued by a 
certain A. H. Bongs, of La Salle, who had started a bank there. Mr. 
Darcy now owns a farm of 280 acres. He was naarried in 1850, to 
Margaret Curran, by whom he had two children : John, born in 1851, 
and Catherine born in 1853. He is now living with his second wife, 
by whom he has had five children. He is a Catholic; in politics a 
democrat. He is not ambitious for office, having been once elected 
justice of the peace and would not have the office. 

Patrick McCann, farmer. La Moille, was born in the county of 
Tyrone, Ulster, Ireland, in February 1825. His parents, Arthur and 
Mary (Hackett) McCann, had four children, of whom he was the 
youngest, and the only one in the family that left the old country. In 
June, 1843, he landed in New York ; thence he went to Connecticut, 
working on a farm during the summer, and in the fall came to Peru, 



472 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTT. 

Illinois, and worked for a farmer till December 1844, when he entered 
the regular army at ^7 per month. He was first sent to Fort Jessup 
to join his regiment, the 3d Inf. In about three months he was 
sent to Corpus Cliristi, where he remained till he was sent to Fort 
Brown, which he iielped to build. He was in Co. F, Capt. Bainbridge, 
Don Carlos Buell being his first lieutenant. He was with Gen. Taylor 
in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma May 8 and 9, 1846. 
After the latter he was made a sergeant in Co. C, of the same 
regiment. He was in the battle of Monterey in the following Septem- 
ber, after which, with the best of Taylor's forces, he was sent to aug- 
ment Scott's army, then about to begin its march to the city of Me.xico. 
He was at the taking of Vera Cruz, in the fierce fighting at Cerro 
Gordo, and in all the engagements till the fall of the city of Me.xico. 
He was at El Paso, New Mexico, when his term of five j^ears expired, 
December 2, 1849. From here he came back to Philadelphia via San 
Antonio, New Orleans, Wlieeling and Baltimore, and went to work on 
Petty's Island in the Delaware river, between Camden and Philadel- 
phia. In 18.52 Mr. McCann came to Illinois to near Blooniington, and 
began work on the Chicago ife Alton railroad, having been married in 
1850 to Mar}' Burns. In thesumnicrof IS.'tS he worked on the Illinois 
Central, north and south of Sublette. After this he went to farming; 
bought the E. i of N.W. J Sec. 35, and built a small frame house. He 
also owns forty acres in Sec. 26, and half a section in Shelby county, 
Iowa. Mr. McCann has a family of seven living: James, who is mar- 
ried and living in Iowa; Arthur, also in Iowa; Peter F., at school at 
Niagara, New York; Felix, Mary, Rose Ann, and Kate (one deceased, 
aged nine months"). Mr. McCann and his family are Catholics, and a 
pleasanter man it has never been our fortune to meet. 

Andrew Kesslee, farmer, Van Grin, Bureau county, was born in 
Saxe Cobnrg, Germany, April 1815. He is the second child of John 
and Dorothea Kessler, whose family consisted of two sons and six 
daughters. In 1850 Mr. Kessler, with his wife and four children, came 
to Lee county and settled on Sec. 13. in May township. He owns 
120 on the S.E. J and 70 acres in Bureau county, nearly opposite. 
It is all highly valuable land. In 1870 Mr. Kessler put up a fine dwell- 
ing at a cost of more than $2,000. He has an interesting and intelli- 
gent family: Kasper, the eldest, is living with his family in Bureau 
county ; Nicholas, Edward with his wife and two children, and Con- 
rad, are all in Nebraska ; George is in Bureau county, and John and 
Sarah are living at home. Margaret, second in the family, died in 1872 
or 1873, having about a year before become the wife of Jacob Betz. 
Julia died in 1870, aged twenty-one years. Besides these, one son died 
aged eleven years. Mr. Kessler, with his family, belongs to the church 



MAY TOWNSHIP. 473 

of the Evangelical Association of North America. He is a hapjiv and 
contented man, and votes the republican ticket. 

Joseph G. Hall, farmer, Aniboy, was born near Birmingham, 
England, March 1843. His parents were Joseph and Eliza (Haden) 
Hall. His father, a tanner, came to Philadelphia in 1844, the rest of 
the family in 1846. The family came in 1857 to May township and 
settled where "Squire" James Fitzpatrick is now living. In 1862 
they moved to Clinton, Illinois, and lived there 'thirteen years, going 
from there to Nebraska, where Mr. Hall, sr., died in 1876. He was 
twice married ; he had six children by his first wife and two by the 
second. Joseph G. Hall enlisted November, 1861, in the 57th 111. 
Vols., Co. A. The regiment was mustered at Camp Douglas, and in 
February, 1862, went to Cairo, Illinois, and from there to Fort Henr\', 
arriving two hours after its surrender. Thej' were at Fort Donelson, 
at the battle of Shiloh, and the siege of Corinth ; at Inka and around 
Corinth till the fall of 1863. Mr. Hall was also in the battles of La 
Grange and Pound Creek, and wintered at Linnville in the winter of 
1863-4. From here he went with his regiment to Athens, Alabama, 
and thence to Chattanooga, and subsequently with Sherman to the sea. 
He was mustered out at Savannah in December 1864, having been 
engaged in many heavy battles and weary marches. He was married in 
October 1867, to Mary E. Ash, only daughter of Geo. Ash. Their 
issue are Maria Elizabeth, Georgeanna, and Joseph. Since his marriage 
Mr. Hall has lived on the old Roger Place (also known by other names), 
in Sec 3, having previously rented in Bureau county. 

Geoege Ash, farmer, Ambo)', was born in Devonshire, England, 
June 1814. He received but little schooling, and this in a night school, 
though most of his father's large family were quite well educated. His 
father died on the day of the coronation of Victoria, queen of England. 
In 1844 he was married to Maria Elliott, of Devonshire, and in 1847 
came with his wife and one child to Pennsylvania; worked several 
years in Phienixville, Chester county, as an iron-puddler ; came to Lee 
count}' in 1857, and settled on Sec. 10 of this town, buying tifty acres 
from Henry Keeling, of Amboy. He has since bought eighty acres in 
Sec. 9. Mr. Ash has had three children, only one of whom is living. 
George, the eldest, enlisted in the 46th III. Vols., Co. D, Captain 
Wilder. He was in the battle of Donelson and in the first volley of 
the first day's fight at Shiloh. In this battle he was killed, not then 
nineteen years old. William H. died in Pennsylvania, aged eight 
years ; Mary Elizabeth (now Mrs. Hall) was born in 1852. One of Mr. 
Ash's brothers came to this country two or three years before him, 
and after living in the State of New York moved to Canada, where he 
died. Another died in Sublette about the time George Ash came west. 
He has one brother living in California and a sister in New York. 



474 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Silas W. Avery, farmer, Ambo}', was born in Orleans county, 
New York, March 1827. He was the eldest cliild of William and 
Rachel (Bishop) Aver}-. He had one brother and two sisters. The 
former, with his parents, is dead. His sisters are living in New York. 
When thirteen years of age Mr. Avery began work on the Erie canal 
at -slO a month. Ho continnedjin this business till he was twenty- 
three years old, having learned the whole business and received 
wages ranging from §10 to 8130 per month. While at this work he 
saved mone}' enough to buy a home for his parents. This was thirty 
acres of land in Niagara county. New York, purchased from Governor 
Hunt. When he had got a deed of this property and settled his 
parents upon it he spent a considerable time in traveling. He went 
the entire length of the Ohio and twice down the Mississippi to New 
Orleans. While coming up the river from that city the second time he 
was taken sick and went to Cincinnati for treatment. Upon his recovery 
he started with a companion afoot to Peoria, Illinois. While hunting and 
fishing along the Illinois river he was taken with the ague and went 
back to New York, where he spent the winter of 1851. In the follow- 
ing spring he came with Mr. Acker in a carriage, by way of Cleveland 
and Dayton, Ohio, to Fayette county, Indiana, where in February, 
1856, he vvas married to Caroline Acker, by whom he has a family of 
nine, living: Adella, born September 1857; Frank, October 1858; 
Ella V. (wife of Wm. Boyd), March 1860; Mary Jane, July 1862 (de- 
ceased June 1880); Sarah, May 1865; Willie F., September 1867; 
Alice. March 1872; Clara and Carrie (twins), August 1874. In 1857 
Mr. Avery came to Maytown and bought the N.E. J of Sec. 7 from 
John Dement. He since bought 200 acres from Ambrose Andrews, 
on the S. ^ of Sec. 5, forty acres of which he has sold. He and his 
family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Aniboy. For 
many years Mr. Avery has been prominently identified with Sunday- 
school work. He is in his second term as justice of the peace. In 
politics he is a greenback republican. He has been twice married, the 
first time in the State of New York. By tliis marriage he had one 
child. Theodore, born June 14. 1848. This son early evinced a desire 
to enter the military service, and having obtained the consent of his 
father, in 1864 lie enlisted in the 7th lii. Cav. as a recruit. He died of 
the measles the same fall at Springfield, Illinois, while his regiment 
were still encamped there. 

Thomas Boyd, farmer, Amboy, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, 
about 1813. His father's name was Robert, and his mother died when 
he was young. There were four in the family, he being the eldest. 
He received a limited education, chiefiy in night schools, and worked 
liard during his boyhood in factories, serving an apprenticeship of five 



MAY TOWNSHIP. 475 

years to learn the weaver's trade, whicli he followed for a short time. 
In 18-42 he was married to Mary Stuart. About that time he came to 
New Yoi'k city and worked for several years there and in Brooklyn at 
the molding business, which he had followed but little before. From 
the east he came to Ogle county and worked about ten years in the 
Grand Detour plow factory. In 1863 he moved to May township, 
Lee county, and bought 130 acres in Sec. 8, a part of it from the 
Illinois Central Railroad Company. Mr. Boyd has had a family of 
nine children : Robert, John, Mar}^ Elizabeth (deceased, aged nine 
years), George (deceased infant), Thomas, Joseph G., William, and 
Ellen. John enlisted in the 34th 111. Vols, in the fall of 1862, and 
was with his regiment till March 1864, when he was taken sick near 
Rome, Georgia. After being in the hospital for a time he died at home 
of consumption in the fall of 1864. Robert enlisted in the same regi- 
ment when it was organized, and after serving three years came home 
and spent the winter of 1864-5. He reenlisted in the spring of 1865, 
and was mustered out at the close of the war. Mary, wife of Hugh 
Roy, is living in Ogle county; Thomas is living in Wyoming terri- 
tory, and Joseph in Kansas. Both are married. Mr. Boyd and his 
family are Methodists, and in politics be is a republican. His father, 
Robert Boyd, came to New York in 1845. After living there two 
years he came to Ogle county and bought a farm near Grand Detour, 
and here he died. He married his second wife about four years before 
he left the old country. 

Hugh Fitzpatkick, farmer, Van Orin, Bureau county, was born in 
the province of Ulster, Ireland, April 1823. He was the eldest of 
three children. His parents were James and Mary (McBride) Fitz- 
patrick. The former died in 1848, the latter in 1835. His sister Ann 
came to New York in 1845 with some neio-hbors. She was married in 

o 

Pennsylvania to John Keefer, who is dead. She is now living in Chi- 
cago. The subject of this article landed in New Orleans January 8, 
1847. He remained there a few months, and then went to the State 
of New York. He was three years there and seven in Pennsylvania 
engaged in railroad construction. Mostof tliis time he was a foreman. 
He next appeared in May township. He first buuglit eighty acres from 
John Dement, on Sec. 19. He now owns the south half of this section. 
The east half of his farm he bought in 1875, from C. H. Chandler, an 
early settler, who obtained this land from tiie government. Mr. Fitz- 
patrick was married in the fall of 1850 to Ann DeLacy. Of their two 
sons, James, born October 1850, is living ; Bernard, born January 
1857, died an infant. The only brother of Hugh came to New York 
in 1848, and lived there and in Pennsylvania till 1862, when he enlisted 
in the 16th N. Y. Heavv Art. He died about three months later at 



476 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

or near Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, from sickness. Mr. Fitzpat- 
rick has held several oflBces in the town of May. He is a Roman 
Catholic, and a greenbacker in polities. 

Patrick McMaiion, farmer, Amboy, was born in the county of 
Limerick, province of Mniister, Ireland, in 1818. His fatlier, Thomas 
McMahon, was a farmer, and for many years iield a very respectable 
position as collector of certain public charges. His wife was Mary 
O'Brien, by whom he had three ciiildren. He died when they were 
young. Patrick McMalion obtained a good common school education. 
In July, 1841, he came to Rochester, New York, and worked in a to- 
bacco factory till October 1846. He then went to St. Louis, and lived 
there till 1849, doing the same work. From St. Louis lie went over- 
land to California, returning in 1852 by way of Aspinwall. While west 
he engaged in mining. In 1853 he came to La Salle, and began a 
grocery business. In 1856 he removed to Amboy and continued in the 
same till 1866. At this latter date Mr. McMahon bought from A. G. 
Moore, of New York, for .$2,000, 12(i acres of land, the E. |- of N.W. i 
and the N.W. ^ of N.W. J Sec. 2, town of May, and began farming. 
This farm has been much improved since he came onto it. He was 
married while in St. Louis, in 1847, to Ann Clancey. Of their issue 
eight are living: Charles, born November 1848; Mary Jane, October 
1853; Thomas, March 1855; William, January 1861; Alice, October 
1862; Joseph, November 1866; James, November 1868; Maurice, 
October 1870. Charles and Thomas arc living in Marshalltown, Iowa, 
the former married; and Mary is the wife of William Edwards, Amboy 
township. Mr. McMahon is a Roman Catholic. He has assessed the 
town of May since 1875, and previously sers-ed two terms as commis- 
sioner of highways. He is well educated, and possesses good business 
qualifications; to this he adds a manner and bearing singularly pleas- 
ing and courteous. 

William Cullen, farmer, Amboy, was born in We.xford county, 
province of Leinster, Ireland. His parents were Francis and Mar\' 
(Lawlass) Cullen, whoso family consisted of six children, all of whom 
have come at different times to this country to live. In 1S68 two sis- 
ters and a brother came to Utica, Oneida county. New York. Tiie 
ne.\t year the father and William came out to them, and in 1870 the 
mother and eldest eon came. In 1876 William Cullen came to the 
town of May, Lee county, and bought the E. A of N.W. J Sec. 16. It 
was unimproved land, there being a fence only on two sides of it. He 
was married in 1855, to Ellen Converse. Their family are: Mary, 
Ellen, Delia, Maggie, Johanna, Sarah, and Francis. Kate died about 
seven years ago, aged thirteen years. Mr. Cullen is sjiaring no pains to 
educate his family, and seems fully to realize the importance of such a 



MAY TOWNSHIP. 4Y7 

course. He used to vote tlie whig ticket, but is now a democrat, 
though non-partisan in his views of public matters. The family are 
Catholics. The mother and father of William Cullen both died in 
Maytown. 

Michael Baebon, farmer, Ambo}', was born in Ireland about 1825. 
He was the youngest but one in a family of nine children. Early in 
1865 he came to the citj' of New York, where he lived about two 
years. From there he came to Lee county and worked around in May 
and Amboy townships till 1875. He then bought the IST. i of N.W. J 
See. 16 from John Cullen. On this place he is now living. He was 
never married, and belongs to tiie Catholic church. Mr. Barron is a 
remarkably good-natured man. His parents were Michael and Mar- 
garet (Wlialen) Barron. 

William Dolan, farmer, Amboy, was born in the count}' of Long- 
ford, Leinster province, Ireland, April 27, ISIO. His parents were 
Michael and Ellen (Fenny) Dolan, of whose family of six he was the 
eldest. His £-reat-grandfather's property was coiitiscated and turned 
over to a Scotchman named Fatherston, who allowed the Dolans to 
retain the use of twenty acres of the estate as a freehold. William 
Dolan received a common school education. In 1828 he was a signer 
of the British emancipation bill. In' April, 1832, he landed in New 
York, having left his native country on a charge of disloj'alty that 
greater trouble might not befall his father's family. In September he 
went to Boston, and thence to Lowell, and bound himself out to learn 
wool spinning. While here he was married to Mary McKenna ; he 
also obtained his naturalization papers through the agency of Ben But- 
ler, then a 3'OLing legal student in Lowell. In September, 1837, Mr. 
Dolan s-rrived in Chicago with nearly $1,000. He went to laying 
stone en the canal, and taught school in the winter. In 1840 he 
came to Lee county and claimed a 160 aci'es on the E. ^ of See. 14, 
Maytown. He built on Sandy Hill, Sec. 3, and boarded laborers 
on the Old Illinois Central road. In 1846 he rented his farm and 
went to work as foreman in a woolen factory at Lockport, under his 
previous employer, Mr. Madison, afterward governor of Illinois. In 
1850 he returned to his farm, where he has since lived. He has held 
the office of justice of the peace for man}' years ; was supervisor of 
May twenty terms. Mr. Dolan is a man of wide information and is 
known by many eminent men in the State of Illinois. His family are: 
Edward A., born October 1840; John, October 1842; Mary, April 16, 
1847 (wife of Mr. McGuire, died April 1875, in May township) ; 
Micheal, September 1849; besides two children who died young. 
John enlished in Co. F, 75th III. Inf., as 2d sergeant. In the battle 
of Perryville he became greatly fatigued and was mustered out April 



478 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

1863, because of physical disabilit}'. Edward entered the service ia 
1862, and was witli Gen. Shields till that officer resigned, in 1863. 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 

Ill 1854 a petition was presented to the board of supervisors of Lee 
county to organize a new township, which at tiiat time composed a part 
of Amboy and Hamilton. The petition, to which a large number of 
names was attached, was voted upon and carried, and upon tiie new 
towiisliip was conferred the historic name of Marion. 

The lirst town meeting was held in April 1855. 

The iirst supervisor was Alford Wolcott; first assessor Sherman W. 
Caldwell ; first justices, Abram Morrison and A. S. Phillips; first town 
clerk, Simon Dykmaii ; first collector, David Morrison. 

The first permanent settler in Marion township was David Welty, 
who had formerly been a merchant in Buffalo, New York. Being in 
poor health, his physicians advised him to come west, and in 1838 he 
came to Lee county and located on See. 31-, in what was then Ham- 
ilton township, and now Marion. 

In tlie same year came W. 11. Blair, who located on St 24. 

In 1841 J. C. Haly, a native of Pennsylvania, located on Sec. 13. 

In 1846 R. Scott, a native of Scotland, settled on Sec. 15. 

When the (piestiun of voting bonds to the railroad came before tiie 
people of Marion, it was carried in the negative by an almost unan- 
imous vote. 

In 1876, through the efforts of Messrs. Conilerman, Jones and 
McCrystal, a station was located in the central part of the town, which 
is now known as Walton. This station is composed of one large eleva- 
tor, one store, one blacksmith and wagon shop. 

In the early part of January, 1870, one Spangler shot and killed 
Timothy Kane. Both were farmers and residents of Marion. The 
trouble between them arose from a dispute about some cattle. Kane's 
cattle had broken into Spangler's field, and the latter had shut tliem 
up in a lot, where they had been but a short time when Kane came 
and demanded their release. High words passed between the men, and 
Kane finally attempted to drive the cattle out of the lot, whereupon 
Spangler seized a gun secreted near at hand and shot and killed him. 
Spangler was afterward tried in Di.xon, and acquitted on the ground of 
self defense. 

The soil of Marion township is a sandy loam, and is as productive 
as any in the country. The land is mostly level or gently rolling. 

The log cabins and board shanties of the early settlers have mostly 
disappeared, and in their stead are seen pleasant and tasty dwellings. 



MARION TOWNSHIP. 479 

School buildings are numerous, and the rising generation of the town- 
ship have as good educational advantages as could be desired. 

The population of Marion is largely Irish, and politically' is demo- 
cratic. 

GEOKtfE Keith, farmer, Dixon, was bora in Aberdeenshire, Scot- 
land, May 7, 1818. His parents were George and Mary (Mills) Keith. 
Young George came to America and landed in Halifax, May 1841, on 
his birthday, which event he inaugurated by getting " how-come-you- 
so," through the machinations of some of the sailors on board. He 
worked in Halifax some three years at gardening, and was married to 
Miss Ann Eddie April 18-1:4. She was also a native of Scotland, and 
died in this township in 1875, at about sixty years of age. Mr. Keith 
moved to York state from Halifax, then to Michigan, and to Illi- 
nois in 1845, working a number of years in the nursery business at 
Rockford, when, after losing several thousand dollars by an unscru- 
pulous party, he left and finally located in Marion township in the 
winter of 1861-2, and after paying his board to Mr. Brooks he had 
the magnificent sum of four cents in his pocket with which to support 
a wife and eight children. To cap his misfortunes, the second day 
after his arrival his children were taken sick with intermittent fever, 
lasting several weeks, he having been their attending physician. By 
his ministering care he landed them safely from the sick bed to health, 
and they are all living and well to-day. By his indomitable energy he 
has come out of his misfortunes and now has under cultivation a 240- 
acre tract. The children are as follows : Mary Ann, George, William, 
Margaret, Ellen, Frank, Fred, and Jemima. 

Arthur McCetstal, Walton, son of William and Ann McCrystal, 
was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1837. In 1843 he came with 
his father to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, district of Richmond, and 
there received his education. In 1855 he came with his father to Lee 
county. His father bought land in N.E. J of Sec. 22, in Marion town- 
ship. Arthur was supervisor two years, and in 1877 was the greenback 
candidate for sheriff, and received 890 votes. Mr. McCrystal was mar- 
ried in 18f)8, to Miss Bridget Sheridan, also a native of Ireland. He is 
a prosperous farmer and also quite a pi'ominent politician. 

Ben.ta>iix Brooks, Dixon, son of Asa and Dorcas Brooks, was 
born in Tolland county, Connecticut, where he resided until forty-five 
years of age. During his residence there he was engaged in farming 
and lumbering. In 1840 Mr. Brooks was elected to the legislature 
from his district, which position he held for one year. In the spring 
of 1856 he came to Lee county and bought W. i of N.W. ^ of Sec. 
9. Since that time he has been a prominent citizen of Marion town- 
ship. He served several terras as supervisor, and during the rebellion 



480 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

took an active part in raising troops to aid in the suppression of the 
rebellion, besides contributing largely out of his private funds. Mr. 
Brooks was married in 1S29, to Miss Martha Wilbur, bv whom he had 
eight children, of which two only are living. 

CnAKLES E. Abell, Walton. The subject of tliis sketch is the 
son of Jabez L. and Sarah Abell, and was born in Middlesex county, 
Connecticut, in 18i9. He resided there until seven years of age, when 
he moved with his father's family to De Kalb county, Illinois, and 
remained ten years. At the end of that time he came to Marion town- 
ship and bought land in Sec. 11. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Abell moved 
to the village of Harmon, where he spent three years in teaching school. 
In 1877 he returned to Marion township and engaged in the dry-goods 
and grocery business at Walton Station, and is also buying grain at 
that place. He was married in 1873, to Miss Lvdia A. Rathburn, a 
native of Lee county. 

James R. Hawkins, Ainboy, son of John R. and Lucretia Hawkins, 
was born in Lorain county, Ohio, in 1840. He remained there until 
eight years of age, when he came with his father to Lee eountj'. His 
father purchased land in Sees. 8 and 10, in East Grove township, where 
he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1855. On March 
3, 18(35, Mr. Hawkins enlisted in Co. E, 7th 111. Cav., and was dis- 
charged November 7 of the same year, and since that time has been 
engaged in farming in East Grove township. 

Franklin H. Church, Walton, son of Elisha and Rhoda Church, 
was born in Broome count}'. New York, in 1825. He resided in his 
native county until twenty-nine j-ears of age. In 1854 he came to 
Dixon and engaged in a store as clerk, in which position he continued 
for eight months, and afterward engaged at various pursuits during his 
residence of two years in Dixon. In 1856 he came to Marion town- 
ship and bought land in Sec. 2, where he has since that time resided. 
Mr. Church was married in 1852, to Miss Hannah Waters, also a native 
of New York. 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 

This township is situated in the extreme northwest of Lee county, 
being bounded on the west by Wliitesides county, on the north by Ogle 
county, on the east by Dixon township, and on the south by Rock 
river. It embraces the southern ^ of T. 22 N., and the N. W. i of T. 
21 N., R. 8 E. of the 4th P. M. Beginning at the northwest corner of 
the county the boundary line runs east on the county line between Ogle 
and Lee counties, to the line between ranges 8 and 9 east ; and thence 
south on said line to its junction with Rock river; thence down said 








John H. Page 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 481 

river, southwest to the county line between Whitesides and Lee coun- 
ties ; thence north on said line to the place of beginning; making the 
townsliip six miles wide from west to east, while the irregularity of the 
southern boundary- on the river, from the northeast to the southwest, 
contracts the eastern boundary to four and a half miles, and extends 
the western line to near nine miles in length; embracing an area of 
about 4,640 acres. 

A topographical description of this township is introduced by one 
of her citizens, who daslies off like a laughing school- boy on a cold De- 
cember morning, as follows : " Connect not the name with visions of 
shady groves of waving palms, with bubbling fountains and breezes 
laden with the scent of the myrtle and orange, the lime and the almond ; 
none such are to be found in the place whose history 1 am recording, 
and such visions would soon fade before the furious blasts of our north- 
ern winters, with the air filled with snowflakes, and the leafless trees 
swaying under fierce assaults of Boreas. No warlike Zenobia leads us 
on to victory, but in her sttad we follow the milder divinities, Ceres, 
Pomona, and Flora. Think not, however, because we can boast of none 
of these things in which lie the beauty of ancient Palmyra, the modern 
has no charms of her own. These are to be found in her broad, fertile 
plains, once covered with a profusion of juic^^ grasses and flowers of 
every brilliant hue, in her stately groves of maple and walnut, of ash 
and oak, in the impetuous rush of the crystal Rock river, rolling her 
tide to join the Father of Waters, her surface broken with the sportive 
gambols of bass and perch, the leaping sturgeon and rushing pike — and 
even in the silver thread of Sugar creek, which once could boast of 
turning a saw-mill." 

The physical geography of the township is not of special interest, 
apart from its attractions to the agriculturist who seeks a liome on fertile 
soil and in a salubrious atmosphere. The face of the country is gently 
rolling, and in places presents to the eye the appearance of the swell- 
ing and receding of the great waves of the ocean. Along the Rock 
river it becomes blufty, and in places rugged ; but not so grand and 
precipitous as on the Ohio river, or the streams of the northwest. 

The drainage is good, presenting the land in the most favorable 
condition for cultivation, embracing almost every acre of her soil. The 
greatest portion of the township is drained by Sugar creek, which 
enters on the north, meandering southward to the central portion of 
the township, passing through Sugar Grove, then westward emerging 
from the township three miles south of the northwest corner of the 
county. This stream drains the northern, central, and western portion 
of the township, and supplies running water to the many cattle that 
graze upon its banks on the beautiful farms through which it flows. 
29 



482 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

The eastern and southern portion of the township is drained b\' Rock 
river and small tributaries that mingle their waters with those of that 
stream. 

Palmyra township was well supplied with timber, maple, sugar and 
soft wood, oak of different species, black walnut, ash and poplar. The 
southeast quarter of the township bordering on the river is covered with 
forest, while Sugar Grove covers three or four sections northwest of 
the township. The timber supply in the days of pioneer history of the 
country was of much importance; indeed, it was a necessity, as there 
was no means of access to coal supply as fuel or means of transportation 
of lumber but by teams across the prairie from Chicago, as it was con- 
veyed for some of the first frame buildings in Dixon. The first settle- 
ments were along the borders of the forest groves. This natural 
provision in Palmyra induced many of the first emigrants to the 
county to settle within her borders in preference to the prairie town- 
ships. The soil of Palmyra is adapted to a variety of agricultural 
products, wheat, corn, rye, oats, among the staple grains; clover and 
timothy grasses furnishing good pasturage and fodder. Garden prod- 
ucts grow lu.xuriantly and of the finest quality. The geological 
deposits of the townsiiip are valuable to the mechanics and arts of the 
countr}'. The finest building-stones are found along the river, those 
most valued being in the neighborhood of" Hazel wood Farm," formerly 
owned by "' Gov." Charters, three miles above Di.xon. Besides the 
valuable quarries which furnish stone for building purposes and quick- 
lime manufacture are found gravel-pits along the river, most valuable 
for macadamizing improvements. The attractions of Palmyra are many 
to lovers of a rural home. The broad, rolling prairies, shady groves 
and running brooks of her interior, and her rounded hills and forest- 
covered blutfs along river borders, furnish great attractions for a 
country home. 

E.\RLY HISTORY. 

In a letter to the "Dixon Sun," afterward published in the "His- 
tory of Dixon and Palmyra," the writer says: "The first settlers in 
the town of Palmyra were the Morgan family, old Mr. Morgan and his 
sons Harvey and John, with whom came Benjamin Stewart. This 
was in the spring of 1834, two years after the war with the Sacs and 
Foxes. The only white man in this part of the county was Mr. John 
Dixon, settled at Dixon's Ferry. Numbers of Indians, principally 
Winnebagoes, still remained here, hunting in bands through the country, 
having their headquarters at Prophetstown and Frecport. They were, 
however, quite peaceable, though occasionally stealing a few potatoes or 
some corn. The Morgans and Stewart settled on the south side of 
Sugar Grove, and in the autumn of the same year and early in 1835 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 483 

several others eanie in, Wriglit and Tomlin, of tlie present Myers' 
farm; Capt. Oliver Hubbard; John H. Page and Fellows; Absalom 
Fender with a large family, and W. W. Bethea ; Daniel Obrist and Mr. 
Thummel, a brother of the C. B. Thnmmel ; Harris; Keplinger; 
Nathan Morehouse ; Sales ; Thomas, with his two sons, Enoch and 
Noah, who settled in the southwest corner of the town, in Walnut 
Grove; two brothers, Sandy and Elkanah Bush, and Martin Richard- 
son. Of all these early settlers there only remain at present, living in 
the town, Mrs. Tilton, the widow of Capt. Hubbard, and W. W. Bethea. 
E. B. Bush and Tomlin were the first justices of the peace. Bush, 
however, never qualified. They were succeeded by Harvey Morgan 
and W. W. Bethea. 'Squire Morgan remained for many years the 
factotum of the town, serving as justice of the peace, probate justice and 
town clerk. The first teaching of the young idea, not how to shoot, for 
that was learned readily enough, but of the mysteries of the alphabet, 
was given by Mrs. Hubbard, but no regular school was established 
until 1838, wlien a frame building, never finished, was put up. In 
order to accommodate the greater number this was built in the center 
of Sugar Grove, about a mile and a half from any dwelling. Here for 
two winters 'Squire Bethea birched the boys and coaxed the girls. 

" E. B. Bush was the first postmaster. I suppose his duties in the 
wilderness were not very onerous. He had, however, a deputy by the 
name of Kellogg at Buffalo Grove. Martin Richardson told me that 
on one occasion Bush was going to settle with his deput}', and, said he, 
'As he thought old man Kellogg was kind of ugly and might cut up 
rough, he would have me go 'long with him, and said I must carr\- a 
pistol. I never felt so mean in my life. I kept a raminin' the thing 
into my pocket, but it would keep a pokin' out, and I thought everyone 
I met would see what I was carrying.' However, old man Kellogg did 
not cut up rough, and they had no occasion to use the pistol. This 
Richardson was a most favorable specimen of the western pioneer, an 
excellent farmer, the best of neighbors, and the most liberal of men, yet 
he dearly loved a free fight, where everyone was at liberty to ' go in.' 
I remember on one occasion, when he was no longer j'oung, a young 
fellow by the name of Heickus commenced blackguarding him while he 
was engaged in pulling a ferry-boat, thinking himself safe, as Richard- 
son was some distance from the shore. The old man jumped into the 
river, waded ashore, ran down Heickus, and seizing him by his flowing 
hair administered several hearty kicks. Sued before the squire he was 
fined §5. 'This,' said Heickus, as he put the money in his pocket, 
'will buy my wife a new dress.' 'Yes,' said Richardson, 'and, by 
ginger! the next time I tell you 1 will clothe the whole family." 

"Our infant settlement, in spite of an occasional scrimmage, the 



484 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

greatest cordiality prevailed among the few inhabitants of the town. 
Old settlers always look back with fondness to the good old times 
when such universal friendly feeling existed. The prairie once broken, 
the crops grew almost without labor, as there were so few weeds and 
the land so fertile. What few supplies they needed, or could atford, 
such as flour or groceries, were hauled b}' ox teams from Peoria, and 
their own produce brought a high price among the miners in Galena. 
Some of the new-comers brought nothing with them but mouths to 
feed. Of such was Sales, of Sales' Spring. To buy a bushel of corn 
he had to split one hundred rails. Taking his corn home he cut a hole 
in a log, over which he fastened a spring pole with an iron wedge in- 
serted in the end of it. Working the pole up and down, he mashed 
the corn ; then sifting it, the finer portions he used for meal and the 
coarser for hominy. He was a great hunter, and as game was very 
abundant, the river full of fish and covered with ducks and geese, he 
and his family suffered no lack. There was no grist-mill nearer than 
Peoria, until Joseph Wilson, an old Brandy wine miller, came to settle 
on the Elkhorn creek, when the settlers turned out in a body and put 
up a log mill on the Elkhorn a short distance above the present mill. 
It was a rough looking structure, but I have never tasted finer flour 
than Joe Wilson made from the splendid winter wheat of those daj's. 
Until flouring-mills were erected in Dixon, however, owing to the dry- 
ness of tlie creeks in summer we were often obliged to go as far as 
Aurora, on the Fox river, to get wheat ground. 

"Dan. Obrist was drowned while seining in Elkhorn creek, and was 
succeeded by his brother, Abram, who put up a saw-mill on Sugar 
creek. This was a great accoiinnodation to the settlers, who could thus 
get flooring and door and window frames for their log houses, instead of 
having to hew them. They could even build frame barns, the flrst, I 
believe, being built and is still standing on the Seavey place, then 
owned by Ben Stewart. On these occasions the whole settlement 
would be called upon to help raise. There would be lots of hog and 
hominy washed down by copious libations of Fred. Dutchers pure 
corn whisky, and the barn would be duly raised and then christened 
by breaking a bottle over the purlin plate, Abner Moon or Ruben 
Eastwood being generally chosen to perform this ceremony on account 
of their stentorian voices." 

The flrst attempt at manufacturing was made by Mr. E. B. P>usli, 
mentioned above, who built a saw-mill, and also an oil-mill for the 
manufacture of castor and linseed oil. To obtain grist for his oil-mill 
he induced a number of the neighboring farmers to devote a large 
portion of their lands to raising flaxseed and castor-oil beans, promis- 
ing them a dollar a bushel for either of these products. This, in those 



PALIITEA TOWNSHIP. 485 

days of moneyed scarcity, seemed a sure road to fortune, and we went 
at it with a will. The crop was a splendid one, but in the absence of 
threshing machines, how to separate the seed from the flax was the 
query. We tried tramping it out with horses, as we did the wheat 
and oats, but the flax was soon trodden into ropes which entangled the 
horses' feet, and we had finally to abandon it altogether. Nor were 
we more successful with the castor beans ; some small quantity was 
gathered in baskets, and as they were pleasant to the eye and the 
palate, manj^ children required no more castor oil that season. About 
the time of harvesting the beans Bush's mone^' gave out, and the bulk 
of the crop rotted on the ground. He had taken in as a partner a 
young man whose contribution to the joint stock was a colt valued at 
thirty dollars and muscle for the hard work. When the business failed 
tliis partner sued him for wages, and the case being referred " to three 
men," as was the custom of the day, they awarded him half wages. 
This was in 1841, and was, I believe, the first attem])tat manufacturing 
in our neighborhood. 

"A man bearing the name of Smith was the first blacksmith in the 
settlement. He soon left and was followed by James Carley, who for 
many years shod the horses, sharpened the ploughs, sighted the rifles, 
and did all the thousand and one jobs of tinkering that the people 
could not do for themselves. He was a most skillful workman and a 
great power in the settlement, for on the approach of winter there 
would be such a demand for his services in shoeing horses that turns 
would be engaged sometimes a week in advance, and woe betide the 
man that did not stand high in his good graces. Carley took his pay 
in kind — wheat, corn, pork, etc. — and consequently, though burning 
his own charcoal, he furnished no iron, and it exercised all his ingenu- 
ity to convert the various scraps that were brought to him into the 
required shoe, etc. I remember on one occasion his usual blasphemy 
found unusual vent at being required to forge a horseshoe out of a 
broken monkey-wrench. A curious attachment existed between Carley 
and a poor slave of the bottle bj' the name of Beach. This Beach be- 
longed to a highly respectable familj' in the east, and had received an ex- 
cellent business education. He kept Carley's books, which were models 
of neatness. He also blew the bellows and fetched the whisky from 
Dixon. Old settlers will ever remember this mass of rags and pimples, 
his head crowned with a dilapidated old stove-pipe, always filled with 
greasy newspapers, which he greedily devoured when he had leisure. 

" By the spring of 1840 the settlement had gained considerable 
accession to its members and contained about sixty voters. In addi- 
tion to those I have already named, there were four families of Martins, 
two of Powers (distinguished as Yankee and Kentuck), two of Law- 



486 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

rences, Graham, Law, Baker, Hutton, Gaston, Holly, Coe, Muller, two 
of Johnsons, Parks, Beede, and some others. 

"The failure of the United States Bank had caused numbers of 
local banks to spring into existence, which flooded the country with 
their worthless paper, and gave great apparent prosperity to the coun- 
try : but by the year 1840 all of these, together with the State Bank 
of Illinois, had passed out of existence, and hard times set in. Emi- 
gration was checked, and tliere being no longer any demand nearer 
than Chicago for the surplus produce the price of wheat fell from 82 
per bushel to 25 and 30 cents, corn from a dollar to 10 cents, beef and 
pork to 1^ and 2 cents per pound, and even these prices were nominal, 
wheat being: the onlv article that would sell for cash. This was hauled 
to Chicago in loads of thirty and forty bushels, and sold for 63 to 
75 cents. The farmer generally took with him his own provisions, 
grain for his horses, scythe, axe and auger; slept under his wagon ; and 
calculated that the tri]), which generally required a week, should cost 
him nothing but his time. Some were fortunate enougii to secure a 
return load from the store-keeper, at the rate of 40 cents per hundred 
pounds, for a distance of 116 miles. The proceeds of the trip were 
carefully hoarded for the land sale. But if proHts were small, expenses 
were equall}' small. Few had a hundred dollars invested in farm ma- 
chinery. Beyond the iron in the plowshare, the steel in the hoe, 
axe, scythe, and blade of the "turkey-wing cradle," all was of wood, 
and generally home-made. Taxes were merely nominal, three com- 
missioners, an assessor and collector doing all the business of the county. 
1 have an old tax receipt for $1.50 in full on a farm of 420 acres, fairly 
stocked for that day. 

" A man dressed as his fancy dictated, some entirely in buckskin of 
their own tanning. Tiie appearance of one figure I shall never forget 
as he went about dressed in the remains of what had been a bright- 
colored dressing-gown, the srift of a city friend ; on his head a coon- 
skin cap, witli the tail hanging down between his shoulders ; moccasins, 
and a long rifle, with spotted fawnskin pouch. 

"But enough of the old days; Palmyra has her full share of the 
prosperity of the country which she has aided so largely to develop. 
The log houses of the early settlers have given place to numerous 
tasty dwellings and commodious barns. Tlie many neatly painted 
school-houses show the regard paid to education. Among them 
is a fine brick building, intended as a graded school, put up at a 
cost of $3,000. On the grounds in front of this stands the monument 
erected to the memory of those sons of Palmyra whose blood enriched 
the southern battle-fields — sons who Palmyra has always freely given 
when her country called for them. In addition to the usual country 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 



487 



shops, Mr. John Lord, a son of one of the early settlers, has built up 
from small beginnings an extensive wagon and carriage shop, which 
from the excellence of the material and workmanship has attained a 
great reputation as well outside as in the town. Mr. Al)ijah Powers, 
a settler of '38, has not only added many fair acres to the original 
claim, but he was the first to introduce tiie fine short-horn cattle into 
the countjr, and has now a numerous herd. For nuiny years the farm- 
ers were a rich source of plunder to the numerous tire insurance com- 
jjanies, but in 1865 the Palmyra Fire Insurance Company was originated 
by an association of a few farmers. This company, which insures 
nothing but farm property and country school buildings, is managed 
by a president, secretary and treasurer and thirteen managers. It 
has- insurance on $065,175 worth of property. Insures for §-3 per 
$1,000, with membership fee of $1. The insurance is perpetual and 
there is no further demand on the insured except in case of loss b}^ 
fire, when a pro rata assessment is laid. How slight this tax is maj' be 
judged from the fact that in the eleven years of its existence the total 
assessments have not yet reached one per cent. 

" In these western towns, settled by persons from so many foreign 
countries and parts of the Union, the effects of our form of govern- 
ment and institutions are seen in the most favorable light. Here the 
poor emigrant, finding no bar to the acquisition of propert}' and pur- 
suit of happiness, rapidly develops into the well-to-do American citizen. 
The New Englander losing his narrowness, while retaining his thrift 
and intelligence, finds here a wider field for their exercise, and the 
Southerner, still liberal, acquires industry, economy and education." 

Justices of the peace and constables of Palmyra township from 
1839: 

MAGISTRATES. 
1863. 



1839. Levi Gaston. 

1839. W. W. Bethea. 

1843. Mathias Schick. 

1843. W. W. Bethea. 

1847. Henry A. Coe. 

1847. James M. Johnson. 

1851. W. W. Bethea. 

1851. W. W. Tilton. 

1855. W. W. Bethea. 

1855. Mathias Schick. 

1859. W. W. Bethea. 

1859. Mathias Schinck. 



W. W. Tilton. 

1863. W. W. Bethea. 

1867. W. W. Tilton. 

1867. W. W. Bethea. 

1871. W. W. Bethea. 

1871. W. W. Tilton. 

1874. W. W. Tilton. 

1874. W. W. Bethea. 

1877. W. W. Bethea. 

1877. Eenjamine Staufter. 

1881. Benjainine Stauflfer. 

1881. Alfred Beede. 



488 



HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 







CONSTABLES. 




1839. 


E. H. Johnson. 


1863. 


No record. 


1839. 


D. P. Cantrall. 


1863. 


No record. 


1843. 


Martin Fender. 


1867. 


No record. 


1843. 


W. W. Tilton. 


1867. 


No record. 


1847. 


James M. Johnson. 


J871. 


No record. 


1847. 


W. W. Tilton. 


1871. 


No record. 


1851. 


Charles Columbia. 


1877. 


David W. Stevens. 


18.51. 


William V. Mason. 


1877. 


Robert J. Dryman. 


1854. 


Charles A. Martin. 


18S1. 


Robert J. Dryman. 


1854. 


Dana L. Columbia. 


1881. 


David W. Stevens. 


1859. 


No rectrd. 







PRAIRIEVILLE. 

This village is located about seven miles north of west of the city 
of Dixon, in the western part of Palmyra township, on the N.W. \ 
of N.W. I Sec. 5, in T. 21 N., R. 8 E., of the 4th P.M., at the in- 
tersection of the Dixon and Sterlino; road by the Sterling and Polo 
road. It was located by Messrs. Abijah Powers, Phillip Schock, Sam- 
uel Shaw, and Windthrop Seavey, and surveyed b}' Milton Santee, 
April 10, 1855. 

There was located on this site a smith-shop by Mathias Schick as 
early as 1843. The present smith-shop is conducted by Fnrley Broth- 
ers. The first store was opened by Elisha Ryder seven or eight years 
ago, which was followed in a year or two later by another, opened by 
Charles Fnrley, both of which arc still in operation. The village 
school-house is a two-story brick structure surrounded by a belfry. 
The interior is divided into four apartments for the accommodation 
of the several school departments. It is a beautiful edifice, reflecting 
credit upon the intelligence of the community in which it stands. It 
is located in a pleasant, shady lawn. In the front of the school-grounds 
stands the soldier monument, erected to tlic honor of the sons of Pal- 
myra who died in the service of their country during the war of the 
rebellion, and on which their names are engraved. It is of marble, 
and was built at a cost of $800 or $900, which was met by voluntary 
subscriptions from the citizens of I'almyra township. 

There is a new church edifice, which is occupied alternately by the 
Congregational and Lutheran denominations. Tiie first Congregational 
preaching in the neighborhood was in 1846, by Rev. Amnon Gaston, 
brother trj Levi Gaston, now residing in Palmyra. Mr. Gaston preached 
for the congregation at this place and at the Gap for seven or eight 
years, and has since deceased. 

The Lutheran church was first represented in this vicinity by Rev. 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 489 

C. B. Thummel, wlio commenced preaching for the society about 1846, 
and continued with the society up to 1877, when lie preached his 

semi-centennial sermon, retirine: from the active ministry. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John C. Jacobs. Great events in ever}' career are those that stand 
as landmarks to point the route of the traveler as he has made his way 
slowly but surely from iucipiency to manhood's ripest years. There is 
no completely written life. But grasping here and there a fact and 
adjusting them as a continuous set of lenses, one can look through 
them and see the smaller acts, the liner threads of principle that have 
made the life what it is or what it has been. In bainess, as in wai-, 
there are constant promotions of the successful operator, and each pro- 
motion is a victory won, for " Peace hatii her victories no less than 
war." The parents of John C. Jacobs were Corbin and Mary (Rice) 
Jacobs, botli natives of Fredericktown, Maryland, and of English 
descent. Corbin Jacobs was a contractor and builder. He was a 
superior workman, having superintended the erection of many build- 
ings around Harper's Ferrj', handsome residences and large church 
edifices. In the early days of Ohio he moved from Mar^-land and set- 
tled near Chillicothe, Ohio, but later returned to his native state, where 
lie died September 17, 1832, aged forty-four years. He was a very 
prominent member of the Episcopal church. He served in the war of 
1812. His brothers were John, who died in 1869 near Dayton, 
Ohio, his home, and Lenox Compton (a half brother), who died in 
1879, also at his home near Dayton. Mrs. Corbin Jacobs was spared 
to aid her son, John C, in rearing the family of six children: Benja- 
min L., John C, Oliver C, Maria, Ann Virginia and William F. She 
died November -1, 1844, in Maryland. Betijamin L. became military 
director of railroads in the south, and died in 1863. William F. grad- 
uated at William and Mary's College, became an Episcopal minister 
and died in 1867. Ann V. died in 1877, and Maria died in 1878, leav- 
ing as survivors John C. and Oliver C, the latter of whom is now a 
thrifty farmer near Palmyra, Missouri. The principal character in this 
sketch is John C. Jacobs, whose birth happened November 15, 1819, 
near Chillicothe, Ohio. He was three years of age when his parents 
returned to Maryland. The death of his father left John at the age of 
thirteen j'ears as the chief support of the family ; reverses in building 
contracts having proved serious to the fortune of the elder Jacobs. 
John immediately applied himself to such labor as came within his 
ability. He worked one year on a farm for $15 and clothes, at the end 
of which year he received as his savings $2.50, which he expended in 
five bushels of potatoes at fifty cents a bushel. He continued his 



490 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTT. 

labors on the farm for a time, and when not fanning earned what 
he could with his ax chopping wood by the cord, or doing other job 
work. In 1S63 he cared for a team of horses for the Chesapeake and 
Ohio Canal Packet Company till the canal froze, when he resumed his 
wood chopping. It was about this time tliat a circninstance iiappcned 
that probably shaped the beginning of a successful career for young 
Jacobs. His Uncle, Lenox Compton, then of Ohio, offered the lad 
IfiO acres of land and promised to aid him in starting. Friends and 
mother advised the boy to accept his uncle's offer, and to start imme- 
diately overland and on foot 400 miles to Dayton. The day ap- 
proached for his departure from home. He weighed every hope and 
doubt. How would his mother and children live without his help, 
although meager as it was ? How could he get aid to his mother if he 
should be successful ? for there were no railroads then. Suddenly he 
resolved not to go Ohio but to stay with his mother, brothers and sis- 
ters, earn what he could and care for them as far as possible, let come 
what would. He made known his resolve to his mother, began his 
labors afresh and with renewed determination. April 3, 1837, he be- 
gan work on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad between Point of Rocks 
and Harper's Ferry, at eighty-seven and a half cents a day. Flour at 
that time was §13 a barrel, so that a month's work barely provided 
necessaries. Death (by accident) of a brakeman, November 10 follow- 
ing, made a vacancy, and young Jacobs was promoted to the position 
with a slight advance in wages. In June following the removal of the 
train deprived him of this place, and his work was such as supplying 
engines with fuel etc. In the fall of 1838 he became fireman on an 
engine at $45 per month, when each montii seemed a harvest to him. 
As times were good or bad his wages were somewhat changed. After 
one year's service on the main line he was sent to the Washington 
branch between Washington and Baltimore. In the fall of 1842 he 
became a locomotive engineer at §2 a day, running also west of 
Harper's Ferry to Cumberland hauling iron for construction. After 
five years in that position he controlled an engine employed in assist- 
ing passenger trains and heavily loaded engines over grades etc. between 
Hancock and Harper's Ferry till 1850, his wages having reached §;2.25 
per day. Mr. Jacobs next became supervisor of engines between Bal- 
timore and Cumberland, the companj' having at that time 207 locomo- 
tives. In 1853 he was sent to Kingwood tunnel to hasten the business of 
construction of the road and cutting of the tunnel, receiving now $130 
per month. He was then kept mostly west of Cumberland, and aided 
in the construction of the road at Board Tree tunnel. After the com- 
pletion of the road he became train-master and supervisor of engines 
on the same road between Piedmont and Wheeling, continuing till 



PALYMRA TOWNSHIP. 491 

September 1856, when tlie Illinois Central Railroad Company offered 
him his present position. He severed his connection with the Balti- 
more & Ohio Company September 30, and starting west arrived at 
Amboy, Illinois, October 8, 1856, and assumed the superintendency of 
the north division from Centralia to Dubuque, including 347 miles of 
road. A successful career of nearly a half century from penurj' to 
very comfortable circumstances, a career in whieli many incidents have 
happened that cannot be recorded here, finds Mr. Jacobs yet able, ap- 
parently, for many years' useful labor. A quarter of a century's resi- 
dence in Amboy and Lee county has made him many warm friends, 
especially among the employes of the Illinois Central railroad. Mr. 
Jacobs was married November 4, 1846, to Harriet A. Hough, daughter 
of Samuel H. Hough, of Middletown, Connecticut. She was born Janu- 
ary 21, 1821. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are Molly H., 
who died September 27, 1868, aged twenty years ; John C. (died when 
young) ; William F. and Charles C, both of whom have positions on 
the road. 

One of the earliest as well as one of the most esteemed and dis- 
tinguished names which is met with in the search for biographical data 
in Palmyra township is that of Page ; and although no direct representa- 
tive of the family now resides within the township, yet the respect and 
confidence which all who bore the name won and merited from their 
fellow-townsman will not fade for many a year. John H. Page, now 
deceased, was one of several natives of Strafford county, New Hamp- 
shire, who came to Palmyra at a very early day and took up a residence 
there. Stephen Fellows and James T., William and Jacob Martin were 
also members of this colony, all coming within a year or two of each 
other. Mr. Page was born at Rochester, New Hampshire, in 1806, and 

was the grandson of Joseph, and the son of David and (Ham) 

Page. His mother was descended from a family who located at Bangor, 
Maine, at an early period. Mr. Page was brought up and received a 
common school education at Sandwich, New Hampshire, and following 
in the footsteps of his father, on arriving at manhood he became a farmer : 
but being ambitious and energetic, he decided to abandon the sterile 
and rocky soil of the Granite State and seek a more fruitful reward of 
his labors upon the fertile prairies of Illinois. He reached Lee county 
in the fall of 1834 and located upon government land in the townsliip 
of Palmyra. He built himself a log house, it being the second or 
third erected in the town, and engaged in farming, and continued on 
the same farm until 1868, when he sold out and removed to Menlo, 
Iowa, where he died in 1870. Mr. Page was first married at Sand- 
wich, New Hampshire, in 1833, to Miss Julia M. Fellows, daughter 
of Stephen Fellows, who removed to Lee county at the same time with 



492 HISTORT OF LEE COUNTY. 

liis daughter and son-in-law. Mrs. Page died at Palmyra in 1856, and 
in 1858 Mr. Page was again married, to Mrs. Sarah B. (Jenness^Wiggin. 
The result of the union of John 11. and Julia (Fellows) Page was eight 
children, four of whom are still living, three sons and one daughter. 
The former, George H., David S. and William B., all reside in Europe, 
and the daughter, Julia M., is the widow of the late James W. Harris, 
of Lee county. George H., eldest son of John H. Page, was the first 
child born in the town of Palmyra, tliat event occurring on May 16, 
1836. He acquired a common school education in his native town and 
was then sent to the seminary at Mount Yernon, Iowa, (now known as 
Cornell College,) of which his uncle, Samuel Fellows, was one of the 
founders and the first principal. Another uncle, Stephen K. Fellows, 
was a teacher in the same institution. After leaving school Mr. Page 
engaged in farming for a short time, hut soon after the outbreak of the 
rebellion obtained a clerkship in the war department at Washington, 
where he remained for three years. In 1866 he went to Switzerland, 
and in company with his brotliers Charles A. and David S. he embarked 
in the business of condensing milk, which was the first undertaking of 
the kind in Europe, and which has proved an immense success. The 
business has grown from almost nothing to a trade of over §3,000,000 
per year, and is now carried on by a joint stock company having a 
capital of $2,000,000, with six factories in Switzerland and England, 
and offices at London and Paris. Geo. H. Page is the general manager 
of the company, and his brother David S. is assistant general tnanager, 
both residing at Cham, Switzerland. The youngest brother, William 
B., also holds a position under the company. During some years of 
his residence in that country Mr. Geo. H. Page held the position of 
vice-consul at Zurich, Switzerland. He was married in 1875, to Miss 
Adelheid Swerzmann, of Zoug, Switzerland, and has one son, Fred H. 
Page, aged five years. At the time of this writing Mr. Page is in Di.xon 
visiting relatives and friends and renewing the associations of his youth. 
After a few months' sojourn in the United States he intends returning 
to Switzerland, but with no intention of residing permanently outside 
of his native country. It is proper in this connection that mention 
should be made of the career of Charles A. Page, the second son of John 
H. Page. He was born in Palmyra, May 22, 1838, and his early career 
was like that of his brother George. After graduating from Cornell 
College, he was for a year editor of a newspaper pul)lished at Mount 
Vernon, Iowa ; he then obtained a clerkship in tlie fifth auditor's office 
of the treasury department, Washington, where he remained some 
three or four years, when he became attached to the New York 
"Tribune" as a correspondent. During the war he accompanied the 
army of the Potomac as a field correspondent for the " Tribune," and 



PAL.MYRA TOWNSHIP. 493 

the vivid descriptions and graphic delineations of the marclies and bat- 
tles, the defeats and trinmphs of that heroic army published in the 
"Tribune" over the initials "C. A. P." will be well remembered by 
the older readers of that paper. He also was one of the party accom- 
panying the remains of President Lincoln to their last resting-place at 
Springfield. During the summer of 1865 he was appointed consul at 
Zurich, Switzerland, and held this office four years, when he became 
the manager of the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company's London 
office, which company he had been instrumental in forming, and held 
that position until his death on May 26, 1873. He was married in 
1868, to Miss Grace D. Coues, of Washington, D. C, and his widow 
and four surviving children now reside in that city. The career of these 
brothers is anotiier illustration of the business energy and pluck which 
characterizes the young men of this country. Reared on a farm in what 
was then the Far West they struck out conrageousl}^ and have suc- 
ceeded in establishing by their ability and enterprise an immense 
business in the heart of over-crowded Europe, and which not only brings 
fortune and reputation to themselves, but is the source from wliich 
hundreds of others derive a comfortable existence. 

Fkederick N. Parks, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of tiie town- 
ship, being born there on September 22, 1849, and is a son of Hiram P. 
and Martha (Moon) Parks, and both on his lather's and mother's side 
is related to some of tiie earliest settlers of the township, both fam- 
ilies having located in Palmyra some forty-five years ago. All of Mr. 
Parks' life has been spent in Palmyra, and ever since he was able to be 
of assistance on the farm he has followed that calling. For the past 
ten years he has been engaged in farming for liimself. He was mar- 
ried on Februar}- 7, 1872, to Miss Maria N. Sheeley, a resident of 
Guthrie, Iowa. Last winter Mr. and Mrs. Parks met with a severe 
blow in the death of their beloved and only child at the age of four 
years. Politically Mr. Parks is a republican. 

William Miller, deceased. Palmyra, was a native of Germany, and 
was born there in 1801. His parents were Frederick J. and Cecilia Mil- 
ler. His youth was passed in his native country, and in 1832 he came 
to America and settled at Philadelphia, where he remained until 1841, 
when he moved to Lee county, and purchased a farm in Palmyra town- 
ship, where he died May 1, 1871. He married Miss Anna Obrist, whose 
death occurred December 26, 1872. Henry E. Miller, son of the. above, 
is a native of Palmyra, having been born there on December 22, 1844. 
His whole life has been spent in his native town, and on the death of 
his father he took charge of the farm, and has since carried it on. He 
was married on December 25, 1869, to Miss Margaret Levan, of South 
Dixon, and has four children living : Charles M., aged seven ; Martha F., 



494 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

aged live; Edward H., aged tliree years, and John F., an infant son. 
Mr. Miller is a steadfast republican, and a nnember of the Lutheran 
church. 

Geokge a. Tl'cker, farmer, Palin^'ra, was born in Otsego county, 
New York, on May 7, lS-t9, and is the son of Hervey and Catharine 
E. (Arnold) Tucker. His father was a fanner, and died in the State of 
New York in the spring of 1865. His mother is now a resident of 
Palmyra. After completing his education Mr. Tucker engaged in 
farming in Otsego county, but when twentj'-two years of age removed 
to Lee county, and settled in Palmyra township, where he has since re" 
sided. Mr. Tucker was married in Otsego county in the fall of 1S74, 
to Miss Mary M. Windsor, a resident of tiiat county, and they liave 
one cliild, Hervey, who was born September 13, 1875. Mr. Tucker is 
a democrat, is a school director in the township, and a member of the 
Episcopal church. 

William A. Kintnek, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Wyoming 
county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of January, 1843, and is the son of 
William and Susanna (Heller) Kiutner. His father was a farmer, and 
in 1850 removed to Lee county and purchased the farm on which his 
son now resides, and there liis death took place, in 1857. Mr. Kintner 
received a common school education, but the death of his father occur- 
ring when he was 3'et a lad, threw the care and responsibility of con- 
ducting the farm upon his shoulders, and he proved himself fully equal 
to the emergency. He was married first in January 18C8, to Miss 
Lizzie Stuart, a resident of Nelson township, who died shortly after 
lier marriage. On March 19, 1872, he was again married, to Miss 
Fanny Clark, a daughter of George and Ann M. (Tuck) Clark. Mr. 
Kintner has one child by his first marriage, James E., aged tiiirteen 
3'ears. By the second marriage there are two children : Georgie, aged 
eight, and Nellie, aged si.\ years. In political sentiment Mr. Kintner 
is a republican. 

Walter L. Rogers, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of Upper Canada, 
where he was born in 1815. He is the son of Gilbert and Nancy 
(^Lockwood) Rogers. His father followed the occupation of a farmer, 
but died when the subject of this sketch was but two years old. After 
spending his youth and receiving his education in Canada Mr. Rogers 
removed to Monroe county. New York, and after residing there for 
three years came west and located in Palmyra township, in 1839, and a 
few years later purchased the farm on which he now resides. He was 
married in 1S44, to Miss Hannah Fellows, the daughter of Stephen 
and Rachel (McGaft'ey) Fellows. Mr. Fellows was a luitive of Stratford 
county, New Hampshire, where he was born November 18, 1786. He 
came to Palmyra township in 1834, and kept a tavern for several years 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 495 

where the residence of Mrs. R. C. Peck now stands. He was first mar- 
ried to Miss Pegg3' McGatfcy, in 1808, wlio died in 1823, and he then 
married the sister of iiis first wife, Miss Rachel McGaft'ey, who is still 
living and is a resident of Iowa. Mr. Fellows was the Either of fifteen 
children, ten of wliom are still living. Mr. Fellows' death occurred 
in ISiO. The familj^ of Mr. Rogers consists of six children, the eldest 
of whom, Lewis G., was born November 20, 1S46. He is a farmer 
and resides in Palmyra. Eliza M., born June 27, 1848, is the wife of 
Thomas H. Johnson and resides in Colorado; Alice A., born Febrnary 
27, 1853, is married to Howard Johnson, a resident of Palm^'ra; 
Mary E., born December 16, 1854, married to James P. Wilson, of 
Woosnng, Ogle county ; Anna, born July 14, 1856, and Flora A., born 
December 11, 1858, reside at home. Mr. Rogers is a thorough-going 
republican. He has been supervisor of his town and held various 
other local offices, and attends the Methodist Episcopal church. 

M. D. Hubbard, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Palmyra township, 
November 18, 1837, and is the son of Oliver A. and Eliza A. (Martin) 
Hubbard, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. Tliey re- 
moved to Illinois in 1836, and located in Palmyra township, where 0. 
A. Hubbard died a few years later. Mrs. Hubbard is still living and 
is the wife of W. W. Tilton, Esq., of Palmyra. M. D. Hubbard was 
the third child born in the town. He received his education at the 
neighboring schools, and when old enough engaged in farming. On 
May 10, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 13th 111. Vols., and after serving 
some two 3'ears was honorabl}' discharged on account of disability. 
After coming home he resumed farming, and in 1867 purchased the 
farm upon which he now resides. Mr. Hubbard was married February 
17, 1864, to Miss Blanche Coe, a resident of Palmyra, and they have 
four children. Winona, the eldest, is si.xteen 3'ears old ; Henr^' A., 
thirteen; Bert, eight ; and Ollie, four years. In his political views 
Mr. Hubbard is a supporter of the principles and policy of the demo- 
cratic party. 

Charles F. Furley, farmer, Prairieville, was born in Maryland, 
February 14, 1852, and is the son of James and Mar^' J. (Black) Fur- 
ley, both of whom are still living and have been residents of Maryland 
for many years, but are expecting soon to take up their abode in Pal- 
myra township. His father has been principally engaged in fiirming 
and stock dealing during his business career. Mr. Furley received his 
early education in his native state, and while still a boy learged the 
trade of chairmaking and general blacksmithing. For a number of 
years after serving his time he worked at his trade in various places 
both in the east and west, and Some seven or eight years ago he 
located at Prairieville, in Palmyra township, where he has since resided. 



496 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Besides carr^'ing on a blacksnntli shop Mr. Furley is engaged in farm- 
ing, buys and sells horses, and conducts a general store. Principally 
through the exertions of Mr. Furley a post-otKce was established at 
Prairievilie, in June 1878, and be was appointed postmaster, which 
office he still holds. He was married in Whitesides county, Illinois, 
April 21, 1873, to Miss Sarah H. Harvey, a niece of W. W. Bethea, 
Esq., well known throughout Lee county as one of the oldest settlers. 
One child has resulted from the marriage, Guy L. Furley, born No- 
vember 19, 1874. Mr. Furley is an active and stirring member of the 
republican party and is a young man uf much ability and enterprise. 

Theodore Wilson, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of Blair county, 
Pennsylvania, where he was born on May 8, 1847. He is the son of 
Franklin and Susannah (Bridenbaiigh) Wilson, wiio moved to Lee 
county in 1856, and located in Di.xon township, but moved about 
three years later to Palmyra township, where his father died in 1870. 
Mr. Wilson was brought up and acquired his education in Lee count}', 
and when old enough assisted his father in carrying on the farm, and 
after the death of the latter he continued farming on his own account. 
He was married. on August 1, 1871, to Miss Cassie M. Lovell, a native 
of the State of New York, and they have one child, Angier W., who 
was born January 23, 1880. Mr. Wilson is an earnest and active 
democrat, and his ability and devotion to principle command the 
respect of his fellow citizens without regard to party. He is a member 
of the Presbyterian church. 

Martix Wir.r.iAM Bkai kk, larmur, Palmyra, was born in Germany, 
in March 1815, and was the son of Jacob and Katrina (Schween) Brauer. 
He was educated in Germany, and while a lad shipped upon a merchant 
vessel as a sailor and followed the sea for about nine years. In 1840 
he emigrated to America, coining directly to Lee count}-, and after 
working for his brother-in-law for the space of a year he engaged in 
farming for himself, having owned and resided on the same property 
for over forty years. Mr. Brauer was married April 16, 1848, to Miss 
Helena Harms, in Germany, whither he had gone for that purpose. 
They have two children living, the eldest being Anton, who is farming 
in Whitesides county, Illinois, and Frank was living at the old home- 
stead. Mr. Brauer is a republican in political sentiment, and a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran church. 

William McGaffey, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of Sandwich, 
New Hampshire, where he was born June 24, 1828. The first of the 
family to settle in America was a native of Ireland, who participated 
in the siege of Londonderry, and was a firm supporter of the Protest- 
ant cause. He afterward came to this country and settled near Dover, 
New Hampshire. He left two sons, one of whom was the great- 





\ '00 



r - 







PALM YE A TOWNSHIP. 499 

grandfather of Mr. McGaffey. His grandfather Samuel was married 
in 1783 to Miss Lydia Sanborn, and they had a family of seven chil- 
dren, one of whom, Mrs. Rachel Fellows, widow of Stephen N. Fel- 
lows, one of the early settlers of Leo connty, is still living in Iowa at 
the ripe age of eighty-four years. The parents of Mr. Gaffey were 
Eliphalet and Apliie (Chase) McGaffey, both of whom lived and died 
in the State of New Hampshire. The early years of Mr. McGaffey 
were spent upon a farm, and in the fall of 1854 he came to the State 
of Ohio, where he taught school during the winter months. In the 
spring of 1855 he paid his Urst visit to Lee county, but soon returned 
to the east. In February, 1863, he again came west and purchased a 
farm in Palmyra township, on which he has since resided. He was 
married May 31, 1862, at Sandwich, to Miss Margaretta F. Davis, a 
daughter of Bradford C. and Margaretta (Farrell) Davis. They have 
three children: William D., born August 24, 1863; Samuel A., born 
December 10, 1866, and Anson, born September 21, 1875. 

Simeon T. Maktin, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Sandwich, New 
Hampshire, on May 6, 1813. His parents were Jacob and Mary (Tyler) 
Martin. His early youth was spent in assisting his father on the farm. 
When about eighteen years of age he removed to Massachusetts, where 
he remained for several years engaged in various vocations. In June 
1836, having come west, he located in Bureau county, Illinois, pur- 
chasing a claim and designing to settle there permanently, but after 
having been there for more than a year his claim was jumped, and he 
removed to Lee county and purchased a farm in Palmyra township, 
and which still forms a portion of his present property, which now 
consists of more than three hundred acres of valuable and fertile land. 
Mr. Martin was married in 1842, to Miss Catherine Montgomery, a 
resident of Palmyra township. They have been sadly afflicted, having 
had three children born to them, all of wliom they have lost by death. 
Mr. Martin is a brother of James T., and also of the late Jacob Mar- 
tin, and the brothers were pioneers in the settlement of tiie township. 

Harvey E. Johnson, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Bainbridge, Che- 
nango county, New York, on February 11, 1819. His parents were 
Seth and Mary (Hougii) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Con- 
necticut. Until he was twenty-six years of age Mr. Johnson resided in 
Chenango county, having acquired his education there, and having as- 
sisted his father in carrying on the farm. In 1845, however, he came 
west, and purchased a farm in Palmyra township, which he still owns, 
and on which he resides. He was married December 31, 1848, to Miss 
Mary J. Wiieat, a daughter of-Josiah Wheat, one of the earliest settlers 
of what is now China township. They have four children living, the 
eldest being De Forest J., who was born April 13, 1S50. He married 
30 



500 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Miss Emma Bovej on December 24, 1872, and resides in Palmyra 
township. Florence R., born Octobers, 1851, married to Jacob Baker, 
December 25, 1873, and resides in Ogle county; Franklin F., born 
December 19, 1855, and married to Miss Ida Rand, December 1, 1876 ; 
he is a resident of Palmyra township. Addie A., born December 25, 
1866, and resides with her parents. Mr. Johnson's political affiliations 
are with the republican part}', and he is a member of the Baptist church. 

Chakles Lawton, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of Lincolnshire, 
England, and was born December 9, 1813. His parents were Edward 
and Mary (Roe) Lawton. Mr. Lawton lived in his native land until 
his twenty-third year, when he came to America and settled in Wyo- 
ming county, Pennsylvania, where he farmed for seventeen years. Li 
the spring of 1853 he came to Illinois and located near Elgin, but a 
year later he removed to Palm3'ra township, wliere he has since re- 
sided. Mr. Lawton was first married in England, in 1835, to Miss 
Sarah Tuck, who died in Palmyra about 1857. Four children survive 
from this marriage, onlj' one of whom, Mrs. A. A. Beede, is a resident 
of Leo county. On August 22, 1858, Mr. Lawton was again married, 
to Mrs. Ann M. (Tuck) Clark, and they have four children living: 
Carrie L., born in 1859. is the wife of William F. Swigart, and resides 
in Dixon township; Charles H., born April 20, 1861 ; John W., born 
December 18, 1862, and Fred A., born August 29, 1865, reside with 
their parents. Mr. Lawton is a republican, and a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. 

James P. Goodkich, farmer, Palmyra, was born in the State of 
Vermont, on October 14, 1849, and is the son of Samuel and Charlotte 
(Perry) Goodrich. His father is a farmer and is now a resident of the 
State of New York. Mr. Goodrich received his early education in 
Vermont, and when seventeen years of age came to Illinois and lived 
for two years in the vicinity of Grand Detour, after which he purchased 
the farm in Palmyra township on which he now resides. He is largely 
engaged in the dairy business, in which line he has met with much 
success. Mr. Goodrich was married. May 2, 1872, to Miss C. M. Wil- 
liams, daughter of George Williams, Esq., an old resident of Palmyra. 
They have only one child, Eddie, aged eight years. Mr. Goodrich is a 
stalwart republican and an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

Chakles a. Glyot, farmer, Palmyra, was born in August 1820, 
in the island of Guadaloupe, West Indies, and is the son of John F. 
and Augustine (Lions) Guyot. His grandfather was an officer in the 
Frencli army sent to this country during the revolutionary struggle to 
assist the colonies, and served under the Count De Rochambeau. At 
the end of the war the regiment to which he belonged was sent to 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 501 

garrison the island of Gaudaloupe, and soon after lie married there and 
engaged in planting. Upon the emancipation of the slaves in the 
West India islands the family removed to the United States. Mr. 
Gajot landed in New Orleans, but after a few months' residence, hav- 
ing become imbued with the gold fever, he determined to go to Cali- 
fornia, which he accordingly did in the spring of 1849, and remained 
there until 1852, when lie returned to New York. Soon after he came 
to Lee county and located in Palmyra. In 1856 he returned to Guada- 
loupe, but sickness in his family compelled his departure in 1861, since 
which time he has resided on his farm in Paluiyra township. Mr. 
Guyot was married February 20, 1854, to Miss Sarah Ann Graham, a 
daughter of Capt. Hugh Graham. Their children are Mary B., born 
in February 1859; Charles L., born in May 1860; Ermine O., born 
in July 1863; Hugh G., born in October 1865, and George R. E., 
born in November 1869. Mr. Guyot is a member of the republican 
party. 

S. R. RriT, farmer. Palmyra, is the son of John W. and Barbara 
(Rutt) Rutt, and was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, January 
1, 1845. His parents came west and settled in Lee county in 1864, 
and are now residing upon a farm in the county of Whitesides. Mr. 
Rutt was brought up and educated in Dauphin county, and came with 
his parents and located in Palmyra township, where he is now engaged 
in farming. He was married October 18, 1869, to Miss Catharine 
Andrews, a resident of Whitesides county. They have five children : 
Elam, aged eleven; Edwin, aged nine; Solomon, aged seven; Maggie, 
aged five ; and Archie, aged two years. In his political views Mr. 
Rutt is a republican. 

Bexjamin Stauffer, carpenter, Prairieville, was born in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1819. His parents were John and Barbara 
(Eby) Stauffer. His father was a miller and also carried on a farm. 
He died in Pennsylvania on December 2, 1871. Mr. Stauffer obtained 
a common school education in his native town, and while a boy com- 
menced working in his father's mill, and a few years later engaged in 
the milling business for himself, which he carreid on until 1852, in 
whicli year he came west and settled in Whitesides county, only a short 
distance from the boundary line of Lee county, and engaged in farming, 
which he continued until 1875, when he removed to Prairieville and 
for some time followed the trade of carpenter, but of late years has 
been principally working at wagon-making. Mr. Stauffer was mar- 
ried February 29, 1839, to Miss Catherine Bookwalter, a resident of 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They have nine children living: 
Esther, born July 18, 1840, is the wife of B. F. Rohrer and resides in 
Whitesides county ; John, born November 10, 1842. He enlisted in 



502 HISTORY OF LEK COUNTY. 

1862, in Co. D, 7oth 111. Vols, and served until the end of the war. He 
is a farmer and lives in Kansas. Abraham L., born June 7, 18-t5, is a 
farmer and resides in Nebraska; IIenr_v, born Juh- 12, 1847, resides in 
Palnnra township; Barbara A., born Januar\- 11, 1852, is married to 
Eli R. Ebersoleand lives in Wliitesides county ; Emma C, born March 
27, 18.54, is the wife of Henry El)ersole, and also resides in Wliitesides 
county ; Benjamin F.,born January '27, 18.57, resides in Nebraska ; Eliza, 
born August 11. ISfiO, and Amos, born Marcii 12, 186.3, are now residing 
with their parents. Mr. Stauffer is a repul)lican and has been a justice 
of the peace for the town of Palmyra since 1877. He is a member of 
the Mennonite church. 

Herjiaxn S. Fischer, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Hamburg, 
Germany, on tlie 21st of July, 1845, and was the son of Carl and 
Bertha (Schroeder) Fischer. His father is a lawyer by profession, and 
is still a resident of Flamburg, where his mother died in 1845. Mr. 
Fischer was educated in Germany, having been a student at the Uni- 
versity of Bonn-on-the-Rliine, and also that of Halle in Prussia. A 
few months after leaving the university he came to America and 
located at once in Palmyra townsiiip, where he has since resided with 
the exception of a ihw months' absence in Europe. He was married on 
September 10, 1878. to Miss Kate Thummel, daughter of the late C. B. 
Thunimcl, of Palmyra township. Mr. Fischer is a young man of 
excellent education and line attainments, and is universally esteemed 
and respected. 

Ei.Lwoon HrcHEs, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 4th of November, 1818. His 
parents were Benjamin and Mary S. (Stokes) Hughes. His tather for 
many years followed the trade of a shoemaker, but engaged in farming 
in Columbia county in 1830, and died there in May ISoO, at the age of 
seventy. Mr. Hughes received a conimon school education, and at the 
age of seventeen engageil in teaching, wiiich occupation he followed for 
several winters, assisting upon the farm during the summer months. 
He then engaged in farming on his own account, in Columbia countv, 
where he continued until 1869, when he removed to Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania. He remained there until February 1871, when he 
came to Lee county and purchased the farm where he now resides. He 
was married at Hughesvillc, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 
16th of January, 1S40, to Miss Elizabeth Hill. Seven children resulted 
from this marriage, five of whom are still living, as follows: Mary C, 
born January 20, 1841, and married to Janies Hill, Esq., who is a resi- 
dent of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania; Benjamin F., born April 6, 1844, 
now practicing law in Pliila(lcl[)hia ; Charles H., born April 13, 1846, 
and a member of the tirm of Hughes & Mellick, at Di.xon ; Ellwood C, 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 



503 



v^'i!''M^.^:;^r" "-:i||il'!l:.'"ll!i 







504 HISTOH"!' OF LEE COUNTY. 

born August 25, 1S55, is a graduate of Carthage College ami also of the 
Theological Seminar}' of Springfield, Ohio, and is now practicing law 
at Storm Lake, Iowa; Edward A., born March 2ti, 1857, and is a resi- 
detit of Palmyra. The eldest son, Joiin M. Hughes, who was born in 
1842, was a captain in the 210th Penn. Vols., and was fatally wounded 
on the 31st of March, 1865. at Gravelly Run, Virginia, and died May 
6, 1805. Mr. Hughes held the positions of deputy marshal and justice 
of the peace in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and since his removal 
to Palmyra has served two terms as supervisor and is now town clerk. 
He is also secretary and treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insur- 
ance Company of Palmyra. Mr. llugiies is an ardent republican and 
a member of the Lutheran church. 

Henry T)k(m<i:k, farmer, Palmyra, was born in New Jersey, in 1835, 
and was the son of Elijali and Ciiristina (Ivintner) Decker. Both his 
parents are still living, in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. They 
removed to that section in 1837, and there Mr. Decker was raised and 
educated. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 143d Penn. reg., and 
served for one year and a half, and was then transferred to the signal 
corps, wliere he remained until the close of the war. After leaving the 
service Mr. Decker removed to Illinois, and located in Palmyra town- 
ship, where he has since resided. He was married Septetnber 26, 1867, 
to Miss Imogene Bunnell, of Palmyra, and they have four children : 
Charles E., aged thirteen ; Eddie, aged ten ; Nellie, aged seven, and 
Bessie, aged four years. In political sentiment Mr. Decker is a 
thorough republican and attends the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Mrs. Diana Warn, Palmyra, was born in the State of New York, 
on the 24th of September, 1835. She was the daughter of Alanson 
B. and Mary (Benjamin) Campbell. She was brought up and educat- 
ed in her native state, and when nineteen years of age came to Lee 
count}' with her parents and lived for some time in Di.xon township, 
afterward removing into the city, where they remained for about five 
years. On the 15th of July, 1860. she. was married to Israel P. Warn, 
a resident of Palmyra township, where she has since resided. Mr. 
Warn died on the 9th of October, 1871, leaving a widow and four 
children to mourn his loss. The latter are all daughters, the eldest being 
Elizabeth, aged twenty ; Ella M., aged eighteen ; Lena B., aged thir- 
teen, and Gerty S., aged ten years, all of whom reside with their 
mother. 

John H. McWkthy, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Wyoming 
county. New York, on Marcli 2, 1836, and was the son of Henry and 
Olive (Hale) McWethy. His father was a farmer and a resident of the 
State of New York until bis death, which occurred about twenty years 
since. Mr. McWuthv after leavinir school assisted his father on the 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 505 

farm, and when twenty-five years of age came vest and located upon a 
farm in tlie township of South Dixon. After remaining there three 
years he removed to Pahuyra townsliip and purchased the farm on 
which he now resides. He was married in Livingston county, New 
York, in December 1860, to Miss Harriet E. Sheldon, a resident of 
that county, and they have three children living, the eldest of whom 
is Charles E., aged nineteen ; George P., aged seventeen, and Willie 
C, aged nine years. Politically Mr. McWethy is a republican, and a 
member of the Presbyterian church. 

David A. Holly, deceased, for many years engaged in farming in 
Lee county, was born in Paradise township, York county, Pennsylva- 
nia, in 1804. His parents were Jesse and Anna (Sherer) Holly. Mr. 
Holly removed, when a young man, to Ohio and engaged in farming 
there until 183.5, at which time he removed to Franklin Grove, in Lee 
count}^ where he remained for ten years. He then came to Palmyra 
and purchased 720 acres of land in that township, of Smith Gilbraith, 
a considerable portion of which he retained and continued to I'eside 
upon until his death, in June 1875. He was married in Knox county, 
Ohio, January 1, 1830, to Miss Eva Hoke, who survives him. There 
are also seven children living, the eldest of whom is William D. F. 
Holly, born in Belleville, Richland county, Ohio, September 1, 1834, 
and now a resident of Iowa ; Amos H. Holly, born in Lee county, 
April 9, 1836, now living in California; Cornelia A. Holly, born in 
Lee county on the 12th of February 1840, and married to Frank Bid- 
die, also residing in Iowa; David C. Holly, born in Lee county, Janu- 
ary 1, 1843, who intends to remove to Iowa within a short time; 
George W. Holly, born in April 1845, and James F. Holly, born in 
June 1851, have also resided in Iowa several years ; Emily Holly, born 
in Lee county in August 1849, and married to Orville Fort, lives in 
Iowa. 

Eben H. Johnson, farmer. Palmyra, one of the oldest settlers of 
the township, was born in Chenango county, New York, July 3, 1810, 
and was the son of Seth and Mary (Hough) Johnson. His fether was 
engaged in farming and died in Chenango county. Mr. Johnson re- 
sided in his native county until he was twenty-eight years of age, but 
in the fall of 1838, having just been married, he started for Illinois, 
conveying his wife and household goods in wagons and occupying five 
weeks in the journey. He located in Palmyra township, buying a 
squatter's claim for $1,000 in addition to the government price of $1 
per acre. He soon after purchased another claim, paying §10 per acre 
for it. He has been a continuous resident of the township from the 
time of his arrival. Mr. Johnson was married August 13, 1838, to 
Miss Sarah Johnson, a resident of Broome county. New York, and the 



506 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

result of this union has been seven children, live of whom are still 
living, as follows: Tiionias H., born in Lee county May 23, 1839, now 
residing in Colorado and a member of the legislature of that state; 
Jane A., born in Lee county December 5, 1814, residing with her 
parents; Ralph E., born January 22, 1840, residing in Palmyra; Will- 
iam H., born August 27, 1851, residing in Palmyra; Marcus M., 
born August 15, 1855, also residing in Palmyra; Mary J., born 
March 20, 1841, married William Swigart, of Palmyra, and died June 
3, 1875 ; Theodore, born May 27, 1848, was murdered in Nebraska, 
in August 1870. Mr. Johnson has always been an active and earnest 
republican since the formation of that party ; has held the office of 
supervisor and several other local positions; and he and his wife, who 
has been for nearly half a century his faithful companion and friend, 
are enjoying in a serene old age the esteem and afl'ection of their 
many neighbors and friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Charles A. Martin, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Sandwich, 
New Hampshire, August 11, 1830, and was the son of William and 
Elizabeth (Hill) Martin. His father was a farmer and removed to Pal 
myra township in 1836 and engaged in farming upon the land which 
liis son now occupies, where he died in 1844. Mr. Martin was brought 
up and educated in Palmyra township, and when he grew to manhood 
he engaged in farming, which he still continues. He was married in 
October 1852, to Miss Anna Tilton, daughter of Lorenzo and Rutii 
(Brown) Tilton, and the}' have si.x children living: William M., aged 
twenty-eight, residing in Nebraska; Edward E., aged twenty-six, also 
living in Nebraska; George C, aged twenty-four; Fannie R., aged 
twenty-one; Adelaide, aged seventeen; and Winifred, aged eight, all 
of whom reside at home. Mr. Martin is a republican in political sen- 
timent and attends the Congregational church. 

Amos Goodwin, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Oswego county, 
New York, August 29, 1827, and was the son of Benjamin C. and 
Rosanna (Shoemaker) Goodwin. His parents removed to Bradford 
county, Pennsylvania, when he was about four 3'ears of age, and fol- 
lowed the occupation of a farmer until the fall of 1852, at which time 
the family moved to Lee county, Illinois, and purchased a farm in the 
vicinit}' of Di.xon, but resided in the town for a number of years. Li 
1873 Mr. Goodwin removed to Grand Detour and remained there about 
four 3'ears, after which he purchased a farm in Palmyra township, upon 
which he still resides. Mr. Goodwin was first married in the fall of 
1861, to Miss Susan G. Di.xon, a granddaughter of Father Dixon. 
She died September 15, 1878, leaving two children : James P. Good- 
win, born February 18, 1863, and Isaac B. Goodwin, borti September 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 507 

13, 1865. He was again married in November 1879, to Mrs. Mar}' C. 
Huston, of Dixon, and tliey have one child, Mary, aged one 3'ear. Mr. 
Goodwin is a republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

Jacob Martin, deceased, Palmyra, was born in Sandwich, New 
Hampshire, December 29, 1806. His parents were Jacob and Mary 
(Tyler) Martin. He was brought up and educated and carried on a farm 
near Sandwich until 1836, when he moved to Lee county and settled 
on the farm in Palmyra township which he occupied at the time of 
his death, which occurred quite suddenly on Monday, August 29, 1881, 
in his seventy-fifth year. Mr. Martin was one of the earliest settlers 
of Palmj'ra, and his death makes still another gap in the fast thinning 
ranks of those brave and hardy pioneers who have made this fertile 
and beautiful section to "blossom like the rose," but who are rapidly 
passing away, and all of whom will soon, in the course of nature, be 
numbered with the dead, leaving behind them, however, many affec- 
tionate remembrances and fragrant memories. He was first married 
April 26, 1844, to Miss Margaret Curtis. As the result of this union 
there are three children living : Helen, aged twenty-nine, and Howard, 
aged twent^'-seven, residing at the old homestead, and Josephine, aged 
twenty-eight, who is married to Thomas Morgan, and now resides in 
Missouri. The second marriage of Mr. Martin occurred May 5, 1856, 
when he was united to Miss Belle Drynan, who survives him, and by 
whom he had six children : Lillian, aged twenty-four; Emretta, aged 
twenty-two ; Lizzie, aged eighteen ; Franklin P., aged sixteen ; Charles 
L., aged eleven, and Tyler E., aged six ; all of whom reside at home. 

Matthias Schick, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Bavaria, Germany, 
on November 9, 1813, and was the son of John and Salma (Prout) 
Schick. He was educated in Germany, where he also learned the 
blacksmith's trade. When he was eighteen years of age he came to 
America and worked at his trade for several years in Berks county, 
Pennsylvania. From there he went to Philadelphia, where he re- 
mained until 1842, when he moved to Palmyra township and settled 
on the farm which he at present occupies. Mr. Schick was married at 
Philadelphia on July 10, to Miss Elizabeth Obrist, who died April 18, 
1875. Seven children were the result of this union, of whom five 
survive: Matthias A., aged forty-one; Charles P., aged thirtj-, 
and George W., aged twenty-seven, all of whom reside in Whitesides 
county, Illinois; Anna E., aged thirtj'-nine, married to J. J. Burger, 
and a resident of Palmyra township ; William H., aged 24, and resides 
in Chicago. Emanuel, born in Lee county, Octol)er 26, 1845, enlisted 
in the 34th reg. 111. Vols, on February 28, 1864, and died at Vining 
Station, Georgia, August 7, 1864, from disease contracted in the service. 



508 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Tlieodore L. was born in Lee county, May 20, 1849. He graduated 
from the law department of Ann Arbor University in the class of 1871, 
after which he moved to Brownsville, Nebraska, and engaged in the 
practice of his profession. In the fall of 1880 he was elected a mem- 
ber of the legislature of his state, and died of fever on August !>, 1S81, 
after a lingering illness. He was a young man of much promise, and 
had just started on a career which gave every indication of being pros- 
perous and honorable. On August 20, 1877, Mr. Schick was united 
in marriage to Mrs. Rachel Hotchkiss. In political sentiment Mr. 
Schick is a thorough republican, and is a member of the Evangelical 
Lutheran church. 

John L. Loki), uianufacturer and farmer. Palmyra, was born 
at Hopkinton, New Hampsiiire, June 10, and is the son of John 
and Achseh (Gary) Lord. His father was a blacksmith, and removed 
to Lee county in 1838, where he died February 7, 1874. Mr. 
Lord came to the State of Ulinois with his parents, and received his 
education at the schools of Dixon and vicinity. His father at tirst set- 
tled in Dixon in 1838, and followed his trade there, but three years 
later he removed to Palmyra and engaged in the manufacture of 
wagons and carriages. After leaving school Mr. Lord learned the 
blacksmith's trade and worked for his father until 1850, at which time 
he purchased the property, and has since carried on the business with 
much success. He has also been engaged in farming for many years, com- 
mencing with seven acres of land, which he has now increased to about 
250. Mr. Lord was married June 17, 1851, to Miss Mary L. Warriner, 
a daughter of Moses M. and Oriel (Smith) Warriner, who also settled 
in Lee county in 1838. They have six surviving children, the eldest 
being Augustus W., born March 3, 1852, and now residing in Iowa ; 
Paul G., born December 81, 1853 ; John P., born April 17, 1860 ; 
Mary E., born December 18, 1863; Fredrick, born February 12, 1869; 
Grace, born September 26, 1872, all of whom reside at home. In his 
political views Mr. Lord is strongly republican, and has twice been 
elected to the office of supervisor. 

Chaklks a. Beckkk, deceased, Palmyra, was born in Prussia in 
1810. He was educated in that country and also learned the watch- 
making trade, but when twenty years of age came to America to avoid 
serving in the Prussian army. After working at his trade in various 
cities for a number of years he finally located at Dixon in 1839, where 
he remained for several years. Having purchased a farm in Palmyra 
township he gave u)> business and engaged in farming, which he con- 
tinued until his death in 1859. Mr. Becker was married at Reading, 
Pennsylvania, on the 2d of December 1833, to Miss Mary Kessler, who 
still survives him. Twelve children resulted from the marriage, eight 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 509 

of whom are still living. Mary B., born August 28, 1834, is the wife 
of James L. McGinnis, of Palmj'ra; Sarah, born May 7, 1839, is mar- 
ried to William Bryner, and resides in Pennsylvania; Julia, born May 
10, is married to C. A. Kaufman, and resides in Nebraska ; Cecilia, 
born October 10, 1844, is married to Patrick Hall, and also resides in 
Nebraska; Francis, born November 19, 1846; Fanny, born April 4, 
1851 ; Paulina, born November 1, 1853, and Lizzie, born August 21, 
1856, reside at the old homestead at Palmyra. Charles, who is the 
eldest son, and who was born September 20, 1837, enlisted in 1861 
in the 13th 111. Vols., and was mortally wounded at Vicksburg on 
the 28th of December 1862, and died January 8, 1863. 

WiLLiAJi Myers, fkrtner, Palmyra, was born in Ohio, September 9, 
1809, and is the sou of John and Nancy (Hopkins) Myers. When he 
was eight years of age his father removed to Philadelphia and remained 
there about nine years, after which they located near Cincinnati, and 
lived there for three years. They then came to Illinois, and settled 
near Pekin, Tazewell county, in 1830, and in 1836 came to Lee county 
and engaged in farming in Palmyra township. At the time of the 
Black Hawk war Mr. Myers enlisted as a volunteer under Col. Strain, of 
Marshall county, and served until the close of the war. With this 
exception Mr. Myers has been continuously engaged in farming ever 
since he grew to manhood. Mr. Myers was married in 1826, to Miss 
Phebe Hull, daughter of Capt. Hull, of Buffalo Grove, who died October 
25, 1873. Eight children resulted from this union, three sons and five 
daughters. Two sons and two daughters are residents of Iowa, two 
more daughters live in Nebraska, and the remaining daughter resides at 
Buffalo Grove, Ogle county, Illinois. The third son, Andrew Jackson 
Myers, now lives upon the old homestead. He is a native of Palmyra 
township, having been born there March 11, 1842, and acquired his 
education at the neighboring schools. When arrived at maturity he 
engaged in farming, and has continued to follow that occupation up to 
the present time. He was married December 25, 1865, to Miss Jnlia 
Kintner, daughter of the late William Kintner, of Palmyra, and they 
have three children living : Minnie, aged fourteen ; Phebe, aged eleven, 
and Hattie, aged five years. Mr. Myers' political proclivities are with 
the democratic party. 

Edwin B. Chase, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Columbia county. 
New York, November 26, 1810, and is the son of Benjamin and Phebe 
(Barnard) Chase. His father was a farmer and a native of Massa- 
chusetts, and died in the fall of 1871. When Mr. Chase was seven 
years of age his parents removed to western New York, where his 
father purchased a farm, and here Mr. Chase was brought up and 
acquired his education. When grown to manhood he engaged in 



51(» HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

farming, and followed this vocation until 1856, when he removed to 
Palmyra townsliip, Lee county, where he piircliased a farm, and with 
the exception of some three or four years has since continued to reside. 
Mr. Chase was married in Wayne county. New York, in 1833, to Miss 
Elizabeth Rushmore, a native of Westchester county, Xew York. Thev 
have iive children living, the eldest of whom, Reuben B., was born in 
1836, and has resided in California since 1860; Adeline S., born in 
183'.l, was married in 1804, to II. C. Peek, now sheriff of Ogle county ; 
William D., born in ISio, resides in Palmyra and is by profession a 
teacher; Edwin B., jr., born in 1855, is a resident of Seward, Nebraska ; 
John R., born in 1850, resides with his parents. The second son of 
Mr. Chase, Arthur W., born in 1842, enlisted in August, 1862, in the 
92d 111. Vols., and during his term of service contracted a lung com- 
plaint, which finally terminated in his death June 5, 1879. Mr. Chase 
has been an active member of the republican party from the time of its 
organization. 

George L. Klostekmann, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of German}-, 
where he was horn March 29, 1845. He is the son of Ernest II. and 
Alma Kiostcrmann, both of whom are still living in Palmyra. They 
came to America when Mr. Klostermann was but a few months old, 
and coming directly to Lee county they located near Prairieville, and 
have ever since resided in that vicinity. For the past fourteen years 
Mr. Klostermann lias been engaged in farming on his own account, and 
now owns a tine property near the line of Whitesides county. He was 
married March 12, 1869, to Miss Rebecca C. Lamken, a resident of Pal- 
myra, and they have four children living : Ernest H., aged eleven ; 
Julia F., aged nine; Eddie G., aged four, and Herbert, aged near! 3' 
two years. Mr. Klostermann is a republican, and a member of the 
Lutheran church. 

Geokgk Rickert, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Dutchess county. 
New York, on July 20, 1822. He is the son of John and Elizabeth 
(Plattner) Rickert. Both of his parents were born, lived and died in the 
State of New York. Mr. Rickert in his early youth removed to Dela- 
ware county, New York, and when old enough engaged in farming, 
which he continued until 1852, when he went to lister county. New 
York, and followed steamboating for about a year, after which he returned 
to Delaware county. In 1855 he came west, and settled in Palmyra 
township, where he resided for eight years, with the exception of a few 
months spent in Colorado. In 1863 he removed to Whitesides cotmty, 
but in 1871 returned to Lee county, and has since resided on his farm 
in the town of Palmyra. Mr. Rickert was married in the State of 
New York on January 1, 1844, to Miss Phebe Bennett, a resident of 
Greene county, that state, and they have two children : Emma, born in 



PALMYRA TOWJSrSHIP. 511 

1851, and the wife of F. F. Klosteimann, of Palmyra townsliip, and 
Matliias, born in 1853, and now a resident of Iowa. In his political 
views Mr. Rickert is in full accord with the republican party, and he 
and his family are members of the Lutheran church. 

John F. Stager, farmer, Palmyra, was born in the State of Penn- 
sylvania, on July 21, 1832, and is the son of John and Sarah (Fensler) 
Stager. His father is a farmer, and still lives in Pennsylvania, and fol- 
lows that occupation. His mother died about a year since. Mr. Sta- 
ger was nineteen years of age when he left his native state, and having 
learned the trade of a carpenter he came to Stephenson county, Illinois, 
and for the next five years worked at his trade most of the time in that 
county. About 1866 he came to Dixon, and about a year later settled 
in Palmyra, and since that time has built most of the first-class build- 
ings erected in the township. For the past seventeen years he has 
also been engaged in farming, and for the past few years has followed 
that pursuit exclusively. He was married on December 27, 1859, to 
Miss Harriet A. Seavey, the daughter of Jesse and Sarah J. (Norris) 
Seavey. Mr. Stager has three children : Lillian G., born February 5, 
1862; John G., born September 16, 1868, and Lloyd, born March 28, 
1880. Politically Mr. Stager is a member of the republican party. 

JouN T. Lawrence, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of the island of 
Jamaica, West Indies, where he was born September 25, 1819, his 
parents being John T. and Julia (Ricketts) Lawrence. The first of the 
family to settle in America was Sir Henry Lawrence, who was presi- 
dent of Cromwell's council. After the death of the latter and the 
restoration of the Stuarts he came to this country and settled on Long 
Island. Some years later he removed to Jamaica and engaged in 
planting, but died soon after. Mr. Lawrence's father in his early life 
was an officer in the English navy, but on the death of his elder 
brothel- he succeeded to the estates in the "West Indies. Upon the 
abolition of slavery in the British colonies he removed to the United 
States and died in the city of New York in 1847, leaving five children, 
three of whom are still living : James P. Lawrence, of New York city ; 
Mrs. General Ricketts, of Washington, D.C., and the subject of our 
sketch. The latter was educated at Columbia College grammar school, 
and also passed one year at West Point military academy. After leav- 
ing school he engaged in civil engineering for a short time, but in 1839 
he came west and located upon the same farm where he now resides 
and where he has lived continuously for moi'e than fort}- years. He 
was marred in 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Graham, a daughter of Capt. 
Hugh Graham, a very early settler. This union has rusulted in six 
children, all of whom are living: Julia, the eldest, is the wifeof Harry 
Eldred and resides at Beardstown, Illinois; John T., jr., Elizabeth, 



512 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Lilias, Mary and Fannj' are all residing with their parents. Mr. 
Lawrence is a democrat and a member of the Episcopal church. 

Re\". Christian B. Tiiimmkl, D.D. (deceased), Palmyra, was born 
in Germany in 1802, and after attending preliminary schools he 
entered the T^uiversity of Halle in Prussia, in 1S20, afterward gradu- 
ating from tlie University of Tubingen in Wurtemburg. He was 
licensed to preach the gospel in the spring of 1824, and ordained in 
1826, soon after wliich he came to America. For about a year he was 
employed as a missionary, and in 1S27 he was chosen professor of 
languages in Hartwick Seminary, which position he occupied until 
1838, when he accepted a professorship in the Lutheran seminary- at 
Lexington, South Carolina. In 1845 he removed to Prairieville, 
Illinois, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 24, 1881. 
For fifteen years before his death he held the position of secretary and 
treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Palmyra, 
and was universally esteemed and respected by all with whom he 
came in contact. Mr. Thummel was married May 17, 1837, in New 
York, to Miss Cathrine Lattin, who is still a resident of Palmyra. 
Tiiey had live children : Anson E., residing in Palmyra; Charles, re- 
siding in Kansas; George, practicing law in Nebraska; Warren, also 
a lawyer in Iowa; and Catiirine, married to H. S. Fischer and living 
in Palmyra. 

Anson E. Thummel, eldest son of the above, was born in Lexing- 
ton, South Carolina, September 22, 1841, but removed with his 
parents when very young to Prairieville, Lee county, where he was 
brought up and educated. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the 34th 
III. Vols., and served with them for more than four years. He returned 
home in 1865 and soon after went to Iowa, where he engaged in farm- 
ing, but in about three years he returned to Palmyra township, where 
he has since been pursuing the same vocation. He was married 
December 25, 1868, to Miss Helen C. Powers, a daughter of lion. 
Abijah Powers, of Palmyra. Tliey have had six children, four of 
whom survive, the eldest being Laura, aged twelve years; then Bertha, 
aged ten ; Blanche, aged eight, and Lloyd, aged two yeai's. Mr. Thum- 
mel is a republican and a member of the Lutheran church. 

Alfred A. Beede, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Carroll county, 
New Hampshire, in July 1834, and is the son of Noah and Harriet 
(Fellows) Beede. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and in 
his youth learned the trade of a shoemaker. He moved to Lee county 
in 1836 and settled in Palmyra township, and combined the occupations 
of farming and shoemaking until his death in Februar}' 1854. He 
married Harriet, daughter of Stephen N. Fellows, in Carroll count}', 
New Hampshire, in 1827. She is still living and resides with her son 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 513 

ill Palmyra. The latter was only two years of age at the time of his 
parents' removal to the west, and received his education in the iieigh- 
lioring schools, and when old enough engaged in farming, wliicli pur- 
suit he still follows. Mr. Beede was married in October 1870, to Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Lawton) Diblenbeck, a resident of Palmyra, and they have 
a famil}' of si.x children : Bertie, aged fourteen ; Hattie, aged t«ii ; 
Edward A., aged eigiit ; Frank A., aged six ; Charles, aged four, and 
Mary, aged two years. Mr. Beede is, and always has been, an earnest 
supporter of the republican party and its policy. 

Fletcher Hutton, deceased. Palmyra, was born August 10, 1820, 
in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. His parents were William and 
Elizabeth (Bowman) Hutton. His father was a firmer, and moved to 
Illinois in 1838, and died in Whitesides county. Mr. Hutton acquired 
a common school education in the east, and after coming to Illinois 
commenced operations for himself by cutting wood and breaking 
prairie, and as his small savings accumulated he invested them in land. 
He finall}' settled upon a farm in Carroll county, Illinois, where he 
resided for about twenty j'cars. He then moved to Lee county and 
bought a farm in Palmyra township, where he resided until his death 
on May 20, 1879. Mr. Hutton was married in 1866, to Mrs. Sarah J. 
(Drynan) Hutton, the widow of his younger brother Maurice Hutton, 
who was born in Pennsylvania in 1831, and who enlisted in the 21th 
Iowa Vols, in 1862; was taken prisoner at the battle of Cedar Creek 
ill October 1863 ; was confined at Audersonville and other rebel prisons 
for nearly two years, and finally died, in March 1865, from exposure 
and starvation. He left two childron : Ernest L., born in 1859, and 
Bert M., born in 185-1. Fletcher Hutton left the following children : 
Alice A., aged fourteen ; William D., aged twelve ; Earl F., aged ten ; 
Leon E., aged eight; Walter C. aged six; and Lulu M., aged three 
years. Mrs. Hutton still resides in Palmyra, and manages her large 
tarm besides looking after the physical and moral well-being of her 
children. 

David G. Book, farmer, Palnij'ra, was born in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, in March 1832, and is the son of John and Anna (Geist) 
Book. His mother died in the spring of the present year, but his 
father is still living and is a resident of Pennsylvania. He was brought 
up and educated in his native county, and when twenty-two years of 
age became west and settled near Sterling, in Whitesides county, where 
he remained until about 1870, when he purchased his present farm, on 
which he has since resided. Mr. Book was married October 27, 1856, 
to Miss Mary A. Weaver, a resident of Whitesides county. They have 
nine children living, the eldest of whom is Aaron, born August 7, 1859 ; 
Leander, born May 13, 1861 ; Ann E., born December 6, 1862 ; Frank- 



514 HISTORY OB' LEE COUNTY. 

lin, born March 4, 1804; Henry, born April 26, 1867; Mary A., born 
Marcli 2, 1S69; Edward, born November 15, 1873; Ida M., born 
August 17, 1875, and David G., born February 24, 1877. Mr. Book is 
a republican in political views. 

Antox Harms (deceased), Palmyra, born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 
1800, was the son of Frank and Helena (^Strenganj Harms. He came to 
America in 1848, and settled in Palmyra township, Lee county, on the 
same farm on which his family now resides. He was first married in 
Germany, to Miss Anna H. Wieting, who died in 1848. Three chil- 
dren survive this marriage, none of whom now reside in Lee county. 
He was again married in the fall of 1851, to Miss Anna Hector, who is 
still living. This union resulted in a family of three boys and two 
girls: George A., aged twenty-nine, resides with his mother on the old 
homestead ; Anton W., aged twentv-seven, is married and lives in Pal- 
myra township, and is a farmer ; Theresa S., aged twenty -five, is married 
to Fred Jurgens, and is a resident of Sterling, Illinois; Augusta C, 
aged twent^'-three, and Herman F., aged twenty-one, reside with their 
mother. 

Ralph E. Johnson, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Palmyra town- 
ship on January 22, 1847, and is the son of Eben H. and Sarah (John- 
son") Johnson, of Palmyra. Mr. Johnson's whole life has been spent 
and his education received in his native town, and for a good many 
years he was engaged in farming, having a joint interest with his fatiier 
and brothers, but about a year ago came into po.esession of the farm on 
which he now resides, and has since then farmed on his own account. 
Mr. Johnson was married March 10, 1875, to Miss Abbie Knox, and 
they have two cluldren : Anna, born May 25, 1876, and Rena, born 
December 31, 1878. In his party afSliations Mr. Johnson has been a 
steadfast republican. 

IIicNRV MiLi.EK, farmer, Palmyra, was born in the Province of Old- 
enburg, Germany, November 13, 1822, and is the son of Pope E. and 
Theda (^Remmers) Miller. His father during his youth was engaged in 
milling, but after his marriage became a farmer, and in 1837 came to 
America and settled in Cass county, Illinois, where he died a few 
months later, leaving a widow and five sons, Sibald, Emke D., Anthony 
F., Becker and Henry, all of whom survive, with the exception of Mrs. 
Miller, who returned to Germnny in 1850, and died there in 1850, and 
Emke D., who died of consMni[)tion in the fall of 1848. The eldest 
son, Sibald, returned to Gerinany, and is still living, and Anthony and 
Becker are residents of Whitesides county, Illinois. In 1838, soon after 
the death of the husband and father, the family removed to Palmyra 
township, Lee county, and settled on the property which is now solely 
owned and occupied by Henry Miller, and which he has farmed for 



PALMYRA TOWNSHIP. 515 

forty-three year?. Mr. Miller was married on September 29, 1850, to 
Miss Fredrika A. Klostermann, of Palmyra, and there are nine chil- 
dren living, of whom the eldest is Charles E., aged thirty, who resides 
at Detroit, Michigan, and is an attorney-at-law ; Mary E., aged twenty- 
eight, wife of Warren F. Powers, and residing in Whitesides county; 
Rena H., aged twenty-six, and wife of Mathias Rikert, now of Pal- 
myra, but soon to remove to Iowa ; Lucy, aged twenty-four, married to 
Henry Lemken, and residing in Gruntly count}^ Iowa; Nellie G., aged 
seventeen, is engaged in teaching school in Iowa; .Alma, aged twenty- 
one ; Frank S., aged nineteen ; Kate, aged fifteen, and Minnie, aged 
thirteen, reside with their parents. Mr. Miller is a republican, and is 
a member of the Lutheran church. 

Becker Millee, brother of the above, and now residing near the 
boundary line of Lee and Whitesides counties, was born in Oldenburg, 
Germany, on April 6, 1820, and his iiistory up to the time of their 
residence in Lee county is comprised in that of his brother Henry. He 
sold his interest in the farm in Palmyra township to the latter in 1854, 
and removed just across the line of Lee county into Whitesides, where 
he has since resided, largel}' engaged in farming. He was married on 
September 19, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth M. Thummel, a daughter of 
Rev. C. B. Thummel, of Palmyra. They have six children: Emma 
C, born August 12, 1855, and married in December, 1876, to Henry 
MontilloD, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Adeline E., born 
January 26, 1857; Ella M., born May 18,1860; George W., born 
April 2, 1862; Frederick L., born September 15, 1861, and Jessie L., 
born September 14, 1872, all of whom reside with their parents. 

Abram R. Rutt, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, August 17, 1853, and is the son of Samuel W. and 
Maggie (Rutt) Rutt, and the grandson of Samuel Rutt, an old 
settler of Lancaster county. His father was born there in 1822, and 
after receiving his education engaged in farming in his native county, 
and continued there until 185-, when he removed to Franklin county, 
in the same state. He removed to Lee county and located in Palmyra 
township early in 1865. His property in Pennsylvania was valuable 
and well improved, but he had endured many losses during the civil 
war from tiie incursions of both the Union and confederate armies, and 
at the time of the burning of Chambersburg by the rebels he resided 
within two miles of that town and suffered greatly from their depreda- 
tions. He accordingly sold his property considerably below its value and 
moved west. In 1879 he returned to Sterling, Whitesides county, and 
is now engaged in the ice business there in company with two of his 
sons, Levi and Henry. Abram R. came west with his parents in 1865, 
and when old enough engaged in farming in Palmyra township, where 
31 



516 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

he still resides. He was mari-ied on the IGtli of December 1874, to 
Miss Maria Landis, a resident of Whitesides county, and they have two 
children : Clarence, born September 23, 1876, and Anna, born March 
6, 187S. Mr. Rutt is, and always has been, a thorough republican. 

EicHAKD C. Peck (deceased). Palmyra, was born in Bethany, Genesee 
county, New York, in 1821, and was the son of Richard and Catharine 
H. (Comstock) Peck. His father was a farmer, whose whole life was 
passed in the State of Xew York. Mr. Peck grew up and was educated 
in his native county, and when grown to manhood became engaged in 
farming there, which he continued until 1S56, at which time he came 
to Illinois, and settled in Whitesides county, until 186:', when he pur- 
chased a farm in Palmyra, on which he resided until his death, January 
12, 1877, and where his widow and children are still living. Mr. 
Peck was married in December 1852, to Miss Sylvia A. Giilett, at 
Byron, Genesee county, Xew York. Five children resulted from this 
union, the eldest being Charles D., born March 25, 1854; Mary Hope, 
born October 21, 1861; Kate L., born March 10, 1864; "William J., 
born February 3, 1866, and Frank H., born January 31, 1873. Mr. 
Peck was universal!}' esteemed and respected, and left to his family a 
legacy more precious tlian gold or silver, that of an unsullied reputation 
and untarnished name. 

"WiNTHKOP Seavey (deceased). Palmyra, was born in Rye, New 
Hampshire, January 26, 1802, and was the son of Joshua and Betsey 
(Webster) Seavey. In his early manhood Mr. Seavey was engaged in 
the mercantile business in his native state, and remained in that line 
until 1839, when he removed to Illinois, and settled in Palmyra town- 
ship and became engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed until 
his death, which took place in the month of November 1864. He was 
married January 10, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth Curtis, of Washington 
county. New York, who died June 25, 1853. There are two children 
surviving this union, William W. and Gideon W., the latter of whom 
is engaged in business at Fort Wayne, Indiana. William W. Seavey, 
the eldest son, was born in Palmyra township October IS, 1840, and 
has ever since resided in his native town, and has for many years been 
engaged in farming. He was married November 17, 1870, to Miss 
Augusta O. Moses, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and they have but 
one child living, Albion M., born January 27, 1872. Mr. Seavey is a 
member of the republican party. 

T. A. Butler, farmer, Palm^-ra, is a native of Huntington, Long 
Island, where he was born March 2, 1814, and is the son of John and 
Nancy (^Abbott) Butler. His father was a stone-mason in his youth, 
but soon became a farmer and followed that calling until his death, 
which took place in Delaware county. New York, in 1836. Mr. But- 



KACHtrSA TOWNSHIP. 517 

ler acquired his education in Delaware county, but in 1839 removed to 
Illinois, and soon after located on his present farm in Palmyra town- 
ship, where he has ever since resided. He was married February li, 
1850, to Miss Roxana Stewart, a native of Illinois, and they have had 
seven children, live of whom are still living : Lilian H., born June 7, 
185-1, is married to Anton Brauer, and resides in Whitesides county, 
Illinois; Otho J., born November 20, 1857; Perdita A., born July 
10, 1860 ; Katie, born November 30, 1867, and Nora M., born May 
9, 1872. In his political views Mr. Butler is entirely independent, be- 
longing to neither of the existing parties. 

Edward A. Hughes, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 26th of March 1857, and is the son of Elwood and 
Elizabeth (Hill) Hughes, who are now residents of Palmj-ra township. 
When thirteen years of age Mr. Hughes came to Lee county with his 
parents, and for six years was engaged in attending school and assist- 
ing his father in farming. In 1876 he commenced to farm on his own 
account, and still follows that vocation. He was married on the 12th 
of February 1878, to Miss Vernia Champlin, then residing in Mount 
Pleasant township, Whitesides county, Illinois. Mr. Hughes is a re- 
publican in political sentiment, and has a well-deserved reputation for 
ability and enterprise, of which so young a man may justly be proud. 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 

" 'Tis well to speak of things of the past 
While memory is clear to serve us." 

The present town of Nachusa was organized in 1871. The terri- 
tory embraced within its limits once constituted parts of the original 
towns of Dixon and China. 

On November 10, 1870, Col. A. P. Dysart presented to the board 
of supervisors a petition praying that the board create a new township, 
called Nachusa, comprising the W. ^ of T. 21, R. 10, and the W. ^ of 
T. 22, R. 10. At the same time a remonstrance was presented by 
Robert L. Irwin against the creation of said new township. Where- 
upon the petition and remonstrance were laid on the table until the 
next session of the board. On Tuesday, February 7, 1871, on motion 
of supervisor Viele, the petition was ordered to be taken from the 
table, and the board having heard said petition and the remonstrance 
thereto read, and being sufficiently advised touching the same, it was, 
on motion, ordered that the prayer of the petition be granted and that 
a new town called Nachusa be created, comprising the territory before 
described. The name was conferred upon the township in honor of 



518 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Father Dixon, to wliom, in early times, the Indians applied the name 
of "Nachusa," meaning in their language white hair. 

The southern portion of the town is flat, and until a system of 
drainage is inaugurated it will be inferior to the surrounding country. 
In the central part the land is gently rolling and the soil excellent. 
Northward the township extends to Rock river, which describes 
all sorts of serpentine crooks and bends along the northern border of 
the county. Along its shores in this locality great masses of rock, 
vine-covered and green with the moss of a century's growth, pile them- 
selves one upon the other to the height of many feet, and here and 
there jut far out into the water. Great grim bluffs, whose summits 
are crowned by lofty pines that sigh in the breath of May and roar in 
the blast of winter, tower skyward like huge billows on the sea. From 
one of these bluffs one can see far up and down the river, whose sil- 
very sheen is visible for many miles, now gliding behind hills and now 
leaping into the sunshine and rippling along at j-our leet. Here, tradi- 
tion tells us, the Indian maiden once bathed and prepared her simple 
toilet and saw mirrored in the crystal waters her dusky cheeks and 
raven hair. Here, listening to the murmuring waters, the sighing 
pines and mournful cooing of the turtle-dove, she waited the coming of 
her swarthy lover. Surely this is a charming spot, — wild, weird and 

picturesque. 

E.\RLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The first permanent settlers in what is now Nachusa township were 
Messrs. Bennet and Brown, who came from Xew England and located 
on Sec. 14. Xext came the Eldrige brothers, who entered claims on 
Sec. 19. About the same time Squire Chamberlain located on the 
same section ; Mr. Hollingshead came soon after and also located on 
Sec. 19. In 1835 Hon. Joseph Crawford came and lived one year with 
Mr. Hollingshead and then located in Dixon township. In the sum- 
mer of that year Mrs. Hollingshead ci^me from Louisville, Kentucky, 
and joined her husband in his frontier home. Having been raised 
amid the luxuries of civilization, one may easily imagine her feelings 
on being suddenly ushered into the wild life of the pioneer. She bad 
never done any washing or performed any household labor, but Mr. 
Crawford states that she entered cheerfully upon her duties and seemed 
quite contented in her rude home. Solomon Shelhamer was also one 
of the earlv settlers of Nachusa. He first located in the town of Dixon 
in 1837, and after remaining a short time removed to what is now 
Nachusa. 

In 18;')6 John Chamberlain bought Mr. Hollingshead's farm. In 
the same year Mr. Fisk came from Pennsylvania, bringing with him a 
stock of goods, with which he began business in the house formerly 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 519 

owned by Mr. Hollingshead. This building is still standing, a relic of 
early times. At that time all goods and supplies were drawn by ox 
teams from Hennepin, on the Illinois river. Barclay Smith came in 
1836, and bought what was known as the lower ferry farm, on Sec. 14. 
Mr. Crandall, Jerry Murphy and Josiah Moores also came at an early 
daj'. 

The tirst settler in the southern part of the township was Mi'. Jones, 
who located on Sec. 20. Dr. Charles Gardner located on the same 
section. Rev. Erastus Dewolf came from Rhode Island as an Episco- 
palian minister. He bought Jones' claim, which he extended to such 
proportions that after being surveyed it was found to comprise several 
sections. He evidently desired to become " monarch of all he surveyed." 
Alvah Hale came at an early day, and entered a claim on Sec. 33. In 
1839 John Leake came from England, and located on Sec. 28. In 1841 
his brother Daniel came, bringing both families. 

Mr. Crawford states that the early settlers did not turn as much of 
their attention to religious matters as people of the present da}', but 
that they worshiped God without a creed. Their religion did not 
consist in rearing costly churches with lofty spires, but in doing right 
by their fellow men, in imitating the "meek and lowly Nazarene " 
in word and in deed. Mr. Crawford states that during the years of 
1839-40 malarial and bilious fevers were quite prevalent among the 
inhabitants of this portion of tiie county. This was supposed to result 
from the poisonous vapors arising from the newly-broken prairies. 

The modes of traveling in early days were quite diflerent from 
those of the present. Then if a man wished to go to Chicago he paid 
his fare on the stage and took up his march beiiind that vehicle, 
carrying a rail on his shoulder to aid in extricating it from gulleys and 
mud-holes, with which the prairies then abounded. 

Previous to the establishment of a cemetery the settlers buried their 
dead on their farms. About the first public cemetery in the township 
was on the farm of John Hetler on Sec. 22. This, however, was soon 
abandoned and the present one established on land given for the pur- 
pose by Josiah Moores. This one is located on the S.E. J Sec. 23. 
The remains of Mr. Moores were the first laid to rest in this " quiet 
city of the dead." 

Mr. Brierton states that he once packed 4,500 pounds of pork, out 
of which he realized nothing; what was not consumed by the family 
was ffed to the dogs. The price of meat was too low to pay for trans- 
porting it to market. It might be well to mention here the difiicul- 
ties incident to transporting produce to market. An incident related 
by Mr. Brierton may give the reader an idea of hardships encountered 
by the early pioneers. In July, 1845, he and a neighbor named Brandon 



520 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

started for Chicago, each with a two-horse wagou loaded with wheat 
and oats. After traveling two days thej' arrived at Johnston's Grove, 
thirty-five miles distant from their starting-point. In traveling that 
distance they " doubled teams " nineteen times in order to get across 
mud-holes. On the second night a terrible storm of rain set in, 
which was so severe they knew it would be impossible for them to 
reach their destination, and they accordingly abandoned the trip, 
sold their loads and started homeward across the prairie, which was 
almost a sheet of water, sometimes reaching their wagon-boxes. At 
one place they saw parties with eleven yoke of oxen hitched to' one 
wagon, and even then were unable to extricate it. In making these 
trips to Chicago it was no unfrequent occurrence for the settlers (they 
always went in parties'^ to form a bridge across a stream with their 
wagons, in order to get their grain across. This was accomplished by 
imloading them and placing one after the other until the stream was 
spanned. This done, they would take out all the end boards and carry 
the produce across to the other side; after which the wagons were 
drawn out, reloaded, and the party again resumed its laborious journey 
only to repeat the operation at the next stream. 

John Leake, sr., was also among the early settlers, having come in a 
ver}' early day. For man}- years his only conveyance was an ox team 
and a lumber wagon. With this outfit he drew his produce to market 
and also took his pleasure rides in it. In the fall of 1847 his entire 
family were prostrated with the chills and fever. 

Prominent among the pioneer settlers of Nachusa was Mr. Solomon 
Shelhamer, who died in 1879. 

The following is an extract from the history of Nachusa, as written 
for the Dixon " Sun " by Col. A. P. Dysart. 

In 1842 there was a settlement started on what is now called the 
Franklin Grove road. Ludlum Ayers, Levi Green, Thomas Hopkins, 
William Parker, William Richardson, James Goddard and Don Cooper 
took up claims and erected rude huts, the palace of the emigrant of 
that day. 

They mostly belonged to that class of people who are best at home 
among the society that follows closely upon the footprints of the red 
man. Most of them disposed of their claims in a few j-ears, immigrat- 
ing farther west to.bear further hardships in opening and developing 
some newer country, glorying in the name of the hardy pioneer. 

In the year 1845 quite a number located lands near the present vil- 
lage of Nachusa and some at the west end of Franklin Grove. At the 
latter place Joseph Emmert, from Maryland, bought the claim of Don 
Cooper. 

Mr. Emmert, being a man of considerable means and energy, erected 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 521 

in that and in the succeeding year a two-story dwelling and a large 
barn ; the latter was said to have been the first erected in Lee county. 
In the year 1850 he erected quite a large flonring-mill on Franklin 
creek at a very heavy expense, it being the first one of the kind built 
in the northern portion, and said to be the first in the county. It 
stands yet as a monument to energy and enterprise. About the same 
year he erected what is known as the Dunkard church, he being a min- 
ister of the gospel of that persuasion. This building was occupied for 
several years as a school-house as well as a church. Since that time it 
has given place to a more stately edifice. 

In the same year Col. A. P. Dysart entered lands adjacent to those 
he now occupies. 

In the same year (1847") he purchased the claim of Thomas Hopkins 
and entered the lands, where he has resided ever since. 

In the year 1846 John M. and Samuel Crawford located on lands 
where they now reside. 

Like all surrounding towns, the facilities for opening up and im- 
proving the country was necessarily slow, and the outlet for its surplus 
cereals being so far to reach they were almost valueless. The dawn of 
the day of its prosperity had to await public improvements. 

In the year 1854 the Chicago & Northwestern railway (formerly 
the Dixon Air-line) was completed, passing through nearly the center 
of the township north and south, and having located a depot at first 
named Taylor and since named Nachusa. At that time all the freight- 
ing for Grand Detour was done there. 

What can be said of the early settlements of the greater part of 
the state can be said of Nachusa ; a greater portion of the emigrants 
were from the eastern part of the states where timber was abundant. 
It was natural for them to select for their homes places as convenient 
to timber as possible, and very many of them had doubts at that time 
that they would ever live to see the day when this broad and almost 
treeless expanse, which lay off from the timber, would be dotted all 
over with the rural homes of the husbandmen. And the planted 
forests that loom up, turned in any direction, demonstrates it as a fact 
that it is easier to raise a forest than to remove one. 

THE VILLAGE OF NACHUSA 

"Was laid out in the fall of 1853 on land owned by Col. Dysart and 
George Baugh. The following in regard to it was taken from the 
records: "I, Joseph Crawford, surveyor of Lee county, do hereby cer- . 
tify that the town of Nachusa is situated and laid out as follows, to- 
wit: upon the E. i of S.W. I and upon the W. * of S.E. J of 
Sec. 6, T. 21 K, and E. 10 E. 



522 HISTORY OF LEE COUXTY. 

" The streets are sixty-six feet wide, and the alleys eighteen feet wide. 
The quarter-section line passes through the center of State street, north 
and south, and all the streets south of the railroad line are run parallel 
to the quarter-section line, and at right angles thereto; and the streets 
north of the railroad are laid out parallel to the railroad. For the size of 
lots and blocks reference may be had to the plat, where they are marked 
on the line in feet. At the southeast corner of block two, at the north- 
east corner of block thirteen, and at the southwest corner of the plat) 
are placed permanently in the ground good sufficient stones from which 
to make future surveys. The surveys done for A. P. Dysart and 
George Eaugh. Done at Dixon, March 1, 1855. 

" JosKPii Ckawfukd, Lee County Surveyor." 

Tiiis little village is quite a lively trading point. They receive 
from 150,000 to 300,000 bushels of grain yearly. 

The first to embark in trade in the new-created town was Col. A. 
P. Dysart, who built a warehouse and began buying and shipping 
grain. In addition to his grain trade he also kept on hand a good sup- 
ply of coal and lumber, for which he found a ready sale, and good 
buildings and other improvements began to spring up all over the 
country. 

In 1855 or 1856 Mr. Dysart, in company with a man by the name of 
Cunninham, engaged in the mercantile trade. Having ])ut up a suita- 
ble building for the jjurpose he kept what might be called a general 
store. In 1860 this firm was succeeded by John Dysart & Riley, who 
built the large elevator which is now in use in the present extensive 
grain trade carried on by Join Dysart & Israel Slothower. The store 
they sold out to Mr. Wni. C. Dysart, who is now carrying on an exten- 
sive mercantile trade in the village and surrounding country. 

The first postmaster here was A. I'. Dysart, appointed by President 
Pierce. The office has, till the present, remained in the Dysart family, 
W. C. Dysart being the present incumbent. 

The school-house was built in 1868, and was first occu]>ied by John 
A. D. Barnes as teacher. The building is a neat little frame structure, 
and does credit to the place. 

Thefirst blacksmith shop opened in the village was in 1855 or 1856, 
by Mr. Farwell. The jtresent projtrictor is Mr. John S. Eicholtz, who 
is also engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. 

The first school-house in the township was built and given to the 
pioneers by Cyrus Chamberlain, Esq. This building was located on 
.Sec. 19. Mr. C. Herrington was the first teacher. Prior to the 
building of this school-house schools wore taught in j)rivate houses by 
a man named Sheldon, and it is said he was the first teacher in this 
part of the county. 



KACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 523 

C3'rns Cliamberlain was tlie first justice of the peace. He was also 
count}' commissioner when Ogle and Lee counties were one. Mr. 
Chamberlain also built the first savv-niill in this part of the county. 

The second school-house was built of stone, on Sec. 26, T, :^2, R. 
9. It is now used as a church by the United Brethren. 

CHURCHES. 

The German Baptist church (more familiarly known by the name 
of Dunkard) was organized in what is now Nacluisa township, by Rev. 
Joseph Emmert, who built a house of worship on Sec. 5, T. 21, R. 10, 
as early as about 1850. This structure was superseded by a more stately 
edifice several years ago, in size 34: X 54, with basement, kitchen and 
sleeping-room above the audience-room. This same organization 
existed prior to Mr. Emmert's coming to Lee county, but was located 
just across the river in Ogle county. To them Mr. Emmert first preached, 
but for the convenience of himself, his many friends and members 
who were settled around him Lee county, organized as above stated, 
with the following members : himself and family, Christopher Lah- 
man and wife, Jacob Riddlesberger and wife, Samuel Riddlesberger 
and M-ife, Oliver Edmonds and wife, Isaac Siets and wife, Andrew 
Dierdorf and wife, Benjamin Kesler and family, with a few others. 
With a will and determination this little band of disciples held together 
and kept the faith through the pioneer period, and like the star in the 
east, guided many good men from Pennsylvania and other eastern 
states who came later and joined this little company, whose members 
are now counted bj' scores, and to whose tair dealings and honest in- 
dustry' may be credited the prosperit}' of the community in which they 
live. Their present preacher is Rev. Levi Ralfensberger, who has been 
prominently connected with the church for many years. Mr. Benjamin 
Kesler has been an elder for about twentj'-eight years, and has been a 
pillar to the church ever since his residence in the county. In connec- 
tion with this church is a beautiful cemetery, where now sleep a number 
of the earl}' pioneers, the first of whom was Debbie Beever. This 
burial-place is free to all, and all the surrounding country bury here. 

Vevy early in the settlement of Nachusa township a Methodist 
minister by the name of Benjamin preached to the pioneer settlers in 
their cabin homes. Another minister, by the name of Reed, an Eng- 
lishman by birth, who has since returned to England, preached to the 
early settlers near Mr. Brierton's in the little stone school-house, spoken 
of elsewhere. Religious services are still kept up by this denomination. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

JoNATHAjy' Deput, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, is prominent 
among the early settlers of Nachusa township now living. He was 



524 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

born of poor but honest parents, in Lnzerne county, in the old hilly 
State of Pennsylvania, reared on a farm, and educated to bard toil and 
industry. July 5, 1838, he married Miss Sallie A., daughter of Phillip 
and Elizabeth (Moore) Klintob, also a native of Luzerne county, Penn- 
sylvania. After his marriage Mr. Depuy began life himself with just 
what nature provided him with, a pair of strong hands and a deter- 
mined will. His first work was to secure a team and wagon and a 
small amount of money. This obtained, in the spring of 184:2 he started 
for Lee county, Illinois, where he arrived June 2, three dollars in 
debt to a friend in Chicago from whom he borrowed that amount. 
After his arrival here Mr. Depuy at once went to work, and when he 
could not succeed in getting $1 a day he took 50 cents, and so perse- 
vered until he became independent. He now owns one of the most 
desirable homes in Nachusa township, besides 21:0 acres in Iowa. His 
wife died at her home, where she so long lived and where she reared her 
family, November 30, ISfiG. The issue of this union was eight chil- 
dren, six of whom are living: Alexander, Rosana, Maranda, Fidelia, 
Sarah J. and Mariam. The two deceased are Francis, aged two years, 
and Charles, who died in the winter of 1863, aged eighteen years. 
Mr. Depuy's second marriage was with Miss Tenia Bowman, who was 
born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1828. Mr. Depuy 
was born October 2, 1816, and is the son of Jonathan and Rachel 
Winner Depuy, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. 

James A. Heaton, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Jphn and 
Sarah (Weed) Heaton, and a brother to the late Judge Heaton, of the 
appellate court. He was born in Oneida county. New York, August 
17, 1822. His early labor was farming, but he served an apprentice- 
ship to the cooper's trade. His education was quite liberal for his day. 
He attended the common schools, then spent parts of three years at 
Clinton Liberal Institute, where he studied all branches taught in that 
institution except the classics. He taught ten years in New York 
state. April 1, 181:'l, he started for the west. He landed first in Wis- 
consin, then made his way to Illinois. He arrived in Lee county in 
August of the same year, and engaged as a farm hand to James Camp- 
bell, then sheriff of Lee county. In winters he taught school. On 
April 18, 1847, he enlisted in Co. A, 16th reg. U. S. Inf., for the Mexi- 
can war, and served till its close. He then returned to Lee county. 
He was married June 1, 1851, to Anna M. Hetaler, daughter of 
Nathan and Katharine Hetler. She was born September 1, 1832. 
They have seven children living: William H., Katharine H., wife of B- 
F. Miller; Andrew J., Charles C, Jessie, and twins, Nellie and 
Georgia. Mr. Heaton has owned many different tracts of land, but 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. OzO 

dates permanent settlement to his occupancy of his present home, Sees. 
22 and 24, T. 22, E. 9. He has 208 acres in his farm. 

Zachaeia T. Stover, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, was born in 
Adams county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1849, and was reared on a 
farm, with but a limited means of obtaining an education, as his 
mother died when he was but a small boy ; yet, by a determined will, 
and application to study, he gained a fair business education. In 1870, 
in view of bettering his condition, he came to Lee county, Illinois, 
where he decided to make his future] home ; decidedly preferring the 
prairie State of Illinois to the hilly State of Pennsylvania. October 6, 
1875, he married Miss Anna L. Seitz ; she was born in Lee county, 
n^-nois, December 16, 1854. They have two children : Charles T. 
and Mary F. Mrs. Stover's father, Isaac Seitz, was born in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1809. Early in life Mr. Seitz learned 
the trade of cooper, which he followed till he came to Illinois, in 
1846. He then bought a farm in Sec. 2, T. 21, K. 10, and engaged in 
farming. September 8, 1850, he married Miss Frances, daughter of 
Charles Philip and Elizabeth (Moore) Klintob ; she was born in Lu- 
zerne county, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1826, and came to Lee county in 
1848 or 1849. By this marriage he reared four children, two of whom 
are living, Mrs. Anna L. Stover, and Jacob E., born May 24, 1862 ; 
by a former marriage he reared six children, three of whom are living: 
Mary A., wife of John W. Courtright, and Isaac and Abraham 
(twins). Mr. Seitz is still living on the old home farm with his 
daughter. 

DoLLivER Johnson, retired, Amboy. After a long life of useful 
labor, combined with a high order of mechanical genius and intelli- 
gence, Mr. Johnson retired to his farm in the southeast of !Nachusa 
township, where himself and his excellent wife are now spending their 
declining years, sxirrounded with the blessings of a pleasant home. Mr. 
Johnson was born in Bradford, Orange county, Vermont, July 16, 
1800. He was reared on the farm, but at the age of eighteen, being a 
natural mechanic, turned his attention to learning the trade of black- 
smith. This he followed till the age of thirty-four, when, seeking a 
broader Held of labor, he entered a foundry at Boston, where he bored 
and finished the first brass cannon ever produced in the United States. 
About this time came the demand for railroad engines, and he engaged 
in the manufacture of these great iron horses, which were then not only 
the wonder, but consternation, of the world. He subsequently became 
master mechanic for five different railroad companies, viz, the Erie, 
the Pittsburg, the Calais & Baron in the United States, and the St. 
Lawrence & Atlantic and Grand Trunk of Canada. In 1855 he came 
to Amboy, Lee county, Illinois, wliere he received the appointment by 



526 HISTORY OF LEE COTJNTY. 

the Illinois Central Railroad Company of foreman of their machine 
shops at Diinleith, where he remained till 1870, when he retired to the 
farm, which his noble wife had been superintending from the time of 
their advent into Illinois, thus bringing into ])ractice those rare talents 
for which her family are characteristic. On March 20, 1827, Mr. John- 
son was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Fnderwood. She died April 
20, 1S35, aged twenty-nine years and live months. Of this marriage 
are two children : Alonzo and James, both living in Springfield, Mas- 
sachusetts. Mr. Johnson's next marriage was on October 17, 1837, 
with Miss Lucretia, daughter of Mr. Thomas and Anna (Eaton) Abbott. 
She was born in Concord, New Hampshire, March 6, 1812, and is a 
descendant of the historic Abbott family, whose ancestors (two brothers) 
came to America in the early Puritan days in the ne.xt ship following 
the immortal Mayflower. 

WiLLiAj[ W. Darker, farmer and stock raiser, Amboj', is a natiN o 
of Leicestershire, England, and came to Lee county, Illinois, in 1S45. 
During his earl}' youth he was engaged in a mixed business of farm- 
ing, brewing, butchering, and attending school. Soon after he came 
to Lee county he entered land in Sec. 21, T. 21, R. 10, and at once 
began to make himself a home, which to an Englishman is of great 
importance. He very early entertained the idea that to make a home 
on the prairie it must be surrounded with a thick growtii of a large 
variety of timber, hence his residence is now almost hid from view 
in the tall timber that surround it. On January 26, 1853, he mar- 
ried Miss Caroline Gould, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. She 
was born January 24, 1824, and died July 26, 1863, leaving one child, 
Elizabeth, born October 25, 1853, who is now cheering her father's 
home with the pleasant sunshine of her countenance. Though she 
was early in life deprived of the tender care and instructions of a 
mother, she has those very essential qualities which are so much re- 
quired to make a pleasant home — industrj', perseverance and good taste 
Mr. Darker is engaged in stock raising as well as farming. 

Samuel Crawford, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in 
Blair county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1823. Like his father he was 
reared a farmer, and educated in the common schools of his boyhood 
days (^that of the old subscription plan). February 10, 1848, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of Jacob and Nancy 
(Wilson) Burket, also a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania. She 
was born April 21, 1827. In April following his marriage Mr. Craw- 
ford started for Lee count}', Illinois, by the way of the rivers Ohio, 
Mississippi and Illinois. On his arrival in this county he at once began 
improving his prairie home, which he had two years previously entered 
in Sec. 9, T. 21, R. 10, and has since transformed it from a state of 



NACHUSA TOWNSHrP. 527 

nature, inliabited by deer and wolves, into one of the finest farms in 
Nachusa township. It comprises -tOO acres of excellent farming land. 
This has about all been earned by a close application to business, and 
is an evidence of what pluck and industry will accomplish. "When he 
first had wheat to sell be hauled it by team to Chicago over the un- 
broken prairie, without roads or bridges, but he worked and waited for 
the railroad, and now it passes in sight of his home. Himself and his 
noble wife are now enjoying tlie fruits of their labor. They have five 
children living: William J., Wilson, Fannie M., Calvin B. and Lu- 
cinda A. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are members of the Presbyterian 
church and hold their membership at Dixon. 

William H. Fiscel, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in 
Adams county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1842, and came to Illinois with 
his parents, David and Mary A. (Herbst) Fiscel, in 1848. They were 
natives of Pennsylvania, but of German ancestry. Soon after coming 
to Lee county they settled near Franklin Grove, but two years later 
bought land in Sec. 32, T. 22, R. 10, in what is now Nachnsa town- 
ship. They made the trip from their native state to Lee county with 
a team, being six weeks on the road. At the tiuie they came the coun- 
try was quite new and unimproved ; grain bad to be hauled to Chicago 
to find a market, and then sold for from 30 to 50 cents per bushel. 
Passengers were but poorly accommodated by the old stage coach, 
which is now replaced by the lightning express, and passes several 
times daily in sight of their home. Mr. Fiscel lived to see a great 
change in this county. He died in November 18fi5, leaving a wife and 
seven children to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father. Wil- 
liam H., the subject of this sketch, coming as he did to Illinois wiien 
quite young, was deprived of the advantages of anything more than a 
limited education. Young as he was at the outbreak of the late rebel- 
lion, he became a member of Co. G, 75th 111. Vol. Inf, and did about 
three years' service for his country. He was honorably discharged with 
his regiment at the close of the war. February 27, 1868, he married 
Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. George Stambaugh. She was born 
in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1846. They have one child, Frank, 
born January 24, 1876. The very pleasing appearance of their home 
shows its proprietor's good taste. 

John P. Brdbaker, farmer, Nachusa. Tiie Brubaker family in 
this country descended from two brothers who came to America from 
Germany, in 1771, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from 
whom sprang a numerous posterity. One of the two brothers, as above, 
was Christley Brubaker, from whom descended Jonathan Brubaker, 
who was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was the father of Jonas 
Brubaker, who was born in the same county. May 5, 1801. The latter 



528 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

moved with his parents, when seven years of age, to Virginia, settling 
near Lynchburg, tliat state. Three years later the family removed to 
Preble county, Ohio, where Jonas still lives at the advanced asje of 
eighty years. John P. Brubaker, the subject of this sketch, was born 
July 30, 18'26, in Preble county, Ohio, and is the son of Jonas and 
Rebecca (Phillips) Brubaker. His mother was the daughter of Simon 
Phillips, of Tennessee, who lived near Blue Ridge, that state. When 
twenty-three ^-ears of age he left his father's house in Ohio, and com- 
ing to Illinois he purchased a farm on Sees. 5 and 6, T. 21, R. 10 E. of 
the 4th P. M., Lee county, where lie still lives. On September 7, 18i0, 
he was married to Miss Hannah Wright, daughter of William and Eva 
Wright, of Preble county, Ohio. Resulting from this union were four 
children: William E., now residing in Iowa; Marcus C. died De- 
cember 11, 1875, in Cincinnati ; and Laura A., now wife of Ruben W. 
Eiclioltze, of Nachusa township. Mrs. Brubaker died October 15, 
18G5. On February 31, 1867, Mr. Brubaker was united in marriage to 
Miss Ann Sunday, daughter of Henry and Susan (Trostle) Sunday, of 
York county, Pennsylvania, her parents both dying when she was but 
a child. From the above marriage union resulted two children : Min- 
nie May, born May 21, 1868, and Ozra J., October 5, 1873. Mr. Bru- 
baker has served as commissioner of highway's for a number of years, 
as school trustee for the last fifteen years, and as justice of the peace 
for the past ten years, and sustains the last two official relations at the 
present time. He gives special attention to fruit-growing, of whicii he 
has many choice varieties, his home being well shaded with thrifty 
fruit and forest trees. He has one brother living, Ephraim Brubaker, 
of Chicago, and one sister, Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Baker, Preble 
county, Ohio. Mrs. Brubaker has two brothers living: Solomon Sun- 
day, of Frederick county, Maryland, and two sisters : Rebecca, wife of 
John Peters, of Dickinson county, Kansas, and Abigail, wife of 
Abraham King, of Lee county. 

Benjamin Kesler, farmer, Nachusa, was born April 12, 1807, in 
Ash county, North Carolina, and is the son of Joseph Kesler, 
born in Pennsylvania, February 17, 1767, and removed to Ash county, 
North Carolina, about 1791. His grandfather, Unrich Kesler, emigrated 
from Switzerland when a lad, between 1740 and 1750. When the subject 
of our sketch was but a child he removed with his father to Montgomery 
county, Ohio, where the latter died September 1840. He remained on 
the farm until November 1836, when he removed to Darke county, 
where he continued the occupation of farming until 1850, when he 
removed to Illinois and settled in Sec. 6, T. 21, R. 10, Lee county, where 
he resided until the autumn of 1880, when he removed to his daughter's 
home in Nachusa township. On September 21, 1827, Mr. Kesler was 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 529 

united in marriage to Miss Sally Burket, daughter of John and Mary 
Burket, of Miami county, Ohio. To them were born se%'en children ; 
four now living, two dying in infanc}', and Miss Anna at the age of 
twenty years. After a companionship of fifty-three years Mr. Kesler 
was bereaved of his wife and devoted mother of his children, she dying 
May 2, 1S80. Mr. Kesler has been identified with the German Bap- 
tist church for about forty years, thirty of which time he has held the 
office of deacon. 

Mks. Maey (Keslee) Emmert, of Nachusa, was born April 1, 1831, 
in Montgomery county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Benjamin and 
Sail}' (Burket) Kesler, given above. At the age of nineteen she 
removed with her parents to Illinois. She was united in marriage 
March 11, 1852, to Henry Emmert, son of Eev. Joseph Emmert, of Lee 
county. After marriage they settled on a farm in Sees. 4 and 5, T. 21, 
R. 10. They have eight children : Sarah Catharine, Joseph (deceased), 
Anna Elizabeth, Alora Priacilla, George Rufus, Eva Jane, Carrie 
Hewet, Frank Winfred, and Jesse Theadore. 

George Washington Kesler is the eldest son of Benjamin and 
Sally (Burket) Kesler, and was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, 
October 21, 1836. He removed with his parents to Lee county, Illinois, 
in June 1850. In October, 1862, he enlisted in the army and entered 
Co. C, 34th reg. 111. Vols. ; was wounded in the battle of Murfreesboro, 
being disabled from further service, and was honorably discharged. 
December 29, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa M. Hunt, 
daughter of Otis and Louisa (Fluent) Hunt, of Steuben county. New 
York. She was born November 6, 1840, and removed with her parents 
to Lee county, Illinois, in 1861. After their marriage they settled on 
a farm in Bradford township, where they resided until March 1879, 
when the}' removed to Collyer, Trego county, Kansas, where they still 
reside. They have a family of four children : Otis B., Perlie, Jesse L. 
and Nettie F. 

Mrs. Eva (Kesler) Lichty was born April 22, 1841, in Darke 
county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Sally (Burket) 
Kesler. She removed with her parents to Lee county, Illinois, in June 
1850. In August, 1865, she was united in marriage to Daniel A. 
Lichty, who was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania, came to Illinois 
about 1863, and devoted some time to school teaching. After their 
marriage they settled on a farm in Lee county, where they resided until 
March 1873, when they removed to Brown county, Kansas, where they 
are now living. They have four children : Bernice M., Olive Mary, 
Mahlon, and Ida Anna. 

Rdfcs G. Kesler, son of Benjamin and Sally (Burket) Kesler, was 
born in Darke county, Ohio, August 3, 1845. In June, 1850, he 



530 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

removed with his parents to Lee county, Illinois. After acquiring a 
fair common school education he spent a tliree-months term in a com- 
mercial college. In 1803 he enlisted in the service of his country and 
become a member of the 75th reg. 111. Vols., remaining in the service 
until the close of the war. Besides other severe battles in which he 
took part he participated in the bloody battle of Perrysville, where 
most of his regiment fell. In the fall of 1870 he married Mrs. Frances 
Graves, of Chicago, daughter of Mr. George Robinson. He made 
Chicago his home until 187S, when he removed to Collyer, Trego 
county, Kansas, where he took a soldier's claim of 100 acres and a 
timber claim of the same amount, and is engaged in farming and stock 
raising. 

Jacob Hill, farmer, Dixon, Lee county, Illinois. Jacob Hill, farmer 
and stock raiser, son of Jacob and Catherine Hill, was born in Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania, December 24:, 1821. In about the year 1837 he 
went to Livingston county, New York, -where he resided for nearly 
twenty years. In 1858 he came to Lee county, where his father had 
settled two years previous. He had si.x brothers and two sisters, but 
is now the eldest living, three brothers and one sister having died. 
His father died about 1870, and his mother survived until 1879, when 
she too passed away. Mr. Hill has one brother in this county. In 
about 1842 he was married in New York, the issue of this marriage 
being two children, and he was afterward bereaved of wife and chil- 
dren. About one year after his removal to this county he was united 
in marriage to his present wife, Miss Balinda Marteeney, daughter of 
Jacob and Anna (Corke) Marteeney, of this county. They had by this 
union four children. Their eldest daughter married Daniel Linzey, of 
South Di.\on. Mr. Hill, the subject of this sketch, resides upon the 
home farm, and is an enterprising and successful farmer and an es- 
teemed citizen. 

Col. Alex. P. Dysakt, farmer, Nachusa, was born February 3, 
1826, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of James 
and Elizabeth Dysart, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but of Scotch 
and Irish ancestry. When a boy of eighteen or nineteen he located 
land in Lee county, embracing the present village of Xachusa, and in 
1847 settled where he has since resided, and improved one of the finest 
farms in Lee county. His ferra embraces 288 acres of prairie land on 
Sees. 6 and 7, T. 21 N., R. 10. In 1848 the colonel returned to Penn- 
sylvania and was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Grazier, of 
Huntington county, that state, and daughter of Henry and Nancy 
Grazier, and returned to his farm in Lee county in May of the same 
spring. He was elected justice of the peace for two successive terms, 
also served on the board of supervisors for a number of years, as well- 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 533 

as commissioner of highways, town clerk, etc. In the fall of 1861 he 
entered the United States service, being commissioned captain Septem- 
ber 13, 1861, and mastered in as captain of Co. C, of the Slth reg. 
111. Vols. After the battle of Shiloh, he was promoted major and re- 
ceived his commission April IS, 1862. On November 29 of the same 
year he was commissioned colonel, and took command of the Sith 
reg. At the expiration of the regiment's service he returned to 
Springfield, and was tendered the command of a new regiment by Gov. 
Bates, but which he declined, and returned home. In 1878 he was 
elected representative to the Illinois state legislature, and reelected in 
1880. He is of decided republican principles in politics. The colonel 
suffered the bereavement of his wife, who died December 11, 1878, 
leaving seven children, four sons and three daughters. The eldest son, 
James W. Dysart, M.D., is living in Laramie City, Wyoming ; two 
sons, James 11. and Alison A., and one daughter, Mrs. Miller, reside in 
Chicago ; one daughter, Mrs. Jessee E. Whitney, resides south of 
Franklin Grove. 

William C. Dysaet, merchant, Nachusa, was born in Huntingdon 
county, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1837. His early life was spent at farm- 
ing on the old homestead. During this time, however, he received a 
liberal education at Mountain Seminary, Birmingham, Pennsylvania. 
In the spring of 1866 he moved to Lee county, and engaged in the 
grain business at Nachusa, in company with his brother, Capt. Jolm 
Dysart, and erected the first grain elevator at that place. After engag- 
ing one year in this pursuit he returned to his native state and en- 
gaged in the wholesale grocer^' trade at Altoona, at which business he 
continued until in 1879, when he again came to Nachusa, and estab- 
lished himself in the general merchandise and lumber business, which 
he still pursues. For this business he first occupied a small frame build- 
ing, which now forms a wing to his present commodious store, erected 
in 1«678. On January 1, 1872, he was married to Sophia Barlow, 
daughter of Augustus Barlow, Esq., a prominent citizen of Lee county. 
They have had by this union one child, a daughter, Anna May, born in 
1875. In 1869 Mr. Dysart was appointed postmaster at Nachusa, and 
has held the office continuously ever since, and is the present incum- 
bent. Mr. Dysart, together with his estimable wife, enjoy the confi- 
dence and esteem of the entire community in which they live. 

Wilson Dysaet, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born No- 
vember 27, 1829, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and is the son 
of Joseph and Mary A. (Davison) Dysart. He was reared on a farm, 
receiving a fair education, also a good practical education in the art of 
intelligent farming. January 18, 1853, he married Miss Frances M., 
daughter of Mr. Samuel P. and Susan (Rathbon) Wallace, who was 
32 



& 



534 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1833. After 
his marriage Mr. Dysart engaged in farming on the old home witli his 
father, till 1857. In the spring of that year he came to Lee county, Illi- 
nois, and commenced improving land previously entered by his father, 
and in the fall of the same year liis family joined him here, and he at 
once settled permanently on Sec. 17, T. 21, R. 10, which he has since 
by industry and good taste transformed from a state of nature into one 
of the beautiful prairie homes of the south part of this town. Mr. 
Dysart is now (1881) actively engaged in stock raising as well as farm- 
ing. This farm contains 440 acres of excellent land, highly improved. 
His famih- consists of nine children : Warren P., Joseph W., Anna M., 
Clarinda, Ernest S., Edith, Marian L., Edward E. and Frances E. 

John Leake was born in Leicestershire, England, November 27, 
1807. He was the elder son of John and Miss (Snow) Leake. Educational 
advantages were meager, but he acquired learning sufficient to enable 
him to do business, and when about tifteen years of age was appren- 
ticed to a butcher. After acquiring the trade he and his father bought 
a small farm and carried it on, together with the butchering business. 
After a time this business was disposed of and other enterprises under- 
taken, but business did not prove successful, and Mr. Leake determined 
to seek his fortune in America. In December, 1832, he was married 
to Mary A. Jarvis. To them, while they remained in England, were 
born three sons and one daughter, the latter dying when a child. In 
1840 Mr. Leake bade adieu to his family and, without a tear, set sail 
for New York, where he arrived in the latter part of May. Imme- 
diately he pushed on to the frontier, up the Hudson to Albany via tiie 
Erie canal to Buffalo, via lakes to Chicago, thence by stage to Di.xon's 
Ferry, Lee county, Illinois. He reached this place June 10, in company 
with "William Moodey and Isaac Means, whose acquaintance he had 
formed en route from New York. Mr. Means proposed going farther, 
at least to Galena, but Mr. Leake said " Stay here and look about." He 
shortly bought a claim, for which lie said he would not take a thousand 
dollars, the other men found employment, and so farther explorations 
ceased. And now commenced the struggle for a home and compe- 
tency. Having little or no money, Mr. Leake worked at any emj)loy- 
ment within his reach, often for 25 cents or less per day, and taking 
for payment anything that could be made available toward securing 
the home or sustenance for tlie family. In 1841 a business trip took 
him to New Orleans. Here he lived " three days on three 10-cent 
pieces;" then came employment and success. Returning to Dixon, he 
was there in time to meet his family, who arrived in August of that 
year. Mr. Leake sold his coat to buy a cow ; built a shanty, which 
was only partly covered with floor, and here, without table or chairs. 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 535 

the family settled down in their own home. In the course of time 
there were born into the familj' two daughters, one of whom is still 
living. In 18i3 the winter set in with such severity in the second 
week in November that the family were driven out of their shanty to 
a neighboring log house. But noble enterprises are sure to win. This 
family did not struggle in vain. In spite of frequent losses of hard 
earned personal property, in spite of many dangers and much malarial 
disease, they gained ground and soon began to add to the original 
claim till a farm of 287 acres they could call their own. Other farms 
were added, till at the time of Mr. Leake's death, he could number his 
acres at 670. In 1867 the desire of several years was put in practice. 
In May he crossed the Atlantic to visit his native land. Not long 
after arriving in England he was prostrated by sickness so severe that 
his friends had little hope that he would see home again, but his strong 
will prevailed. He arrived at home November 1, but remained an 
invalid till September 11, 1869, when he died. He was buried in 
Temperance Hill graveyard, beside his daughter, who had died in 1862. 
Thus he saw his three sons and one daughter grown and able to take 
up the work which he had laid down. To Mrs. Leake belongs a large 
share of credit for the success of the family. After her husband's death 
she lived with her children till January 19, 1868, when she too was 
numbered with the dead and laid beside her husband. 

Thomas Leake, farmer and stock raiser, Amboy, is the son of John 
and Mary (Jarvis) Leake, of Leicestershire, England, and was born at 
that place January 12, 1839, and came to this country with the rest of 
the family in the summer of 18-11. Though he is not a native, he is 
yet one of the pioneers of Lee county. He was reared on the farm 
and in his youth was engaged in rural pursuits and attending the 
pioneer sciiools of the period. In 1858, having mastered all of the 
branches of learning available in the schools of the county, he entered 
Rock River Seniinar3\ at Mount Morris, for the purpose of completing 
his education. In 1862 he began a theological course of training in the 
Oarrett Biblical Institute, at Evanston, Illinois, which he completed in 
1864. In the meantime he was engaged during vacations in teaching. 
On the completion of his course he joined the Rock River Conference 
and began his ministerial labors in the Big Rock Circuit. This station 
he filled for two years, at the end of which time, finding his health so 
impaired as to make him unable to continue the work, he returned 
home, and after a year of recuperation took charge of his farm. On 
February 20, 1872, he was married to Miss Martha S., daughter of 
Stephen T. Seoville, who was born in Oneida count}', New York, 
March 29, 1838. Mr. Leake has a beautiful farm and nice home, much 
taste and refinement being displaj'ed in their cultivation and care. 



536 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

John C. Leake, farmer and stock raiser, Amboy, son of Jolin and 
Marj A. (Jarvis) Leake, was born in Leicestersliire, England, December 
7, 1838, and came to America with his mother and others of their 
family in 1841. His father preceded them liere to prepare a liome for 
them on their arrival. This he did by entering government land in 
the south part of Nachnsa township. Thus John C. became one of the 
pioneer children of this county and is well acquainted with all the 
disadvantages of pioneer life, having hauled grain to Chicago with a 
team, railroads then being a convenience almost unheard of in this part 
of the country. September 21, 18C3, he was married to Miss Mariette, 
daughter of Leonard W. and Sarah A. (Crawford) Hale. She was born 
in Ohio, January 6, 1838. They have one child living, Thomas W., 
and three deceased : Charles W. died July 2, 1877, aged twelve years ; 
Jennie F., February 6, 1879, aged six years, and Grace M., March 3, 
1879, aged nearly three years. Mr. Leake owns the old homestead, 
consisting of 380 acres, and is actively engaged in stock raising and 
farming. 

Henet Wingert, retired farmer, Nachusa, is a son of Jacob and 
Elizabeth (Binkley) Wingert, and was born in Lancaster county, Penn- 
sylvania, February 23, 1804. His father was born in the satne state, 
and his grandfather was born in Germany. Mr. Wingert was reared 
and educated a farmer. August 10, lS2f), he married Miss Anna M. 
Bciitz, a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. In 1833 he re- 
moved to Preble county, Ohio, and there engaged in farming till 1852, 
when he came to Illinois, and settled in Lee county, on Sec. 4, T. 21, 
R. 10. This was his last and permanent settlement, as he is now 
(1881) contentedly enjoying the comfortable home his industry and 
honest toil have provided. Mrs. Wingert died December 25, 1877, 
leaving her husband nine children living (six being deceased), viz : 
Elizabeth M., Louisa C, John W., Hannah, Walter J., Miriam, David, 
Harriett A., Leona V. Mr. Wingert began life for himself without 
means, but by good management he now owns, besides his home farm 
of 160 acres, 80 acres of good land in Iowa. He is one of those whole- 
souled men whose influence is always felt for good in the community 
where they live. 

John W. AVingekt, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, is a son of 
Henry and Anna M. (Bentz) Wingert, and was born in Franklin 
county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1831, and with his parents removed to 
Preble county, Ohio, when a small boy. Here he grew to manhood, en- 
gaged in farming, and to a limited extent attending school. In 1852 
he came with his parents to Lee county, Illinois, and settled in the 
prosperous town of Nachusa, and followed the business of farming. In 
August, 1862, he enlisted in the 75th III. Vol. Inf , followed the for- 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 537 

tunes of war through the battles of PeTrysville and Stone River, after 
which, on account of his health breaking down, he was transferred to 
the 12th Veteran Reserve Corps, and was finally discharged with that 
regiment in June 1865, broken down in health, from which he yet ex- 
periences much suffering. January 28, 1869, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Hannah M., daughter of Jacob and Nancy Hittle. 
She was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1837, 
and came to this county with her parents far back in its early history. 
They have five children : Willie B.. Frederick A., Adelbert, and Bertha 
and Berton (twins). In November, 1877, he bought his present farm 
of 160 acres in Sec. 29, T. 22, R. 10, where he now lives engaged in 
farming. 

Joshua Wingeet, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is a 
son of John and Mary (Newcommer) Wingert, and was born in the 
State of Maryland, July 4, 1829. In 1832 his parents removed to 
Ohio. Here young Joshua remained with his parents, engaged in 
farming and attending school, till about the age of seventeen. At that 
time (1846), in company with au elder brother, he emigrated to Illinois, 
and settled in Lee county, and engaged in farming in connection with 
his brother. December 20, 1855, he married Miss Susan, daughter of 
Mr. Jacob and Mary Emmert. She is a native of Maryland, and was 
born May 4, 1836, and came to Lee county, Illinois, with her parents 
in an early day. After his marriage Mr. Wingert actively engaged in 
farming and stock raising for himself, which business he has ever since 
successfully followed, and by careful management and industry has ac- 
cumulated a tine property. He has three sons living: Ralpli W., a 
fine scholar, who is now giving much attention to the fine arts; Ira 
W. and Lee E., who are also giving much attention to education. 

Joseph Heckman (deceased) was the son of Jacob and Sarah 
(Bushkirk) Heckman. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, 
April 11, 1813, and died June 19, 1881, after a life of patient labor and 
industry. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
of James and Elizabeth (Mock) Rawlings, December 25, 1838. She 
was born July 5, 1814, and died May 23, 1879. They left a family of 
six children : James M., Mary E. (who is now faithfully discharging 
the duties of housekeeper for her brothers), Josiah S., Jacob C, John 
R. and Adison L. Mr. Heckman with his family came to Lee county, 
Illinois, in December 1863, and bought a farm of J. S. McNeel in Sec. 
36, T. 22, R. 10, one of the most pleasant homes in this township. 

David N. Steatton, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, was born 
in Massachusetts, August 1, 1844. He is a son of Milo and Calista P. 
(Rice) Stratton. His ea.T\y j'outh was spent on a farm, where he had 
and improved the advantages of the common schools. At the age of 



538 HISTORY OF LEE COPNTY. 

seventeen years he entered the mercantile business in Lee, Massachu- 
setts. This he followed till the age of twenty-two, when he came to 
Macoupin county, Illinois, where he remained two years as clerk in a 
store. He then came to Whitesides county, Illinois, where he re- 
mained till the fall of 1868, when he removed to his present home 
farm in Lee county, Illinois. He is permanently engaged in farming 
and stock raising, of which business he is now making a decided suc- 
cess. August 15, 187T, he was united in marriage to Miss Hester, 
daughter of Nathan and Jndah Hill. She was born in Pennsylvania. 
They are the parents of two children : Jennie P. and Milo. Mr. 
Stratton's parents are still living in Massachusetts, his father at the 
advanced age of eighty-two years. 

Samuel Miller, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Franklin 
count}', Pennsylvania, March 2, 1810. His father was killed when he 
(Samuel) was three 3'ears old. His early youth was spent farming and 
attending school till seventeen years of age, when he began teaching. 
He became a successful instructor both in the English and the German 
languages. In 1832 he was married to Miss Mary Laymon, a native 
Pennsylvania. By this union he had three children : Mary G., Jacob 
L., John W. About 1840 Mrs. Miller died. Mr. Miller was next 
married to Mary Maune, and by this marriage had seven children : 
Benjamin F., Abram C, Samuel W., Martha W., Lusetta, Charlotte A., 
Laura F. In June, 1865, Mr. Miller bought and occupied the old 
George Baugh farm of 300 acres. He has always exhibited a marked 
degree of industry and perseverance, the result of which is a fine farm 
with all the improvements that add value to any farm property. 

Jonas B. Eicholtz, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, is. a son of 
John F. and Anna (Boyer) Eicholtz, both natives of Pennsylvania and 
now residents of Nachusa. Jonas B. was born in Adams county, 
Pennsylvania, March 26, 1840, and like his father received a limited 
education and was raised to hard work on the farm. In the spring of 
1861, with his parents, he settled in Lee county, Illinois, near Nachusa, 
where he engaged in tilling the soil. November 19, 1863, Mr. Eicholtz 
was married to Miss Elnora E., daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Dettro) 
Peters. She was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, August 23, 
1840. The issue of this marriage is one child, Oscar II., born in Penn- 
sylvania, March 26, 1866, while Mr. and Mrs E. were visiting in that 
state. In 1875 Mr. Eicholtz purchased his present farm of 145 acres 
in Sec. 18, T. 21, R. 10, which he has improved but did not occupy as 
a home till March 1880. He is one of Lee's industrious and prosper- 
ous farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Eicholtz are connected with the Lutheran 
church, holding their membership in the St. James' church, South 
Dixon. 



NACHFSA TOWNSHIP. 539 

Samuel A. Bender, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, is a son of 
John and Margaret (Miller) Bender, and was born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, June 5, 1843. He remained at home with his parents, 
where he gained a fair common school education, till the summer of 
1860, when he started west, intending to make a home for himself on 
the celebrated prairie of Illinois. He stopped in Lee county and 
began working out by the month on a farm, but at the outbreak of the 
rebellion he shouldered the musket in defense of his country, and on 
August 12, 1862, as an enlisted member of Co. G, 75th 111. Vol. Inf., 
started for the field of action. He met the enemy at Perryville and 
Stone River, and was with his regiment throughout the war, and was 
honorably discharged June 12, 1805, having been appointed sergeant 
(for meritorious conduct) in August 1804. After his return home Mr. 
Bender engaged in farming in Lee county. November 18, 1869, he mar- 
ried Miss Millie, daughter of Erastus and Ruth (Wilcox) Hart. She was 
born in Pennsylvania, July 18, 1851. They are the parents of three 
children living: John P., Bessie A. and Dora Mabel, and two de- 
ceased. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Bender bought his present home 
farm in Nachusa township, where he peruianently located and engaged 
in firming. His father was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, 
where he made his home through life. He (jlied August 25, 1881. The 
father, the grandfather of our sketch, was a native of Germany, and 
followed the occupation of farmer. He came to America early in life 
and settled in Pennsylvania. 

John Atkinson, farming, Nachusa, is a son of John and Margaret 
(Todhunter) Atkinson, and was born in Cumberland county, England, 
August 30, 1847. In June, 1869, he left the land of his birth, parents 
and friends, and set sail for America in the steamship England, of the 
National line, in search of home for himself on the fertile prairies of 
Illinois, and landed in New York July 4, 1869. He at once came on 
to Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, and hired out by the month on a farm. 
This he followed two years, when he rented land and engaged in farm- 
ing for himself. March 1, 1879, he married Miss Susanah, daughter 
of Mr. John and Hannah (Skermer) Leake. She was born in Lee county, 
Illinois, November 28, 1847. Mr. Atkinson is now successfully en- 
gaged in farming. 

Samuel Botee, farmer, Dixon, son of Abraham and Elizabeth 
(Bowman) Boyer, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, Sep- 
tember 28, 1840. He remained at home with his parents, engaged in 
farming and attending school, till about the age of fifteen years, when 
he came to Illinois and engaged at farm labor till the outbreak of 
the war of the rebellion, when he enlisted in Co. A, 13th 111. Vol. 
Inf. He at once started for the front and came in contact with the 



540 HISTORY OF LEE COUKTY. 

enemy for the first time near Lynn Creek, Missouri. He served at the 
siege of Yicksbiirg and many other hard-fought battles, and was finally 
discharged with his regiment at Springfield, Illinois, and returned to 
Lee county so completely broken down in health that he has been 
unable to perform a day's work since. As a recompense for injuries 
received in the service " Uncle Sara " is now paying him a liberal 
pension. March 15, 1866, he married Miss Rebecca Emerick. She 
was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, Juh' 4, 18-18. They are 
the parents of six children : James H., Barbara E., Alonzo, Maud, 
Goldie, and "William L. In 1877 he moved on his present home, in 
Sec. 14, T. 22, R. 9, where he is now engaged in farming. 

Calvin Buekett (deceased) was born in Blair county, Pennsyl- 
vania, December 8, 1829. His parents were Jacob and Nancy (Wil- 
cox) Burkett. During early youth he was engaged in attending school 
and working on the farm. At about the age of twenty-one he came to 
Lee county, Illinois, by the rivers Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois. Hav- 
ing gained some knowledge of the business of stone and brick masonry, 
lie enofae:ed in and followed it for a number of years, teaching school 
winters. In December, 1858, he bought a farm of 100 acres from Jer- 
don Crawford, in Sec. 8, T. 21, R. 10, Nachusa township, and engaged 
in farming and stock raising. This, however, he only followed a short 
time, for at the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Cheney's Battery. 
While in the army his health failed, and after lying in hospital three 
or four months he was discharged on account of disability. January 2, 
1868, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of James K. and Eliza 
(Bruce) Henry. She was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, 
January 8, 1840, and came to Lee county, Illinois, in 1865. Mr. Bur- 
kett, by industry, hard work and good management, made for himself 
and family a good home. He was a member of the Presbyterian 
church, as is also his surviving wife. They had no children of their 
own, but have one adopted child, Charles M. Burkett. Mr. Burkett 
died February 27, 18S1, and was buried in the Dixon cemetery. 

Ekastus Hart (deceased) was born near Albany-, New York, De- 
cember 14, 1809. He was reared a farmer, and followed that business 
through life. At Rochester, New York, March 15, 1831, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Ruth, daughter of Mr. Daniel and Hulda (Webb) 
Wilcox. She was born in Black River county. New York, December 
15, 1812. Soon after his marriage Mr. Hart removed to the State of 
Pennsylvania, and there engaged in farming. In the summer of 1865 
he left the state where he so long lived, and came to Lee county, Illi- 
nois, and settled in Dixon. He only remained there one 3'ear, when 
he moved out on his farm he had previously bought in Sees. 25 and 26, 
T. 22, R. 9. Here he actively engaged in stock raising as well as farm- 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 541 

ing. He died October 4, 1868, leaving, besides his life-loug companion, 
six children, as follows: Alvisa, wife of S. Liipher; Mariett, wife of T. 
L. Slocum ; Lury, wife of J. Williams ; Levi E., Diantha, wife of S. 
Smith, and Millie, wife of Samuel A. Bender. Levi E. Hart, son of E. 
and R. Hart, farmer and stock raiser, was born in the State of Pennsyl- 
vania, August 30, 1846, and came with his parents to Lee county, 
Illinois. December 18, 1868, he married Miss Emeline B., daughter 
of Abanoan and Caroline (Fowler) Hinds. She was born in Susque- 
hanna countj', Pennsj^lvania, June 21, 1846. They are the parents of 
two children : Sybil L. and Leon. Mr. Hart is proprietor of the old 
home of his father, and with him his venerable old mother is spending 
her declining years in peace and comfort. 

Feangis Miller, farmer, Nachusa. The yeoman who leaves his native 
land, dares the ocean's turbulent billows, makes his way to Illinois and 
here, bj' incessant toil and constant saving, secures to himself and fiim- 
ily an ample and pleasant home of 182 acres of land, second to none 
in the state, and improves it well, is certainly a success. Such a man 
is Francis Miller, the subject of these notes. Mr. Miller was born in 
Count}' Derry, Ireland, in 1833, and like his father was reared to hard 
work on the farm and had but few educational advantages. In March, 
1852, he was married to Miss Jane Burnside, daughter of Josiah Burn- 
side. She was also born in County Derry, Ireland. Immediately after 
their marriage the twain set sail in the sailing vessel Isaac Wright for 
America, and after nine weeks' sailing reached New York. He 
remained at labor in New York a few months, then came to Lee coun- 
ty via Chicago and Rockford. Arriving, he engaged at farm labor by 
the month or day. He soon purchased a small farm, but in 1872, in 
partnership with his brother-in-law, James Burnside, bought the farm 
■wliich he in 1880 secured to himself and now owns, situate in Sec. 19, 
T. 21, R. 10. He deals somewhat in stock, etc. Mr. Miller's family 
numbers seven children : Margaret (now Mrs. E. A. Hewet), James, 
Samuel F., Eliza, William I., Mary, and Josiah. 

John M. Allwood, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in 
Lincolnshire, England, March 26, 1830. His parents were John and 
Ann (Madison) Allwood. He was reared on a farm. His parents being 
poor, his education was very much neglected. After growing up he 
labored as a daj' hand six and a half years. October 18, 1853, he left 
his native country and friends and set sail for America in the sailing 
vessel North American, and after a voj'age of six weeks and two days 
landed in New York. He at once left there for Wisconsin and from 
there started on foot to a point, 200 miles distant, in Iowa, from where 
he soon after returned to Wisconsin, where he hired out to work on a 
farm at S8 per month. Here he continued a little over six years, when 



542 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

he came to Lee county, Illinois, and hired out to work for Mr. Abijah 
Powers in Palmyra. Here he remained two years and then went back 
to Wisconsin, sold a farm he had previously bought, and then went to 
Iowa, where he bought a t'arui of 2:10 acres, on which he lived about 
three years. Mr. Allwood at this time having a longing desire for 
Illinois, sold his farm and again returned to Lee county and bought a 
farm in the south end of Xachusa township, where he is now engaged 
in farming and stock raising. October 18, 1863, he married Miss Isa- 
bella Mostollcr. a native of Penns3'lvania, born there in 1835 and came 
to Lee count}', Illinois, in 1851. They are the parents of seven chil- 
dren, five of whom are now living; William, Austin, Edgar, George 
W., Mary E.; John, born August 20, 1864, was drowned in Coon 
Kiver, at Booneville, Iowa, July 3, 1881 ; Charles died in infancy'. 

John M. Crawford (deceased) was born in Blair county, Penn- 
sylvania, March 15, 1825. Early in life he learned the trade of car- 
penter and cabinet-maker; this he followed until several years after 
coming to Illinois, having worked on some of the first mills and bridges 
built in Lee county. April 12, 1849, he married Miss Mary A. D3'sart. 
She was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. March 8, 1824. 
They at once came to Illinois, and settled in Lee county on land he 
had bought previously, having been to Lee county about three years be- 
fore. He died May 21, 1881, having at the time of his death become 
one of the largest land owners in Lee county. He was well and favor- 
ably known throughout the county, having filled the offices of super- 
visor and assessor for several terms. He left at his death a wife and 
six children : the eldest of the children, James A., died June 9, 1881 ; 
Milton A., Albert W., Joseph D., Frances J. and Ettie O. 

John H. Abbott, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa. In the earh' 
part of the seventeenth century the Abbots came from Somersetshire, 
England, and settled on Staten Island, N^ew Jersey ; from them sprang 
a numerous family, now scattered throughout the United States. They 
were prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal church in 
its early historj' in America, and are among the first mentioned by 
Bishop Simpson in his " Cyclopedia of Methodism." John H. Abbott, 
now of Lee county, Illinois, is one of the descendants of this historic 
family. He was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, November 
12, 1818. He was reared on a farm by his parents till the age of four- 
teen. When at that age his mother died, and little John was thrown on 
his resources and obliged to take care of himself. After a short time 
he engaged his services to a Mr. L. B. Rupert, then engaged in boating 
and transportation, with whom he afterward became a partner and fol- 
lowed the business a number of years. December 14, 1848, he mar- 
ried Miss Ellen Shoemaker, who was born in Columbia county, Penn- 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 543 

sylvania, November 17, 1827. Tliey are the parents of seven children : 
Elizabeth J., Amzi S., Robert M., William, Charles B., Martha A. and 
Mary E. In the spring of 1864- Mr. Abbott came to Lee county, Illi- 
nois, bought land in Sec. 29, T. 23, R. 10, where he permanently lo- 
cated and engaged in farming. For the last eleven years he has been 
commissioner of highways. He is prominently connected with the . 
Methodist Episcopal church. --^j^ 

Isaiah Brink, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, came to Lee county, 
Illinois, October 10, 1851. He is the son of Joshua and Rebecca (Cole) 
Brink, and was born October 17, 1817, in the old State of Pennsylvania. 
Like his father he was reared a farmer and to a limited extent attended V^^ 
the old subscription schools of his native state. In June, 18-12, he was Jt ■'' 

married to Miss Eliza Stiles, and has become the father of six children, -^ ,, /7) 
three of whom are living : _Sarah C. (wife of Perry Cromley), John L. l/j^^ 
and Chai-les S. In March, 1852, Mr. Brink rented a cabin near Dixon, 
into which he moved his family, bade them good-b}', and started for 
Califoi'nia, in company with some other parties who were going to the 
Golden State with ox teams. He arrived there in September of the 
same year, and at once engaged in mining, but soon after turned his 
attention to the carpenter business, which he followed in connection 
with trading and speculating for about four years. In September, 1856, 
he returned home, and found his wife engaged in farming on land she 
had bought with money sent home by her husband during his absence. 
Mr. Brink made his trip to California a success, inasmuch as he there 
made the money which gave him a good start in life. His home farm 
comprises 278 acres of good land. He is also the owner of considerable 
other property. _y-^ 

John R. Merrill (deceased), Nachusa, was born in Londonderry, 
New Hampshire, in 1804, and was reared on a farm. In April, 1829, 
he married Miss Lydia C, daughter of Benjamin March. She was born 
in Londonderry in 1805. In 1839 they emigrated to Illinois, where from 
its cheap lands he might secure for himself and family a home and 
enjoy the advantages of a growing countrj'. He first settled in Ogle 
county, near the line of Lee. Here he entered land, to which he kept 
adding until he became the owner of a large amount of land in Lee and 
Ogle counties. He experienced much of the hardships and privations 
of pioneer life, making many trips to Chicago with a team, hauling 
produce there and merchandise back, sleeping on the ground and in his 
wagon nights, getting stalled in sloughs and carrying out his loads on 
his back to land. He died March -1, 1861. Mrs. Merrill (a former 
school-mate of the venerable Horace Greeley) is still living, at the 
advanced age of seventy-six years, and is now (1881) enjoying excellent 
health and a remarkable memory. They became the parents of two 



544 HISTORY. OF LEE COUNTY. 

children (twins). One of them died, aged twenty years and two months. 
This was a sad bereavement to Mr. Merrill, as he was a kind and 
indulgent parent as well as a devoted husband. The surviving 
daiigliter, Mary A., was born in New Hampshire, February 7, 1S31, 
and is the mother of five children, three of whom are living: Charles 
W., Walter A. and Mollie L. She has for the past two years been 
living in Chicago, where her daughter Mollie is attending school. Her 
son, Charles W. Dutcher, was married November 27, 1879, to Miss 
Susan A. Kennedy, a native of Ogle county, Illinois. 

William Gaekison, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, is one of the 
early settlers of Lee county, coming here in the spring of 1845. Mr. 
Garrison was born in Luzerne county, Pennsj-lvania, July 22, 1S13, and 
is a son of Mathias and Susannah (Sealey) Garrison. He was reared 
a farmer and educated to a limited extent in the subscription schools of 
his native state. At the age of about twenty' he started in the business 
of farming for himself. December 26, 1833, he married Miss Amelia 
Oman, a native of Columbia county, Pennsylvania. She was born 
January 31, 1811. In the spring of 1845 he came to Lee county, 
Illinois, and settled near Dixon, where he entered land and engaged in 
farming. This he followed four years, when he sold out and bought a 
saw-mill just over the line in Ogle county, and actively engaged in 
preparing the material then so necessary for improving the wild prairie 
with buildings and fences. This he followed about eight years, and 
then turned his attention to making a permanent home for himself. 
He bought the N.W. i Sec. 30, T. 22, R. 10 E., which he has made 
one of the very pleasant homes of Nachusa township. Mrs. Garrison 
died December 27, 1870, on the home where she so long lived, after 
living to see her family all grown and the country that was so wild 
and desolate all made into beautiful .farms and dotted here and there 
with schools and churches. Mr. Garrison's second marriage was with 
Mrs. Lucinda Shute, October 15, 1872. She has by a former husband 
one son, Abram L. Shute. Mr. Garrison is the father of fifteen children 
by his first wife, nine of whom are living: John, Peter, George L., 
Hester A., Hannah, Elizabeth E., William H., Harriett E. and Martha 
J. Mr. Garrison has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal 
church for many years. When a boy he was converted to Christ, and 
since that time has been a consistent member of the church. Two of 
his sons, Peter and William H., served their country in the late rebel- 
lion, Peter in the 75th 111. Vol. Inf, and is now carrying a rebel 
bullet; William in Cheney's Batter3'. 

According to tradition the founder of the Hausen family in the 
State of Maine was a Saxon-German, and accompanied Burgoyne's 
army from Europe to America in the same ship which brought that 



NACHUSA TOWNSHIP. 545 

celebrated general to the shores of this continent in the time of the 
revohitionar}' war. Soon after his arrival in America Mr. Hansen 
declared his intentions to aid the colonists in their struggle for liberty, 
and at once became forage master for Gen. Washington, and rendered 
good service throughout the war, which gave birth to one of the 
grandest nations that ever existed. He finally married and settled in 
the State of Maine, where he reared a family, one of whom was Charles, 
who married Mary J. Hilton, and came to Lee county in 1840, bringing 
with him a family of ten children, the youngest of whom was Norman, 
the subject of this sketch, then a lad of nine years. His advantages 
of education were very limited, being only such as the old subscription 
schools of those days afforded, but the school of experience, from which 
may be learned lessons of industry and thrift, was sufficient, and our 
subject an apt scholar, as is proved by the success which has attended 
his business affairs so far through life. He began life for himself by 
working out by the month, and is now the owner of a good farm of 
160 acres in Sec. 9, T. 21, R. 10, well improved and well stocked, 
besides a farm of 160 acres in Meriden, La Salle county, Illinois. He 
was born October 2, 1831, and married Lucy L. Herrick, July 8, 1866. 
She is a daughter of Hiram Herrick, was born in Vermont, and came 
to Lee county when a small child. They have one child, Jennie, born 
August 20, 1870. 

Geokge Palmee, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, is a son of 
Daniel and Christenia (Shuge) Palmer, and was born in Northampton, 
Pennsylvania, September 11, 1808. His early youth was spent on a 
farm. At about the age of twenty he began learning the trade of a 
miller with his father. This business he followed a number of years 
in connection with farming. In 1843 he married Miss Catherine 
Stettler, of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and in the summer of 
1846 they came to Illinois and settled in Lee county in what is now 
Nachusa township. In 1849 he bought a little home of forty acres in 
Sec. 32, T. 22, E. 10. To this he kept adding till his farm now con- 
tains 160 acres. This he has well improved and he is able to say 
that he has earned it by his own hard labor and industry. This is now 
one of the model farms of Nachusa township. Mr. Palmer is the 
father of two children, one of whom is now living. Dr. Thomas D. 
Palmer, born August 15, 1846, is now engaged in the practice of medi- 
cine at Paw Paw, Lee county, Illinois. He is a graduate of Davis 
Medical College, of Chicago. 

John H. Buekett, farmer, Dixon, is a son of John M. and Mary 
(Fleck) Burkett, and was born in Lee county, Illinois, March 28, 1854. 
He was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools and 
at the city school of Dixon. December 9,1874, he married Miss Ann 



546 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Ophelia, daiightei- of Erastus and Mary Cortright. She was born in 
Lee county, Illinois. They have three children : Mary 0., Annie N. 
and one infant. Mr. Burkett is engaged in farming. He is a clever, 
energetic young man. 

Jacob Wertman, fanner and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in 
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1811. His parents 
were Henry and Anna M. (Krynimin) Wertman. They were also 
natives of Pennsylvania; and his grandfather, Michael Wertman, was 
a native of German}' and came to America about the middle of the last 
century. Our subject, Jacob, was reared on a farm and early educated 
in the art of being a hardy tiller of the soil. These practical lessons 
were like seeds sown on good ground, for they brought forth that in after 
life which is the fruit of industry and a sound judgment. In the spring 
of 1838 Mr. Wertman left the old associations of home to seek his for- 
tune in the then far west. After manj' weeks of wearj- travel by water 
and on foot he arrived in Dixon, Lee county, Illinois. Having early 
in life gained some knowledge of the trade of carpenter, this he now 
followed, in connection with other work, till he earned the means with 
which to enter some government land. Thus he secured for himself 
the foundation for his future home in Sec. 4, T. 21, R. 10. February 
20, 1851, he married Miss Mary E., daughter Solomon and Jane 
(Bnckalu) Shelliiammer. She was born in Columbia county, Penn- 
sylvania, August 15, 1830, and came with her parents to Lee county, 
Illinois, in 1837. Though but a child at the time, she well remembers 
the trip, which occupied eight weeks and was made with horses and 
wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Wertman are now spending their declining 
years surrounded with all the blessings that a life of industry and 
honest toil will i)roduee. They are the parents of an interesting fam- 
ily of four children : Charles H., Thomas J., Alice M. and Wiilard L. 
Three of whom yet remain at the old home. Charles H. is married 
and has two children : Harr}' J. and Herbert T. 

Thomas J. Wkrtman, farmer, Franklin Grove, is the son of Jacob 
and Mary E. (Shelhamer) Wertman, and was born in Lee county. May 
30, 1854, and like iiis father was reared a farmer, educated in the 
common schools, but was more especially trained to the realities of 
hard toil and industry. December 24, 1870, he married Miss Lucetta 
A., daughter of Harrison and Lydia Hansen. She was born in Lee 
county, Illinois, July 29, 1854. 

In the early jiart of the present century Mr. William Brandon 
emigrated from the north of Ireland to America, and settled in Penn- 
sylvania. Soon after coming to America he married Triphenia, a 
daughter of Benjamin Fuller, Esq., a native of Massachusetts. Of 
this union were fourteen children, one of whom was Benjamin F., the 



NACHCrSA TOWNSHIP. 547 

subject of this sketch. He was born January' 11, 1814, in Luzerne coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania. His early youth was spent with his parents on 
a farm and attending the old subscription schools of his boyhood days, 
the latter only to a limited extent. In the fall of 1837 Mr. Brandon 
left his native state, as well as his old associates, and started for the pro- 
verbial green fields, and after a thirty-four day's trip b}' land and water 
arrived on the enchanting prairie lands of Lee county, Illinois. His 
first location was made near Dixon, where he bought a claim, but a few 
years later bought the farm where he now lives. Although it was 
then but a wild prairie, it now has an air of home comfort, and con- 
tentment. Its thrifty fruit-trees and beautiful large black-walnut groves 
indicate the proprietor to be a man of good taste and industry. October 
8, 1841, Mr. Brandon was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of 
Elisha Courtright, Esq. ; she was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylva- 
nia, February 15, 1825, and came to Lee county with her parents in an 
early day. They have six children: Charles D., Milton E.., George 
W., William, Sarah T. and Anna O. Mr. and Mrs. Brandon are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Jacob Emmeet, retired farmer, Nachusa, is the son of Joseph and 
Catherine (Avey) Emmert, and was born in Washington county, 
Maryland, July 23, 1807. He was reared a farmer, which business 
he followed through life. December 16, 1830, he married Miss 
Mary Newcomer, also a native of Washington county, Maryland. 
She was born February 15, 1811. In 1844 they came to Illinois 
and settled in Ogle county, but one year later removed to near 
where he now lives in Lee county. He is the father of eight children, 
five of whom are living: Zachariah, William H., Jacob M., Susan, 
and Catherine. Jacob M. enlisted in Co. C, 34th 111. Vol. Inf., in 
September 1861, and followed the fortunes of war nearly four years. 
In the fall of 1864 he was detached as sergeant of Gen. Jefferson C. 
Davis' escort, but again joined his regiment. He was at the grand re- 
view at Washington, and was finally discharged with the glorious old 
34th in 1865. December 12, 1870, he married Miss Mary E. Ohmert, 
of Lee count}' ; they have two children : Gracie L. and Kittie C. 

Marshall McNeel, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in 
Penns}'lvania, May 29, 1836, and came to Lee county, in company with 
his parents, in April 1847, when a lad of eleven years. Here he grew 
to manhood, with but a limited means of gaining an education. His 
few spare moments, however, were devoted to his books, but the greater 
portion of his time was employed in the hardy pursuit of the labors of 
improving a farm on the wild prairie. At the time he settled here the 
country was without the^ advantages of a market nearer than Chicago, 
where he has hauled wheat with an ox team, the average time of mak- 



548 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

ing a trip being about thirteen days, sleeping on the ground or in the 
wagon as he could catch it. Hauling wheat over 100 miles, fording 
streams and wading mud, would not pay hotel fare. When Mr. Mc- 
Neel's parents, Thomas C. and Nancy (Russell) McNeel, started in Lee 
county, they were $80 behind an even start with the world, but by 
hard work and good management they succeeded in making a good 
home for themselves and family. Mr. McNeel died in April 1876 ; his 
ancestors were from the north of Ireland. Mrs. McXeel died August 
2, 1881. Marshal], the subject of our sketch, was llrst married October 
23, 1862, to Miss Anna E. Sharrar ; she died August 1, 1877. His 
present wife was Charlotte E. Miller, to whom he was married August 
8, 1878 ; she was born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1845. It is but 
just to say of Mr. McNeel that his home is one of the neatest in the 
township. 

Joiix S. EicHoi/rz, wagon and carriage maker, Nachusa, is a son of 
William and Lydia (Hanes) Eicholtz. He was born in Adams county, 
Pennsylvania, September 24, 1842. His early youth was spent on the 
farm. He received a good business education. After he grew to man- 
hood he engaged in farm labor till the spring of 1868, when he came 
to Lee county. A few months later he became an apprentice in the 
wood-work department of the wagon and carriage shops then in opera- 
tion at Nachusa, and of whicii a few years later he became the proprie- 
tor, and where he is now, in 1881, actively engaged in the manufacture 
of a superior class of wagons and carriages. In connection with this 
business he has a blacksmith and general repair shop. Thus, while 
many have continued as day laborers, Mr. Eicholtz has by industry, 
fair dealing and good management built up for himself a trade and repu- 
tation of which any young man should have a just reason to be proud. 
December 2, 1809, he married Miss Charlotte Stover, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. By this union he has four children : William B., Harry M., 
Edith M. and Maud May. 

Jacob Hhtle (deceased) was born in Columbia county, Pennsyl- 
vania, May 8, 1807. The business of his life was farming. August 9, 
1835, he was united in marriage with Miss Xancy Ivulp. She was 
born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1811, and is 
still living on their old home in Lee county, Illinois, where they set- 
tled as early as'l841. Mr. Hittle died February 6, 1877, after a life of 
hard labor and industry, leaving to his family a comfortable home of 
200 acres of excellent land. Mr. and Mrs. Hittle were among the 
sturdy pioneers of Lee county, whose word was considered as good as 
their bond. In his will Mr. Hittle wisely set oft to his daughter Mary 
E., 40 acres of his farm, on account of her being in delicate health. The 
members of his family now living are, besides his wife, Fannie, wife of 



NACHUSA TOWNHIP. 649 

John A. Sleer, now living in Carroll county, Illinois ; Hannah M., wile 
of J. W. Wingert ; Mary E., Alexander P. and Samson C, born in Lee 
county, Illinois, December 27, 1847. He was married Februar}' 5, 
1874, to Miss Caroline Allbright, a native of Pennsylvania. She was 
born April 11, 1852, and came to Lee county with her parents when a 
child. They have two children : Anna J. and Elvie E. Mr. Hittle is 
now in cliarge of the old home farm, and is engaged in farming and 
stock raising. He is a thorough, industrious young man, warm-hearted 
and friendly almost to a fault, yet careful and prudent at all times. 

Chester Harrington, stock raiser and farmer, Naehusa, came to 
Lee county, Illinois, in 1837, from the State of New York, making the 
trip with a team of iiorses and a wagon. He was born in Washington, 
New York, August 22, 1813, and is the son of Ebenezer and Paulina 
(Donlen) Harrington. He was reared a farmer, and educated in the 
common schools of his native state, finishing his education in the 
Homer Academy, in Cortland county. New York. He early engaged 
in teaching, but principally followed the business of farming through 
life. Soon after his arrival in what is now Lee county he bought a 
claim of Moses Crombie, and when the land came into market entered 
and bought it from the government. This farm he still (1881) owns. 
November 14, 1843, he married Miss Zerina, daughter of Cyrus and 
Pluma (Burton) Chamberlin, a native of the State of New York. The 
issue of this marriage is three children living: Inez lone, Chester E. 
and Cyrus C. Mr. Harrington has always made it his home in this 
count}', except fourteen years spent in Ogle county, where he also 
owned a farm. While in Ogle countj' he was four times elected by 
the people of Grand Detour township to fill the position of supervisor, 
and was in the spring of 1881 elected supervisor of the township of 
Naehusa. Besides the first land he entered in Sec. 13, T. 22, R. 9, 
he also owns a farm of 160 acres in Sec. 19, T. 21, E. 10. Mr. Har- 
rington's principal business is stock raising, though he also farms to 
some extent. 

John Garrison, farmer and stock raiser, Naehusa, is a son of 
William and Amelia (Oman) Garrison, and was born in Columbia 
county, Pennsylvania, July 29, 1835, and came to Lee county, Illinois, 
with his parents in the spring of 1845, arriving here June 4. Thus it 
will be seen that John Garrison early became identified with Lee 
county. He was i-aised on the farm and educated as a hardy son of 
toil, with but a very slim chance of school learning. March 26, 1861, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Maranda, daughter of Mr. 
Jonathan and Sallie A. (Klintoh) DePuy. She was born in Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1842, and came to Lee county with her 
parents when a small child. They are the parents of eight children : 
33 



550 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Emma J., wife of C. B. Brader; Charles A., Addie M., George H., 
Priscilla M., Lucinda R., Elizabeth E. and Jacob F. In the spring of 
1806 he moved on the fiu-m where he now lives, in Sec-. 25, T. 22,11. 9. 
His real estate comprises 240 acres of good land. Ilis home farm is 
one of the very desirable ones of Nachusa township. He is engaged in 
stock raising as well as farming. 

ALEXA^•DEEDEPL•T,farmerand stock raiser, Nacliusa, son of Jonathan 
and Sallie A. (Klintob) DePny, was born in Lnzerne county, Pennsyl- 
vania, December 7, 1838, and came to Lee county, Illinois, with his 
parents in 1846. Here young Alexander grew to manhood, with only 
such educational advantages as were afforded in this county at that 
time. Like his father he was reared a farmer and thoroughly trained 
in all that pertains to agricultural pursuits. In 1801 he enlisted in Co. 
C, 34th reg. 111. Vol. Inf. He took part in the great battle of Shiloh; 
was with his regiment during its three years' campaigns; reiinlisted as 
veteran with the same company and regiment, and with the same was 
honorably discharged in 1865. February 15, 1866, he married Miss 
Mary A. Bitner, a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. She was 
born June 11, 1S40. They have no children of their own, but have an 
adopted child, Daisie May. Mr. DePuy is now actively engaged in 
farming and stock raising. His home is one of the beautiful locations 
of this township. 

Geokge J. Grrr, tarmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, son of William 
and Lydia (Wilt) Gitt, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, 
October 5, 1844. During his early youth he lived in town, but was 
principally engaged in working on a farm and to a limited extent 
attended school, and by applying himself to study and observation he 
has gained a fair business education. In 1863 he became a soldier in 
the war for the LTnion in the 165th Penn. Inf. After his discharge he 
engaged in railroading. In the spring of 1865 he came to Lee county, 
Illinois, and began working on a farm by the month. May IS, 1868, 
he married Miss Samantha, daughter of James Dawson, a native of 
Union county, Ohio. They have two children : Cora M. ami James W. 
In March, 1873, Mr. Gitt took charge of the old and well known 
farm of Joseph Crawford, Esq., and still continues to successfully can-y 
on the business of farming and stock raising. 

Henry Bothe, farmer and stock raiser, Amboy, was born near 
Mindon, Prussia, December 26, 1841 ; he was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools of the country of his birth. In the 
summer of 1859 he left the home of his childhood and sailed for 
America, landing in Baltimore July 4 of the same year. Four days 
later he came to Lee county, Illinois. Here he found his father, who 
had preceded the family to prepare a home for them on their arrival. 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 551 

Here yonng Henry engaged in tanning with his father till September 
9, 1S61, when he enlisted to tight the battles of his adopted country, 
but was discharged on account of disability, September 8, 1862, thus 
losing his bounty due him as a three-years soldier. For a number of 
years Mr. Bothe suffered from the effects of disease contracted while 
in the army. He was married September 4, 1864, to Miss Catherina 
Hotzel. She was born in Germany, January 14, 1844, and came to 
this country in 1847 with her parents and settled in Lee county. 
They are the parents of eight children : Fredrick W., Anna E., John 
H., Christian F., Minnie H., Elvina C, Katie M. and Lillie C. In 
1868 Mr. Bothe bought his present home farm of 132 acres, in the 
south part of Naciuisa township, where he is engaged in farming and 
stock raising, and by prudence, industry and good management is 
making it a success. 

Israel Slothowee, grain dealer, Nachusa, was born in Adams 
county, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1843. He was reared a farmer, as 
was also his father, who died when Israel was but three years old. 
His educational advantages were only such as the common schools of 
his native state aflbrded. At the age of eighteen 3-ears he entered as 
an apprentice to a blacksmith. After learning the trade he followed 
the business till he entered the army as a soldier in the war for the 
Union. After his discharge he came to Lee county and engaged in 
the blacksmith business at Nachnsa. This he followed three years, 
then went to Iowa, bought, opened up and improved a farm, which 
was, on June 18, 1870, swept over by a terrible tornado, completely de- 
molishing his new home and all his improvements, the accumula- 
tion of years of labor and industry. He, however, again rebuilt his 
home, but soon after sold out and returned to Nachusa and engaged 
his services to Mr. John Dysart, then in the grain trade at Nachusa, 
and two years later became partner with Mr. Dj'sart in the business 
and has since managed the business to the entire satisfaction of all 
parties. His wife was Miss Jennie A. Stover, a native of PeHns3'lvania. 
They have three children : Anna N., Retta B. and CaiTie. 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 

This townsliip is in surface gently undulating, or rolling prairie, 
the eastern portion iteing quite rolling, the western more level, and 
some portions low and flat. There is very little land but can be used 
either under ]ilow or as pasture for stock. The soil is a rich, black 
loam. Plum Thicket, a grove of about twenty- acres, situated nearly 
in the center, is the only natural grove in the township. The Plum 



552 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Tliicket run is the only stream in Alto township. There are four or 
five driven wells from 100 to 200 feet deep. There is plenty of good 
wholesome water, nearly soft, on every farm. Wells are from fifteen 
to fifty feet in depth. 

Alto was first settled at Plum Thicket. The first house built there 
in 1847 by John Grimes, the first settler, is still standing. The old 
state road running fj-oni Ottawa to Galena passes through this town- 
ship. On this road the early judges were wont to travel with pistol in 
hand (on their wa}- from Ottawa to Galena), there being many hard, 
reckless characters, who roamed through this countr}' engaged in horse 
stealing, and almost as dangerous as Black Hawk in his day and age. 
A wagon-road was laid out from Paw Paw to Rochelle, running 
through this township, in 1856. The above roads have since been 
abandoned, and wagon-roads are now laid out and well worked on most 
of the section lines ; one or two are on quarter and half sections. The 
first famil}' settling in this township, in 1843, was that of John Grimes, 
now dead. The second, who came about two years later, was the Rev. 
J. Wood, a Baptist preacher, who remained two or three years and 
removed to Earlville, La Salle county, Illinois. The next coming in- 
to Alto was Mr. Jeddediah Loneridge, coming in about 1852, who re- 
mained about twenty years and removed to Nebraska, and has since 
died. Mr. Loneridge was noted for his skill at making baskets and 
various other useful articles. Mr. James Holcomb and father's family 
were the next comers, followed by Mr. Hubbel Williams and Mason 
Herrick. Soon after came the Mills family, James Tyler, and C. R. 
Hall, followed by the Kirbys, McDonnels, Stewards, Carpenters, 
and others, filling the township up quite rapidly. 

ORGANIZATION. 

A petition for organization was presented by the citizens to the 
supervisors of Lee county, and at a meeting held in the school-house, 
district No. 3, April 3, 1860, they organized by appointing Hiram C. 
Holcomb chairman ; Charles R. Hall was elected moderator, and James 
Tyler clerk. Being duly qualified by H. C. Holcomb, justice of the 
peace, the polls were declared open at nine o'clock. At this meeting 
a !notion was made and carried that the town be divided into four road 
districts. A motion was also made to levy a tax of forty cents on 
§100 for road purposes; a motion was also made and carried to raise 
two mills on the dollar for town expenses. A motion was niade and 
carried to keep up all cattle at night, and if left out and damage was 
done, for first ofiense the owner to pay all damages, for second ofi'ense 
the owner to pay double the damage. A motion was made and carried 
that every man be his own pound-master. At the close of the polls 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 553 

the following first town officers were declared elected (forty-seven votes 
were polled) : for supervisor, C. R. Hall ; town clerk, James Tyler ; 
collector, Josiah Carpenter ; assessor, James Tyler ; justices of the 
peace, Daniel Carey and H. C. Holcomb ; constables, Josiah Carpen- 
ter and John Dorson ; overseer of poor, Jeddediah E. Loneridge ; com- 
missioners of highways, James A. Smith, Roan McClure, and M. 
Mills. Its present officers are: supervisor, Gardiner W. Thompson ; 
town clerk, S. J. Whetston ; assessor, James Kirby ; collector, Owen 
Kinney ; commissioners of highways, John Dunn, Irving Gordiner, 
and O. E. Kickalson ; justices of the peace, W. F. Gallaher and S. J. 
Whetston ; constables, Owen Kinney and R. N. Coleman ; town treas- 
urer, Harmon Yan Patten ; school trustees, George Carey, James 
Kirby, and M. M. Miller. 

In the winter of 1869 and 1870 there was an agitation commenced 
as to a railroad through Alto township from the southeast to the north- 
west, known first as the Hinckley road, now the Chicago & Iowa rail- 
road. Great excitement was caused and much opposition made toward 
the enterprise. A call was made for a meeting to see if the citizens 
were willing to subscribe for $32,000 bonds, payable when the track 
was laid, and cars running on the same. The meeting was held, and 
upon vote being taken it showed as a result nearly two-thirds in favor 
of the scheme, or 93 for and 50 against. A survey was made and 
grading commenced on Monday, September 26, 1870, and the enter- 
prise was pushed ahead rapidly, and on December 31, 1870, it was 
finished to Kochelle, Ogle county, and trains sent over. Then 
there was a lull and no regular trains were run till April 1871, and 
only once a day till 1872. The great Chicago fire and the panic occur- 
ring about that time had a depressing effect through this section, and 
a few years later the $32,000 bonds were compromised and reduced to 
$25,000, and at a lower rate of interest, and have since been reduced to 
about $15,000. The railroad offices and warehouse were in Wesley 
Steward's barn for some time after the road was in operation. 

CREAMERIES. 

There are two creameries in Alto township, the Alto creamery 
being widel}' known. It is located on Sec. 5, half a mile south of the 
Ogle county line. In 1873 several farmers united, with a capital of 
about $5,000, erecting a suitable building for the manufacture of butter 
and cheese, milk being furnished from 125 to 250 cows. The creamery 
has been kept in continual operation since commencement. John H. 
Bacon is superintendent and salesman and Daniel Carey is secretary. 
There is a small factory called the Walnut Grove creamery owned and 
carried on by John Walker, and is located on the east line and about 



554 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

tlie middle of Alto township. He makes butter and cheese from the 
milk of about fifty cows. 

SCHOOLS. 

There are seven school-houses in the township, costing $8,000. 
There are seven school districts, one a union with Willow creek in 
the southeast corner of Alto township. Alto has a school fund of 
$10,000. Miss Carrie Wiiitcomb, now Mrs. George Addy, was the 
first school teacher in Alto township. The school building in district 
No. 3, located at Steward, is one of the finest and best built structures 
for school purposes in Lee county. It cost nearly S-lr,000. It has four 
large, commodious rooms, on two floors, beside ante-rooms, cloak-rooms, 
etc. The other six houses are also good substantial buildings, costing 
about $700 each. 

THE STEWARD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

A meeting was called and held in the railroad depot April 1874:. 
At this meeting a building committee was chosen and elected. The 
committee were J. C. Curry, H. A. Robinson, H. Van Patten, V. W. 
Wells, Jeremiah Tyler, Jas. A. Smith, Merritt Miller, R. M. Piele, 
and John Tetter. M. L. Barnott was elected treasurer, and J. C. 
Curry clerk. The committee proceeded at once toward their work, 
having a plan drawn by Perkins Richardson, of Aurora. The plan 
was adopted and the contract was at once made with T. J. Labdell, of 
Paw Paw, for its erection. The building was completed and ready for 
dedication September 6, 1874. Trains were run free from Chicago 
and Mount Morris, and a free dinner was served on the day of dedica- 
tion. The church is the finest building of its kind between Aurora 
and Rochelle. It is 36x52, and 28 feet high to the eaves, with steeple 
about 80 feet high. It has a fine basement room, the whole size of the 
building, for Sunday-school purposes. The church has seating for about 
500. It is free from debt and l)oth church and Sunday-school are in a 
flourishing condition under the pastoral care of Rev. W. II. Tibbals 
and T. J. Lawton, superintendent of Sabbath-school. The original 
cost of church building was about $5,000. Its present ofticers are 
Wesley Steward, T. J." Lawton, Y. W. Wells, H. Van Patten, and C. 
W. Herbert, trustees, and T. J. Lawton, treasurer. 

The Fidelia Lodge, No. 635, I.O.O.F., was organized at Lee, 
March 9, 1877. The following grand officers, pro tern., being present: 
G. W. Clark, M.W.G.M. ; M. T. Ellinwood, W.M. ; B. J.Warren, 
V.G., C. W. Younggren, G.S. ; S. J. Whetston, G.C. ; W. R. Baum- 
bach, G.W. They proceeded to institute the lodge, after which the 
regular officers were elected : J. N. Prentice, N.G. ; J. J. Meyer, V.G.; 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 555 

C. W. Younggren, secretary; C. Vanderventer, treasurer. The other 
charter members were J. L. Dj-as, H. W. Brj'ant, F. Fitzgerald, W. 
R. Bauinbach, J. N. Prentice, J. Mullins, C. W. Younggren, and C. 
Vanderventer. On May 22, 1880, the JST. G. of Fidelia Lodge, No. 635, 
by request, appointed a committee, consisting of Brethren Harris, Hal- 
let and Younggren, to confer with brethren of the order residing at 
Steward and vicinity to consider the propriety of removal of Fidelia 
Lodge to Steward. At a STibsequent meeting the committee i-eported 
tavorable, and upon vote being taken it was unanimously carried to 
petition the Grand Lodge for removal, and upon receipt of the peti- 
tion the M.W.G.M., G. W. Berggren, deeming it for the best interest 
of the order, granted a warrant for removal. The lodge as now situ- 
ated in the village of Steward is in a very healthy condition, being 
financially and socially strong. Its present officers are A. R. Michael, 
N.G. ; W. B. Griffith, V.G. ; John Dunn, treasurer, and S. J. Whet- 
ston, secretar}'. 

Alto township now presents such a contrast in comparison to its 
first settlement that one not accustomed to its beautiful groves and 
hedges would take it for a country well and naturally wooded. Most 
of the farmers are engaged in grain raising. Francis and Geo. Carey, 
Wesley Steward and Gardiner W. Thompson are largely engaged in 
sheep raising. Several farmers have put in drain tiling, finding a tine 
percentage of gain in crops. When this township was first settled 
the land was bare of tree, shrub or fence. Now there are several 
beautiful groves of walnut, maple and willow, as well as miles of fine 
hedge fences of willow, osage, maple, etc. 

STEWARD. 
The village of Steward is situated a trifle west of the center of the 
town (if Alto. Its location is excellently' drained, the water suppl}' is 
bountiful, easily obtained, and is justly celebrated for its purity. The 
town is located on the Chicago & Iowa railroad, just halfway between 
its termini, Aurora and Forreston. It was surveyed and platted just 
subsequent to the completion of the above named road, in the year 
1870, and although its growth has not been rapid it has been of a 
healthy and substantial character. Tiie village derives its name from 
Wesley Steward, Esq., upon whose farm the town was laid out. At 
this writing it contains a population of two hundred people. It 
has always been aided by its founder in all schemes for the promotion 
of the common welfare, and in these he has had the valuable assistance 
of an unusually intelligent community. The business of the village 
is extensive and of a growing character. As a grain shipping point it 
has few equals in the state, the large country tributary to it and the 



556 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

liealtliy competition in tbe business combining to make it a good 
market for the cereal crops. Live stock is also largely shipped, and it 
is a good distributing point for the lumber and coal trades. In the 
general merchandise line the business is very fair. 

The grain trade is the largest in importance, and is represented by 
tvro firms, whose. combined business is very extensive. The first, as to 
timeof location, is that of Wesley Steward & Co. (Wesley Steward and 
G. F. Henning). They have a steam elevator with a capacity of 35,(iOO 
bushels. The others, Messrs. Christopher Jorgens l^' Co., are later 
comers, but are doing a large business. Their elevator capacity is 
about 15,000 bushels. Both of these houses are largely engaged in 
other lines of trade, such as lumber, coal, lime, salt, etc., and their busi- 
ness is drawn from a wide-spread territory. Among other prominent 
business houses is that of H. A. Robinson, dealer in groceries, dry 
goods and drugs. Mr. Robinson has been postmaster of the village 
ever since its inception. W. T. Preston, groceries and notions; E. 
O'Neil, grocer; V. A. Billion & Co., hardware and agricultural imple- 
ments; W. P. GriflBth, blacksmith and wagon shop; S. J. Bowles, har- 
ness; O. I. Selgelid, boots and shoes; G. A. Ruckman & Co., meat 
market; C. Foster & Co., churn manufacturers; S. J. Whetston, paint 
shop; A. A. Chilson, agent American Express Company, and Chicago 
& Illinois railroad. 

The " Alto House," in the hands of S. J. Bowles, is a comfortable 
hostelry. 

The town is not yet incorporated, but has a resident justice of the 
peace, Mr. S. J. Whetston, who is also town clerk. 

The people of the village and surrounding country have reason to 
congratulate themselves on the high moral tone and general intelli- 
gence which pervades their community. That they have good grounds 
upon which to base their claims in this regard is evidenced by their 
church and school accommodations. Tiie Methodist Episcopal church 
have erected in the village a handsome edifice at a cost of $5,000, and 
have also a neat parsonage for their pastor. The present occupant of 
their pulpit, the Rev. W. H. Tibbals, is very generally esteemed. 

The graded school is another evidence of the general thrift and 
prosperity. The building, just completed at a cost of $4,000, is an or- 
nament to the village, and one of wliich more pretentious towns might 
justly be proud. 

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, located in Alto town- 
ship, was organized June 25, 1870. At tlie meeting Michael Knutson 
was chosen chairman and Rasmus O. Hill secretarv. Prayer being 
offered they proceeded to adopt articles of faith and confederation and 
to elect officers. Peter O. Espe, Peter O. Hill, and Elias O. Espe were 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 557 

elected trustees,. and Michael Knutson, Rasmus O. Hill, and Ole O. 
Hill, deacons. 

The chnreli is prettily situated on the southeast corner of four 
corners, one mile west of De Kaib county line, and three miles south of 
Ogle county line, and three miles directly east of Steward ; its size is 
36x56, 16 feet high, and it has a seating capacity for about 400. It 
has yard and sheds for teams. Its cost was about $2,300, and it is clear 
of debt. Public services are held twice a month. The Sunday-school 
averages about fifty. The society is in a quiet and healthy condition. 

The present officers are Rasmus O. Hill and John Abelson, pas- 
tors ; Peter O. Hill, John Oleson, and Nels Ullestad, deacons ; Elias 
O. Espe, Ole J. Kroe, and C. J. Knutson, trustees, and S. H. Sander- 
son, secretary. The Sunday-school superintendents are Peter O. Hill 
and Nels Ullestad. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Wesley Steward, grain and stock buyer and shipper, lumber, coal, 
etc., Steward, was born in the Susquehanna valley, at the foot of the 
Alleghany mountains, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1837. He removed 
with his parents to Illinois, locating in Kendall county, in June 1838. 
His mother, eighty-two years of age, is still living. His youth and 
early manhood, till twenty-two years old, was spent at home on the 
farm. He removed to Lee county, locating in Alto'township in Au- 
gust 1858. He received a limited education, mostly in a saw-mill, from 
a Dabach aritlimetic, Webster's speller and reader. He has held every 
office in the gift of his township. Mr. Steward was married December 
3, 1862, to Julia A. Short, who died in August 1869. He was again 
married January 6, 1873, to Mary A. Billion, who died March 14, 1881. 
He has two children: Bertha and Guy. Mr. Steward is one of the 
largest farmers and stock raisers in this township. He has about 1,000 
sheep. Has raised in one year 840 acres of wheat, and has over 2,100 
acres in this township and vicinity. He has also control and manage- 
ment of about 1,300 acres belonging to his brother Lewis, living at 
Piano. He is also largely engaged in grain and stock buying and 
shipping and dealing in lumber and coal. He has one of the largest 
elevators between Chicago and the Mississippi river. Mr. Steward was 
largely influential in getting the Chicago & Iowa railroad (formerly 
known as the Hinckley road) through this township. Mr. Steward is 
one of the most enterprising and influential business men of this sec- 
tion. The village and post-office were named in his honor. 

Gardner W. Thompson, farmer, Lee, was born in Pittston, Wj'oming 
Valley, near Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1841. His worthy 
parents are both living, liis father, Isaac Thompson, whose portrait 
represents Alto township, eighty-four and mother at eighty-two 



558 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

years of age. He received a coiDmon school education in Pennsylva- 
nia, and spent iiis youth and early nianiiood till twenty-four in that 
state. He came west and located in Alto township, Lee county, Illi- 
nois, in 186-i. Mr. Thompson tried hard to serve his country in the 
late civil war, enlisting live times, but every time was taken with 
severe sickness, disabling him for service. He is at this writing 
supervisor of Alto township, making the seventh consecutive time 
elected to this office. He has held other local town offices. ]\Ir. 
Thompson was married April 26, 1873, to Mary E. Howell. They 
have one child, Frank G. The aged and worthy parents of Mr. Thomp- 
son are now living with him ; they are the parents of fifteen children, 
the one now living with them being their youngest. The father of 
Mr. Thompson was born, reared and lived on the old homestead in 
Pennsylvania fifty-eight years. They have been worthy members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church about si.xty-five years. Mr. Thompson 
has a 240 acre farm, and is largely engaged in sheep raising, having 
about 200. He also has 30 head of horses and other stock, and a well 
cultivated farm, and is one of Alto's most popular citizens. 

Maj. Thomas J. Lawton, farmer. Steward, was born in Jeffer- 
son county, New York, August 11, 1813. He received a common 
school education in his native county, but he spent his youth and 
young manhood in western New York, at Rochester and Buffalo. 
The title of major he won during a fill ibustering expedition in the years 
1836 and 1837, it being at the time of the Canadian rebellion against 
the queen of England, and had many thrilling adventures during these 
months. At an evacuation from Navy Island about forty were barely 
saved from going over the falls at Niagara. On March 4, 1837, they 
had a skirmish on the ice near Point An Pellee Island on Lake Erie. 
In the spring of 1838 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1839 removed 
to Circleville and engaged with M. L. Barnett in the jji'ocerv business, 
(they also owned and run boats on the Ohio canal from Portsmouth to 
Cleveland,) remaining till 1841, when he removed to Piqua, Ohio, and 
with iL L. Barnett engacjcd in the forwarding and general irrain and 
commission business till July 1871. In 1871 he removed and located 
in Alto, Lee county, Illinois. In 1861 Maj. Lawton raised Co. K, 1st 
Ohio, remaining with his company about one year, when he was 
ordered to head<juarters and promoted and served as brigade and 
division quartermaster during his term of enlistment. He has been 
local justice of the peace of Alto at Steward for several years, and has 
also held other local town offices. In the year 1850 he went with a 
company of ninety persons on an overland trip to California vvith ox 
teams for mining and trading purposes, where he remained two years. 
Politically he is a republican. He was married in 1840, to Angeline 
E. Crocker. They have one daughter, Mrs. Gilbert F. Ileming, of 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 559 

Steward ; have buried four sons. He has, suice locating west, been 
engaged in grain and stock buying and siiipping. Mr. Lawton is a 
Royal Arch Mason, a leading member of the Steward Methodist 
Episcopal church, and, for one of his age, one of tlie most active business 
men of this section. 

Kev. "W. H. Tibbals, pastor of the Steward Methodist Episcopal 
church, Steward, was born in Athens county, Ohio, May 28, 1829. 
His mother, seventy-nine years of age, is still living. His youth, till 
nearly twelve years of age, was spent in Ohio on a farm. His father 
and fiimily moved to Illinois in 1841, and he consequently knew many 
of the hardships of early pioneer life, having to go eighty miles to 
mill. In 1850 Mr. Tibbals went to California in search of gold, going 
overland and returning by the Isthmus and New Orleans to Delaware, 
Ohio. Upon his return he commenced study at the Ohio Wesleyan 
University at Delaware, graduating in 1855 ; he then joined the 
Pittsburg conference, Pennsylvania, and remained twelve years in 
that conference. He then came west and joined the Rock River con- 
ference, Illinois, in 1867. In the spring of 1862 he was elected cap- 
tain of Co. L, 14th Penn. Cav., going to the front on the Potomac 
with his regiment. After about eight months he resigned to accept 
the colonelcy of the 2d Ohio Inf., at the hand of ex-Governor 
Todd, of Ohio. At the expiration of the six months for which the 
regiment was enlisted he was engaged for about two years in making 
speeches and recruiting men and taking them to the front. Mr. Tib- 
bals is a leading member and preacher in the Methodist Episcopal 
church and has never lost a Sunday or an appointment during his 
ministerial life. March 24, 1857, Mr. Tibbals married a niece of ex- 
Governor Ford, of Ohio. Tiiey have three children living: Mary, 
Dilla, and William, and three dead. He has a 331 acre farm in Alto 
township clear of debt, and has put up a new windmill and a large 
new barn this season. His farm is being well managed. 

HoLDEN P. Ely, Lee, was born in Norway, April 17, 1832. 
He received a common school education at home, where his youth was 
spent till twenty-two years old. On April 24, 1855, he started for 
America, landing at Quebec, Canada, and coming directly to Bradford, 
Lee count}', where he worked at the blacksmiths' trade for three years 
and then commenced farming. In 1865 he removed to Alto township. 
He is a member of the Evangelical Luthei'an church, Lee county con- 
gregation. He was married January 1, 1858, to Julia G. Sexy. They 
have seven children : Peter, Julia, John, Bertha, Helle, Carrie, and 
Martin. He has a good farm of 160 acres stocked and under good 
cultivation. 

Jacob P. Ely, farmer, Lee, was born in Norway, where his 



560 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

father still lives, June 1, 1830. He received a limited common school 
education in his native country. His young manhood till twenty-five 
years of age was spent as a sailor. In 1855 he came to America, 
landing at Quebec, Canada. Coming directly west he located in Brad- 
ford township, Lee county, Illinois, and commenced farming, remaining 
about ten years. He then removed to Alto township. He is a member 
of the Evangelical Lutheran church, Lee county congregation. He was 
married June 21, 1863, to Thurbor Oleson. They have five children : 
Gury, Peter W., John O., Martha M., Johanna M. He has a farm of 
320 acres, under good cultivation, with good buildings, and is a leading 
citizen of the township. 

Vincent W. Wells, farmer, Kochelle, was born in Sullivan, 
Madison county, New York, November 21, 1826. His parents are 
dead. He was educated in the State of New York. His youth till 
about fifteen was .spent in Madison county, New York, on a tarm. 
About 1841 he removed with his parents to Orleans count}'. New 
York, remaining till twenty-three years of age. He then went to 
Virginia and remained one year and returned, removing with his 
parents in 1850 to Pembroke, Genesee county. New York. In 1856 
he came west, locating first at Piano, Kendall county, Illinois, where he 
lived four years. He then removed to Lee county. He has held 
several local town ofiices. He was married January 13, 1856, to 
Elizabeth Rawley. They have one child, an adopted daughter. He 
has a fine 200 acre farm, well stocked, having some very tine Norman 
horses. Mr. Wells is also specially engaged in the manufacture of 
butter, having a fine building, with all modern improvements, for the 
business. Mr. Wells started with about 8600 when he located in 
Illinois, but he has grown to be one of Lee county's best farmers. 
Mrs. Wells had a brother killed b}' the Cheyenne Indians in Chase 
county, Nebraska, about October 7, 1878. 

M. L. Bakneit, book-keeper and cashier for W. Steward & Co., 
Steward, was born in Herkimer county. New York, April 2, 1814, 
where his youth till eleven was spent. His education to a limited ex- 
tent was received in Broekport, New York. In 1825 he removed to 
western New York, remaining till 1836 in a commercial office. He 
then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was also employed in a com- 
mercial office till 1839, and then removed toCircleville and engaged in 
the grocery business till 1843. In 1844 he removed to Piqua and 
commenced in the grain, provision, and transportation business, con- 
tinuing till 1870. In 1871 he came to Illinois, locating at Steward, 
Alto township, there being but one family here at that time. He was 
married January 4, 1836, to Sarah E. Crocker, who died October 30, 
1868. He has three sons and three daughters. His family is largely 



ALTC TOWNSHIP. 561 

above the average in intelligence and worth. His children are: Helen 
A., now Mrs. William C. McClure, of East Saginaw, Michigan ; Mary 
Kate, housekeeper for father; Mattie L., now Mrs. H. T. Chappel, of 
Zilwaukee, Michigan; Charles C, auditor of Miami county, Ohio; 
Sam O. and Frank P. at home. He is one of the staunch men of 
honor, holding several trusts for different parties, and is a self-made 
man. 

Ole I. Selgelid, boot and shoe business, Steward, was born Janu- 
ary 2, 1S49, in Norway. His parents are still living. He received 
common school advantages in Norway, where his youth was spent till 
sixteen at home on farm. He then learned the boot and shoe makers' 
trade and was thus employed in his native country' till 1875, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in the city of New York and coming 
directly to Creston, Ogle county. Soon after he came to Alto and 
worked for three years on a farm. He then located at Steward and 
engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he has since continued. 
He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and in politics a 
republican. He was married in 1879 to Carrie Sandvek. They have 
one child, Ed. Christopher. 

V. A. Billion, hardware and agricultural implements, Steward, 
was born in Onondaga county, New York, June 6, 1858. His father 
died in 1860, and his mother March 14, 1881. His youth till ten years 
of age was spent in his native town. His education was received prin- 
cipall}"- in Illinois. In 1868 he moved toKochelle, Ogle county, Illinois, 
with his mother, where they lived nearl}' eight years, and then moved 
to Steward, Alto township. He was married September 29, 1879, to 
Carrie E. Ciiarabers. They have one child, Oved. He keeps a full 
line of goods; is carrying on a liveh' trade, and shows the usual energy 
manifested by Steward's merchants. Mrs. Billion's mother was burned 
out of house and home about eight years since, at Kochelle, losing all 
their personal eftects. 

Joira Seveeson, farmer, Lee, was born May 17, 1836, in Norway. 
His parents are both living, at an advanced age. Mr. Severson spent his 
young days, till twenty-one, at home on the farm. He had the advan- 
tage of the common school in Norway. June 20, 1857, he landed in 
America at Quebec, Canada, and came directly to Illinois, locating in 
Kendall county, where he remained about twelve years, working a farm 
on shares. He then moved to Alto, Lee county, and bought a farm of 
his own. He now has 320 acres under good cultivation. He has held 
local town offices; is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, 
and in politics a republican. He was married November 24, 1863, to 
Martha Newton. They have eight children living. 

jAiiES J. Pattekson, farmer, Rochelle, was born in Ireland May 



562 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

20, 1840, and came with his lather and mother to this country about 
six years later, landing at the city of New York, and locating soon 
after at Albany, where they remained three or four years. They then 
came west and settled in McHenry county, Illinois, and commenced 
farming. Mr. Patterson remained at home till about fifteen years of 
age and then came to Ogle county and worked out on a farm till 1861. 
He then rented a farm and worked it till fall, when he enlisted in Co. 
H, 46th 111. Vol., Inf. and reenlisted in January 1S63, as a veteran, 
and remained till February 1866, when he was mustered out of service. 
He had limited common school advantages in Illinois. His parents 
are both living. He is a Baptist in religion and a republican in politics. 
He was married in February 1863, to Eunice Carpenter, and they have 
six children. He has now a 1!>0 acre farm. 

W. E. Hemenway, farmer. Steward, was born in Will county, Illi- 
nois, January 3, 1845. His mother is still living. His youth, till six- 
teen, was spent at home on the farm. In 1848 he moved from Will to 
De Kalb county. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. F, 27th 111. Inf , serving 
three years, and was honorably discharged in November 1864. During 
1866, 1867 and 1868 he was lumbering in Wisconsin and Jlichi- 
gan. He is a member of Sunbeam Lodge, A.F. and A.M., of Piano, 
Kendall county. In politics he is independent. In LSiiO he was mar- 
ried to Cyntha Dewey, who died September 1876. He was married 
again in December 1878, to Elsie J. Cox. He has three children, two by 
first and one by second marriage. Mr. Hemenway is working 160 
acres on shares, and is a breeder of Hereford bulls and Berkshire hogs. 
His farm is under good cultivation. 

A. H. Todd, farmer, Creston, was born in Stamford, Connecticut, 
August 1827. He had common and select school advantages in Con- 
necticut, where his youth and early manhood, till twenty-five years of 
age, was spent. At that time he came west and located at Sandusky, 
Ohio, being employed on the Mad River railroad as civil engineer, to 
Tiffin, Ohio, remaining about one year. The cholera raged so badly 
that all parties scattered. Mi'. Todd returning east to Connecticut. 
About 1860 Mr. Todd came west again, locating at Dement (now Cres- 
ton), and bought a fiirni, as now located, in Alto. In religion he is an 
Episcopalian, and in politics a republican. Mr. Todd is an own cousin 
to the late Com. Foote. His father was a distinguished Episcopal 
clergyman at Stamford for forty years. 

MEERirr Miller, farmer. Steward, was born in Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, October 4, 1842. His youth, till fifteen, was spent in 
that state in a mill with his fatiier. He was educated partly in Penn- 
sylvania and partly in Illinois, and removed west in 1857, locating in 
Willow creek, and commenced farming. In the fall of 1865 he re- 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 563 

moved to Alto township, as now located. He has taught school several 
terms during the winter since coming to Illinois. August 24, 1862, he 
enlisted in Co. K, 75th 111. Vol. Inf., and was mustered out June 24, 
1865. He has held several local town offices, is a chapter Mason, and 
a republican in politics. He was married October 11, 1867, to Carrie 
Norton. He has 320 acres of land well stocked and under good cul- 
tivation. 

Morris Cook, farmer. Steward, came to Illinois in 1856, locating 
first at Piano, Kendall county, where he remained ten years, and then 
removed to Alto, Lee county. He was born in Monmouth county, 
New Jersey. He received his education in New Jersey, and his youth 
was spent at home on the farm. Mr. Cook married, May 16, 1844, 
Elizabeth Cooper. They have eight children living. His family are 
above the average and among the progressive. Mary (Mrs. C. Van 
Noat) lives at Mason City, Iowa ; Cassie (Mrs. Owen Kenney) at 
Scranton, Iowa; James and John are also at Scranton ; Jane (Mrs. 
Barton Neer) at Alto, and George F. at Alto; Libbie, and Morris, jr., 
are at home. He has a splendid farm of 320 acres, stocked and under 
good cultivation. Mr. Cook is of a retiring nature, but highly esteemed 
among his neighbors and townsmen. 

Henry Southard, farmer, Steward, Lee county, was born in Green 
county, New York, April 4, 1825. He was educated to a limited extent 
in VanBuren county, Michigan, where his youth and young manhood, 
till twenty-one years of age, was spent engaged at farming. He 
removed in 1835, when about ten years old, to Cayuga county. New 
York, living there three years. In 1846 he came to Big Rock, Kane 
county, Illinois, and engaged at farming. In 1849 he caught the gold 
fever, and in April, 1852, went to California, remaining about four 
years, and returned in September 1856. Until 1859 he lived at Big 
Rock, Kane county, when he removed to Alto township. He is a 
Chapter Mason, and a democrat in politics. He was married February 
24, 1850, to Esther S. Reed. They have three sons and two daughters. 
He has 420 acres of land, all under good cultivation and well stocked, 
and is among the leading farmers of this section. 

Charles B. Davis, farmer, Steward, was born in Lewis county. New 
York, March 29, 1844. His parents are living in Lewis county. New 
York. He received common school advantages in his native county. 
His youth was spent at home on a farm. He came to Illinois in 1869, 
and located at Piano, Kendall county, where he remained five years on 
a iarm, and then removed to Alto. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and is a republican. He was married March 24, 1864, 
to Mary A. Dewey, and they have two children living : Cynthia A. 
and Edna M. Mr. Davis is managing a 440 acre farm, the property of 



564 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Milo C. Dewey. He is largely engaged in butter-making and milks 
forty cows. Their butter, through the skill of Mrs. Davis, brings 
always the highest market price. Mr. Davis is one of the pushing 
young farmers of Lee county. 

W. T. Feestox, general merchant Steward, was born in Ken- 
dall county, Illinois, near Newark, December 6, 1839. His youth and 
young manhood, till twenty-one, was spent there on a farm. He received 
district school advantages only in his native county. His venerable 
and worthy raotlier is yet living on the old homestead. In March, 
1800, Mr. Preston removed to Rej-nolds township, Lee count}', living 
there on farm till spring of 1876, when he moved to Steward, Alto 
township, and engaged in the general goods business. April 2-i, 18G1, 
he enlisted in Co. K, 20th 111. Vol. Inf , going at once to the front. 
January 4, 1864, he reenlisted as a veteran and marched with Sherman 
from Atlanta to the sea, and was mustered out July 24, 1865. He is 
a member of the I.O.O.F. and a republican in politics. October 3, 
1S66, he was married to Corrilla A. Coleman, widow William Cole- 
man. Mrs. Preston has three children by first marriage. Mr. Preston 
carries a full line of general merchandise and also owns two residences 
and lots, is doing a prosperous business, and is among the leading busi- 
ness men of Steward. 

Henry W. Dunning, farmer, Creston, was born in Orange county. 
New York, February 23, 1828. He had the advantages of a common 
school, principally in his native state, where his youth till si.xteen was 
spent on a farm ; moved to Tompkins county, New York. In 1843 he 
came west and located at Rockford, Illinois, and farmed for about five 
years, and then engaged in milling at New Milford, near Rockford, for 
two years. In 1861 he nnnoved to Lee county, locating in Alto town- 
ship. He is a Master Mason and also belongs to the I.O.O.F. In 
politics he is a greenbacker. He was married in March 1856, to Emma 
A. Morse, who died in February 1866. He was again married, July 4, 
1868, to Mary Millenger, from whom he was divorced in October 1876. 
In Februar}', 1880, he was married to Louisa Bennett. He has two 
children. He has a 220 acre farm under good cultivation, and other 
propertv' in Creston, Ogle county. Mr. Dunning is now permanently 
located at Creston. His son, Irving IL, manages and lives on the farm 
in Alto. Hattie M. (Mrs. B. Rice) now resides at Ellsworth, 
Kansas. 

Cakoline Hill, farmer, Creston, widow of Peter Hill, was born in 
Norway, August 31, 1826. She had limited common school advantages 
in Norway, where her youth was spent. Slie emigrated to America in 
1849, landing in the city of New York and coining directly west to a 
Norwegian settlement on Fox river. La Salle county. In the spring of 



I 




ISMC Thompsom 



ALTO TOWNSHIP. 567 

1850 they went to Leland and bought eighty acres of land, remaining 
fifteen years. They then removed to Alto, Lee county, in 1865. She 
is a member of tlie Evangelical Lutheran church. She was married to 
Peter Hill in 1848. Mr. Hill died October 31, 1875, aged fifty-five 
years, leaving Mrs. Hill with ten children, three of whom are now 
married, and the other seven are at home. Mr. Hill was an invalid 
for many years, and the management of the farm largely depended 
on Mrs. Hill. The cliildren are: Peter P., of Lee station; Ole, of 
Capron ; Julia Ann (Mrs. Thorson), of Alto; Caroline, Bertha M., 
Charles, Andrew O., Benjamin, William P. and Nels at home. 

Clang Osmundson, farmer, Creston, was born in Norway, February 
17, 1831. He was educated in his native country, where his younger days 
were spent at home on a farm. He came to America in ISol, landing 
at Quebec, Canada, in June, and going directly to La Salle county, 
Illinois, where he remained about six years. He then removed to 
Fillmore county, Minnesota, staying about five years, and improving a 
farm. He then sold out, and in the spring of 1865 returned to Lee 
county, and located in Alto township. He has held several local town 
offices, and is a republican politically. He belongs to the Evangelical 
Lutheran church. On July 1, 1858, he was married to Carrie O. Hill, 
who died March 29, 1878. He has six children, and owns a good farm 
of 280 acres, well cultivated and stocked. 

William S. Heerick, farmer and physician. Steward, was born in 
West Randolph, Orange county, Vermont, May 3, 1838. His parents 
are botli dead. He received common school and academic advantages 
in AVcst Randolph, Vermont, also attended the University of Vermont, 
at Burlington, through the sophomore year. Then going to Dart- 
mouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, he graduated in 1860 with 
the degree of A.B. He also graduated from Rush Medical College, 
Chicago, in February 1866. He left Vermont in August 1860, going 
to Natchez, Mississippi, where he stopped a short time and then went 
to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he staid till December 1860, and 
returned north to Mendota, La Salle county, Illinois. In June, 1861, he 
commenced reading and the study of medicine with Dr. E. P. Cook, 
which he continued till July 1862, and then entered the quarter- 
master's department, under Gen. Buell, but returned to Chicago in 
October of the same year, and in December, 1862, entered the navy, 
enlisting as an able-bodied seaman. At Cairo, Illinois, he was pro- 
moted to hospital steward, serving as such and assistant surgeon till 
February 1865, when he was honorably discharged. Returning to 
Vermont he attended medical lectures at the University of Vermont, as 
before stated, a season of about four months. He then went to Chicago 
and attended Rush. Medical College. After graduating he went to 
34 



668 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Troy Grove, La Salle county, Illinois, and practiced for two years, and 
at Meriden, same county, one year. In tlie spring of 1869 he removed 
to Willow creek, Lee county, and in 1871 to Alto township, his present 
home, where he has been farming and practicing since. He is a Master 
Mason and in politics a republican. He was married in September 
1870, to Lucy Ann Eeams, widow of Charles Reams. She is the 
daughter of the late Robert Thompson. They have three (laughters, 

Daisy E., Delia A. and Lacy A., and two sons, William Y. and . 

He has an 80 acre farm, stocked and under cultivation. 

Hakmon Van Patten, farmer. Steward, was born at Glenville, 
Schenectady county, New York, July 14, 1836. He received a good 
education in his native town and at Mount Morris Rock River Semi- 
nary, Illinois. His youth and early manhood, till twentj'-two, was nearly 
all spent at Glenville on the farm. Coming west, he lived for about 
nine months in Detroit, Michigan, and then came to this county and 
located in Willow creek, being employed in a nursery for one year. 
In March, 1861, he located in Alto township, where he has since 
remained engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has held several town 
offices ; is a Master Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and in politics is a republican. He was married March 17, 1861, to 
Hannah jSTettleton, who died January 6, 1875. Ho was again married 
September 4, 1878, to Nettie Fuller. They have live children. He 
has a farm of 280 acres. 

William F. Carpenter, farmer, Steward, was born in Elmira, 
Chemung county, New York, March 25, 1838. His education was 
received partly in New York and partly in Illinois. Until about 
eighteen his youth was spent at Elmira on a farm. In March, 185G, 
he moved to Illinois, landing at Roehelle, where he remained one year 
and then came to Alto in 1857. He has been school director, is a 
member of the Baptist church, and is a republican in polities. In 1864 
he was married to Gertrude Foster, who died January 17, 1872. He 
has a fine farm of 240 acres, under high cultivation. Mr. Carpenter 
has seen some trying seasons since locating here, having lost his wife 
and two children by death. He has paid in an early day nearly as 
much for seed wheat as the crop brought, on account of failure of 
crops. Mr. Carpenter had, when starting, |300, and after hard work 
for a 3'ear, had his creditors pressed him, he would have been $500 in 
debt, but keeping on in his usual determined way, is now one of the 
substantial farmers of Alto township. In 18C8, Mrs. Carpenter's health 
failing, they started for Minnesota in the hope of regaining it, but in 
the spring of 1869 they returned, Mrs. Carpenter not being benefited. 
In the fall of 1S69 they went to California, remaining eighteen months, 
and returning in 1871 to their farm, where Mrs. Carpenter lingered 



REYNOLDS TOWNSHIP. 569 

till 1872, when she died. Mr. Carpenter, with Miss Carrie Whitcomb 
(now Mrs. Geosge Add^', of Wisconsin), were the first to organize a 
Sundaj'-school in this township in the year 1858. 

Gilbert F. Henkixg, farmer, Steward, was born at Piano, Kendall 
county, Illinois, May 5, 181:7. His mother is still living, but bis father 
died June 1881. Mr. Henning's father was one of the oldest settlers 
in Illinois, coming west in 1836. Mr. Henning received a common 
school education, mostly at Piano, where his youth and manhood, till 
the age of twenty-four, was spent. In 1871 he moved to Alto. In 
politics he is a republican. He was married in October 1875, to Angle 
S. Lawton. They have one child, Burt. Mr. Henning has a 275 acre 
farm, and also owns an undivided half of 270 acres in Alto township, 
and 160 acres in Reynolds township. He is also half interest holder in 
the firm of Wesley Steward & Co., in the lumber and coal business. 
He also buys and ships grain and stock. He is an enterprising young 
business man, and stands well among his townsmen. 

H. A. Robinson, postmaster and general store, Steward, was born 
in Onondaga county, New York, in 181:1. His parents are both living. 
He received a common school education, partly in New York and 
partly in Illinois. Till fourteen his youth was spent in New York on 
a farm. In 1866 he removed to Illinois, locating at Paw Paw Grove, 
and engaged in the cultivation of hops, and also at the carpenter trade. 
One year was also spent in Bureau county. In 1871 he removed to 
Steward, Alto township, building the first store in the town, and com- 
menced merchandising. He has held the office of town clerk four 
years, is a Master Mason, and in politics a republican. He was married 
February 1879, to Ceriah F. Morris. They have one child, Lester. 
Mr. Robinson has an eighty acre farm in Re3'nolds township, and car- 
ries a full line of general merchandise. 



REYNOLDS TOWNSHIP. 

Not more than one or two sections of this township but that is 
under partial cultivation. A portion of what is known as Brush 
Grove is the only natural grove in Reynolds township. It is located on 
the north border line in the northwest corner. Reynolds township was 
first settled at this point. It is in surface a ridge of undulating or slightly 
rolling of about one half of the township, running through it from east 
to west. The north and south of this ridge of about the other half of 
township is tiat, and in some parts swampy and wet. The soil is a rich 
black loam. It has a good many miles of willow and maple hedge, 
making it appear to the unaccustomed visitor as covered with groves. 
There are quite a number of small artificial groves of maple, willow 



570 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

and walnut planted by its residents. There is to all appearance an in- 
exhaustible stone quarry, located one mile from the east line and nearly 
in the middle of the township known as stone ridge. In an early day 
parties came for miles around and quarried stone free. It has had 
several owners, among them R. M. Peile. It is now owned 1)3* P. 
Culkin. The Illinois Central Railroad Company once sent an 
engineer corps to this place to test the strength, but found the stone at 
that time unfit for abutments. 

The peculiar beauty and attractiveness of this township is the good 
class of outbuildings, fences, extra good water and roads, there being a 
strong feeling toward bringing this portion of Lee count}' up to the high- 
est possible state of cultivation and value. Its inhabitants are above 
the average in culture and intelligence. It is claimed as an actual fact 
that although the youngest in the count}' as to settlement it is leading 
in almost every direction. It is only within a few years that the 
wild ducks and geese were so troublesome in these parts that dogs and 
boys were employed to save crops from their destruction, and even now 
they call in such numbers as to cover acres. 

The early settlers were Sewell Reynolds, now living near Rochelle. 
Thomas Manier, living now in Wisconsin. Jonathan Whitehead moved 
to Iowa, and since dead. John Herrington also went to Iowa, and 
is now dead. Dudley C. Whitehead was an early settler, who moved to 
lowa and has since died. Daniel Brink, jr., now living at Rochelle, 
was an early .settler, as was Charles Gooch, now living on Sec. 17. The 
latter is one of the largest stock operators and farmers in this township. 

There are eight school districts in the township, one of these being 
a union district, part of which is in Ogle county. The township has 
a school fund of nearly $9,000 with seven school-houses, all nearly 
new, costing about §5,000. The school trustees at present are J. C. 
Piper, George Baley, and Thomas Patterson. 

Sewell Reynolds was the first settler in Reynolds township, locating 
in what is known as Brush Grove. Simeon Reynolds, now living six 
miles north of Rochelle, was the first child born in same. Nelson 
Morgan was the first death. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The electors of the township met April 5, 1S59, at the school-house 
in district No. 1, and organized by choosing Peter Mills moderator, 
and R. M. Piele clerk. They then proceeded to elect the following 
oflSers by ballot: for supervisor, Thomas Minier; town clerk, John 
C. Piper; assessor, Thomas Minier; collector, Dudley C. Whitehead; 
overseer of pooi', Daniel Brink, jr. ; commissioners of highways, E. 
F. Gatten, Job Whitehead and David Doutliett; constables, Dudley 



. REYNOLDS TOWNSHIP. 571 

C. Whitehead and John C. Piper; justices of the peace, Peter Mills 
and Robert M. Piele. They then appointed E. F. Gatten, John Her- 
rington and John C. Piper as a committee to divide the town into road 
districts. Tiie present town officers are supervisor, E. Wiener ; 
town clerk, Thomas Paterson ; assessor, J. C. Piper ; collector, Jacob 
Vauple; commissioners of highways, George Boley, Francis O'Eorke 
and L. D. Wilcox; constables, Eugene Horton and Charles Yauple; 
justices of the peace, P. M. Piele and Charles Ashenbrenner. 

The cabin, 12x16, six feet high, used and built as a residence by 
Horace Stearns, where the few first residents met to organize Reynolds 
township and select its first officers, still stands near its original loca- 
tion. It is now used as a pig-pen, and has been used as a corn-crib. 
Tlie first meeting was small, and consisted in part of J. C. Piper, P. 
M. Piele, C. JST. Reynolds, Simeon Reynolds, Silas Shipee, W. M. 
Hawkins and others. The building is located on Sec. 10. 

CHURCHES. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of the Flats, located on the south 
line of Reynolds township and about four miles oast of Bradford town- 
ship, is a neat church building, 32x42, 16 feet high to eaves, and has 
a seating capacity for about 200. Previous to the building of this 
church a meeting was held in the fall of 1875 at the house of C. W. 
Ament, the following persons being present: F. F. Farmlow, C. W. 
Ament, C. F. VanPatten, John A. Edgar, Daniel C. Miller, B. F. 
Parker. The meeting was opened by prayer, and after this resolutions 
were offered and passed toward an organization. F. F. Farmlow was 
chosen chairman and C. W. Ament secretary ; C. W. Ament was 
chosen clerk and treasurer, and he, with F. F. Farmlow, C. F. Van 
Patten, John A. Edgar, Daniel C. Miller and B. F. Parker were 
elected as a building committee. They immediately went to work and 
a building as above described was ready for use that fall. Soon after 
the building was occupied meetings were held and church officers 
were chosen and elected, consisting of A. N. Dow, treasurer, C. F. Yaa 
Patten, secretary, and John A. Edgar, C. W. Ament, A. N. Dow, C. F. 
VanPatten, B. F. Parker, trustees. Since its organization the church 
has been in a healthy and prosperous condition. It is now essentially 
free from debt. It has a Sabbath-school every Sunday, averaging forty 
members. The present officers are C. F. VanPatteu, treasurer and 
clerk, John A. Edgar, Chester Fosgate, B. F. Parker, C. F. VanPatten, 
trustees. R. W. Records is its present pastor. 

The Emanuel Church, of the Evangelical association (German), is 
beautifully situated in Reynolds township, one mile east of Bradford 
town line and tour miles south of the Ogle county line. At a meeting 



572 HISTORY OF LEE COTTNTy. 

of fifteen members held in the school-house in district No. 4, January 5, 
1872, steps were taken toward building a church edifice. C. Gagstetter 
was chosen chairman and Ernst Wiener secretary. A committee was 
then appointed to canvass and see whether funds could be raised to 
build the church and report. The committee met at a subsequent 
meeting held at the same place, January 20, 1872, and reported 
favorably. They then appointed a building committee, as follows: 
John Kersten, George Sandrock, George Boley, Martin Wagner and 
Ernst Wiener. At the same meeting trustees were elected, as follows : 
Ernst Wiener, George Kersten, John Neuman, George Sandrock and 
George Boley; Ernst Wiener was chosen treasurer, John Kersten 
president, and George Bole}' secretary of building committee. The 
building is 34x50, IS feet high to eaves, having a steeple with bell 
about 18 feet in height. The seating capacity is about 400. The cost 
of building and furnishing was about $4,000. It is now (1881) being 
renovated, the interior all being replaced by wood ceiling, at a cost of 
about §900. It will then be one of the neatest country churches in Lee 
county. Its present pastor is A. Goetschel : the trustees are E. Wiener, 
George Boley, John Greise, George Kersten and Martin Wagner. The 
Sunday-school averages about 150. The cluirch was dedicated October 
13, 1872, clear of debt, by raising $1,100.82. The church and Sabbath- 
school are in a very flourishing condition. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 
Robert M. Peilk, farmer. Steward, was born in County Kilkenny, 
Ireland, March 7, 1832. His parents died from cholera in 1848. He 
was liberally educated in County Waterford. His youth, till nineteen 
years of age, was spent at school. November 1, 1850, he removed to this 
country, landing at Boston, ^Massachusetts. He soon came to Illinois, 
locating at Mendota, and taught school near there for two years. 
He then removed to Reynolds township (then called Brooklyn), and 
was among the first to introduce the herding of cattle in this county. 
He commenced herding 900, and has had 2,700 under his care at one 
time. While herding in June, 18^)1, the tornado of that year struck 
this section, devastating the country and killing many cattle and other 
stock. He has held nearly all important offices in the township, has 
bought and sold several thousand acres of land, improving a part of 
the same and bringing it up to a high state of cultivation. He has 
now a fine farm of 320 acres. Mr. Peile assisted largely in recruiting 
men during the late civil war. He was married Maj' 31, 1853, to 
Mary Landers, who died February 14, 1872. He married again, June 
17, 1874, Lydia J. Banning. He has si.\ children, four by first and 
two by second marriage. Mr. Peile is a nephew of the late Robert 



REYNOLDS TOWNSHIP. 573 

Moore Peile, M.D., F.R.C.S., and inspector-general of hospitals to the 
forces in Ireland, senior surgeon to the Richmond hospital and house of 
industry, and consulting surgeon to Dr. Stevens' hospital. This emi- 
nent man died February 4, 1858, aged ninety-three years. Mr. Peile 
is the oldest settler residing in this township. In June, 1880, his barn, 
100x50, blew down during a tornado, also several trees. He has since 
rebuilt. He has now about 200 head of cattle and 100 sheep. Mr. 
Peile has one of the finest maple groves in Lee county, the plants for 
which were brought from Des Moines, Iowa, about fifteen years ago. 
His farm has fine hedge fences of osage and willow. He is one of the 
best known men in Reynolds, if not in Lee county. The names of Mr. 
Peile's children are: Maria M., Mrs. A. V. Sanborn, of Steward; 
Ellen R., Mrs. William B. SutliflF, of Beatrice, Nebraska; Kittie A:, 
John J., Minnie E. and Lydia J. 

Maktha E. Sandeock, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hesse-Cassel, 
Germany, Angnst 16, 1835, and is widow of George Sandrock. She 
was educated in Germauv, goins; to school from the age of six to four- 
teen years.^ In 1848 her father with family (except herself, then living 
with grandparents,) emigrated to America. After her school days 
Mrs. Sandrock went out to work till nearly twenty-two years of age. 
She then emigrated, landing at the city of New York in 1857, coming 
directly west and locating in Bradford township. She removed to 
Reynolds on October i, 1867. She belongs to the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation. She was married to Mr. Sandrock June 6, 1857. Her maiden 
name was Thiele. She has five children living. Mr. Sandrock died 
suddenly from lung fever, March 7, 1872, being sick only ten days. 
Since then Mrs. Sandrock and children have managed the farm, with a 
little hired help during harvest. She has had much sickness in the 
family since her husband's death, and has had a struggle to meet pay- 
ments, there being $5,4:00 due at Mr. Sandrock's death, but is now in 
a fair way to have all clear in two years. She has a 240 acre farm 
■well under cultivation and fairly stocked. The children are George, 
Charles, Christina, Annie C. and William. 

Martin Wagner, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Ger- 
many, June 18, 1836. His parents are both dead. He had the usual 
school advantages from six to fourteen years of age in Germany. His 
youth till eighteen was spent in his native country. He was a tailor 
for three years. Ho emigrated to America in 1854, landing in the 
city of New York and coming directly west he located at Lee Center. 
Remaining there two years he engaged at his trade as tailor, and then 
he went to Chinatown and engaged at farming, working out live years 
and renting two years. He then moved to Reynolds township. He 
has held several local town ofiices and is a member of the Evangelical 



574 HISTORY OF LEE COIXNTY. 

association. He is a republican in politics. Air. Wagner was married 
in March 1863, to Martha Henert. They have six children, lie has 
a 240 acre farm under good cultivation. 

John TnoTrKR, fanner, Flag Station, Ogle county, was born in 
Scotland, January 3, 1835. His parents died while crossing the ocean 
emigrating to America, nearly 300 out of 400 passengers dying from 
ship fever on the passage. Mr. Trotter had a partial education in 
Scotland, but finished at Newburg Seminary, Vermont. His youth 
till thirteen was spent in Scotland at school. In the year 1848 he 
emigrated to America, landing at Quebec, Canada, June 4: remained 
till November. His father being a high Mason and having died on the 
way over with his wife and three children, he was taken in charge by 
Masons of Quebec, and correspondence commenced with friends in 
Scotland, who were thus found living in Orange county, Vermont. 
These came and took charge of the children. Mr. Trotter remained 
in Vermont about three years, working summers and attending school 
winters. He then went to Massachusetts, acting as foreman of hands 
engaged in cutting timber, and remained about one year. He then 
returned to Vermont and attended the Newbury Seminary till 1855, 
going in November of the same year to Eockton, Illinois. Here he 
worked summers and taught winters till the spring of 1860. In 
February of that year he removed to Reynolds township and farmed 
till the fall of 1862, when he enlisted in Co. I, 14th 111. Cav., remain- 
ing till the close of the war. He has since been teaching, buying 
grain and farming. He was town assessor for five years; was census 
enumerator in 1880, and is a republican in politics. He was married 
July 6, 1873, to Sarah Patterson. They have three children. The 
house now occupied by Mr. Trotter is the first one built in Keynolds 
township by C. N. Reynolds. 

George Boley, farmer, Ashton. Mr. Boley was born in German3', 
April 14, 1834. He was in school from si.x to fourteen in Germany, 
and spent his youth till sixteen at home. After this for about six years 
he worked out among farmers. When nearly twenty-three years of 
age he emigrated to America, landing in New York city in May 1857; 
came directly west and located at Fianklin Grove. Here he worked 
out among farmers for about eighteen months, and then rented land in 
Lee Center for three j-ears. He removed to Bradford townsliip, liv- 
ing three years, and then located in Reynolds. He has held local town 
offices for over sixteen years. Mr. Bale}' is a member of the Evangel- 
ical association, and has always been a republican. lie was married 
in October 1854, to Catharine Bawer. Tiiey have three sons, George 
W., William, and Jacob, and three daughters, Martha E., Catharine, 
and Mary. He has a 160 acre farm well cultivated and stocked. 



REYNOLDS TOWNSHIP. 575 

Chas. Goocii, farmer, Ashton, was born in the county of Suffolk, 
England, September 1, 1835, but removed with his parents to Somer- 
setshire when two years old. Here he remained till 1855, and then 
emigrated to America, landing in the city of New York June 12, 
1855. He came directly to Ogle county, Illinois, via Rockford, and 
commenced work for Henry Mix at spile-driving on Kock river. 
There being a disagreement as to wages, Mr. Goocli engaged a ferry, 
continuing about six weeks, and then went to Beloit, Wisconsin, to see 
a brother whom he had not seen for live years. His brother was fore- 
man in a stone quarry and he went to work for four weeks with him. 
Then both went about four miles east of Beloit and worked about 
twelve months on the Racine & Mississippi railroad. In the winter 
of 1856 he went to Kockton and was engaged that winter in feeding 
stock, going in April to Asliton and working for William Hodges in a 
stone quarry for about three years until Mr. Hodges died. He then 
commenced farming, renting land of Col. John Dement in the spring 
of 1861 at Washington Grove, remaining there four j'ears. He then 
rented a farm of Col. Dement in Reynolds township for four years, 
and then he bought it and lived there four years. He then bought the 
next adjoining land, his present home and farm, of M. J. Braiden. 
Mr. Gooch is now owner of one of the best sections in Reynolds town- 
ship. His mother is still living, is ninety-one years old, and hale and 
hearty. He has been school director for seventeen years ; is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal churcli, and a republican. He was mar- 
ried April 23, 1855, to Charlotta Gardner. They have eight children. 
When Mr. Gooch landed in Chicago in 1855 he had but $2 as a starter. 

Maegaeet Vatjpel, widow of John Vaupel, farmer. Steward, was 
born in Baden, Germany, March 25, 1833. She went to school till 
thirteen years of age, then for nine years was employed as house ser- 
vant in difierent homes, remaining from one to three years in a place. 
She emigrated and ari'ived in the cit}' of New York July 1855, going 
directly to Mendota. Here she remained a short time and then went 
to Amboy and remained one year employed in a hotel, going then to 
Binghamton, near Amboy, where she was employed in a hotel, where 
she married Mr. Vaupel, who was employed in a plow shop. After 
marriage Mrs. Vaupel took in washing, beside her household duties. 
They remained between two and three years, and a short time at Sub- 
lette, then removed to Bradford township and rented a small farm, re- 
maining about five years. He then Came to Reynolds and bought 
eighty acres near the Evangelical church, living there about five years. 
Here Mr. Vaupel died in 1868. Previous to his death he sold the 
eightj' acres and bought 160 acres about four miles directly east in 
Reynolds at $50 per acre. Mrs. Vaupel being left with seven small 



576 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

children from three months to twelve years of age, and fearing pay- 
ments could not be met, sold back eighty acres at $40 per acre, leaving 
the eighty costing $60 per acre. The first two years after her hus- 
band's death she kept hired help during the summer. After this, Mrs. 
Vaujtel with the children struggled alone until all of the $2,800 debt 
was paid. She then bought ICO acres more at an average of $45 per 
acre. She has paid $1,600 on one 80, and on the other $800. Her 
second son is tax collector. They are members of the Evangelical 
association and are among the industrious and worthy farmers of this 
township. 

John Geiese, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hainebach, Germany, 
April 15, 1831. His father and mother, both seventy-four years old, 
are living with Mr. Griese. He received the usual education given in 
Germany, and his youth and early manhood till thirty-three years old, 
except five years in the German army, were spent at home on the farm. 
He came to America in 1SG4, landing in New York city, and came to 
Reynolds township, Sec. 19, Lee county, the same year. He has been 
collector two years, school director two terms. Is a member of the 
German Evangelical association, and in politics is a republican. He 
was married April 1857, to Dora Lizzie Klunchmidt. They have four 
children. He has a 250 acre farm stocked and under good cultivation. 

Ek.xst Wiener, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Ger- 
many, March 24, 1834. He attended school in Germany from six to 
fourteen, and spent two years at Bremen painting. Tiie rest of the 
time till 1858 he was at home on the farm. On his arrival in Ameiica 
he came to Lee Center, Lee county, Illinois, remaining about two 
years, and then came to Bradford township and afterward to Rej'nolds, 
in 1864. He has held the office of school trustee three years, town 
clerk six years, school treasurer four years, and supervisor two years. 
He is a leading member of the Evangelical association, and is a repub- 
lican. He was married in 1860, to Elizabeth Huhnstock, and has a fine 
family of eight children (one married). Just in harvest time in 1878, 
about a month after finishing a new barn, it caught fire by some un- 
known cause and burned up with its contents, including several colts. 
It has since been rebuilt. He has a 200 acre farm, well stocked and un- 
der good cultivation. Mr. Wiener lives near the Evangelical church 
building in Reynolds townshi]), and was mainly instrumental in its 
erection. He is one of the leading farmers in the township. 

Henry Speek, farmer, Ashton, was born in Wurtemburg, Ger- 
many, June 11, 1820. He attended school in Germany till fourteen 
years of age, after this he hired out and worked on a farm till he was 
twenty-six. He then emigrated to America, landing in the city ot 
New York. Going at once to Buflfalo, he hired out as a wood-chopper 



REYNOLDS TOWNSHIP. 577 

at 37^ cents per cord, paying 25 cents per day for board, working one 
winter. In the spring he engaged in a shingle-mill at $8 per month 
and board, remaining two or three years. He then engaged in a saw- 
mill and worked abont three years. Then he removed to Illinois, lo- 
cating in Bradford township, working one year for John Gatner. He 
then rented the farm, Mr. Gatner furnishing one pair of oxen the first 
year, and a pair of horses the next. He remained on this farm about 
ten years, having cleared $600 and his team. He then bought his 
present home of 120 acres. May 11, 1854, he married Mena Kept. 
They are members of the Evangelical association. They have two 
children, Hannaii and George, and have lost four by death. His farm 
is clear from debt, and is under good cultivation. 

J. A. Geiese, farmei', Ashton, was born in Hainebach, Germany, 
November 4, 1838, and attended school from six to fourteen, and then 
till eighteen lielped his fatlier on the farm. His parents are both living. 
In 1857 they came to America, landing in the city of Baltimore, Mary- 
land, with $80 capital. Coming directly west to Franklin Grove, he 
hired out as fivrm hand during the summer and hauled wood in the 
winter, going ten miles for his load and chopping the same himself. 
He continued in this work about five years, after which he rented 
eighty acres, working it for four years. While working the rented 
farm he first bought eighty and after forty acres and fenced the same 
and built himself a house. At the expiration of his rented farm in 
1866 he bought more land, and moved on his farm where he is now 
living. He has held several local town offices, is a leading member of 
the Evangelical association, and is a republican. He was married 
February 28, 1863, to Anna Katy Kerst. They have seven children 
and a farm of 447 acres well under cultivation. 

Ltdia a. Hoeton, widow of Nelson J. Horton, farmer, Rochelle. 
Mrs. Horton was born September 29, 1832, in Otsego county. New 
York, and spent her youth till fourteen at school. About 1847 she 
moved with her parents to Bradford county, Pennsylvania. In 1851 
she was married to Mr. Horton, and came west, locating in Ogle 
county, and remained till 1863, when they removed to the present 
home. In October, 1861, Mr. Horton enlisted in Co. H, 46th reg. 111. 
Vols. (Capt. Stevens), and served through the war, being honorably 
discharged as a veteran. He went from Fort Henry to Mobile, the last 
struggle of the war. On his return he was found to be broken in 
health. Everything was done to raise him, but he continued an invalid. 
In January, 1877, Mr. and Mrs. Horton, after selling all their personal 
eft'ects, rented their farm and went to Wisconsin, hoping to regain his 
health. He lingered till June 10, 1878, on their way toward home. 
He died from hemorrhage of the lungs on the cars. 



578 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 

The first settlements in China township were made at or near the 
head of what is now known as Franklin Grove. In June, 1835, Cyrus 
Chamberlain, Lockwood Minor and Col. Nathan Whitney arrived in 
Dixon. These parties were formerly near neighbors in Genesee 
county, New York. Whitney, a few years before this, had moved into 
Ohio. Chamberlain located a claim near Grand Detour in what is now 
Nachusa township, and Minor stopped with him. Mr. Whitney came 
along the north side of the grove to near the present site of Franklin, 
but not finding running water he made no claim, nor did he see or 
hear of any others who had claimed in this vicinity. He returned to 
Ohio in July, and in the fall came back to Rocky Falls, Whitesides 
county, where he spent considerable time looking for a good location. 
He wintered in Joliet, and in the spring of 183G he again visited this 
vicinit}', this time claiming a large piece of prairie three-quarters of a 
mile squai-e, the farm now owned by his son, A. R. Whitney ; he also 
bought a timber claim of twenty-eight acres. Mr. Whitney hired 
about ten acres of prairie broke in August. After arranging with 
Lockwood Minor for the breaking of twenty acres the following June, 
he again went back to Ohio, where he spent the winter of 1836-7. In 
the meantime a few families had settled at the head of the grove. The 
first who made claims there were James Holly and Ciiarlcs Harrison. 
This was in 1835. They soon sold out to Adam Vroman and went to 
Iowa. The same year David Holly with his family settled on the S.W. 
J Sec. 35, T. 22, China. His house was built where Jacob Miller lives, 
and Cummins Noe settled on the Creek south of the grove about one 
and a quarter miles west of the railroad depot at Franklin Grove, and 
about eighty rods north and a little west of Henry Hansen's house. 
Early in 183fi Edward Morgan, from Indiana, settled farther up in 
the grove near the middle of the S. i of Sec. 27, T. 22, China. Late 
in August or early in September, 1836, Nathaniel C. Yale and his fam- 
il}', of New York, came here and moved into a log house which stood 
nearly opposite the '' Dunkard " church, on what is now David Lah- 
man's premises. This house was built by James Holly. Here they 
lived till the spring of 1S39, when they moved to the south side of the 
grove. When the Yales came there were three families, numbering 
sixteen souls, living at the grove: Cummins Noe, his wife and two 
children ; David Holly and wife, and father, Jesse Holly, two children, 
and Samuel Ayerhart, who lived with tliem ; Edward Morgan and 
wife, his three children, and Nicholas Kinman, a nephew of Morgan. 
In the spring of 1836 Cyrus R. Minor, father of Lockwood Minor, 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 579 

came to the new settlement, and from a man named Brown bought a 
claim to eighty acres of timber and "all the prairie he could see." In 
the following December Minor came west with his family. During 
this month they lived with Morgan. January 1, 1837, the family moved 
into their new house, which was built on the corner east of the Hughes' 
Hotel, where Gabriel Miller lives. This primitive dwelling had neither 
floor nor windows, and for a door a blanket was used. Kails were laid 
down upon which to place the bedding. 

In March of 1837 Jeremiah Whipple came with his family in 
wagon from western New York. Otis Timothy, then a young man, 
drove his team from Buffalo, leaving there the latter part of January. 
Whipple was out here in 1836 with a buggy, and at that time made 
arrangements with Jesse Holly for the construction of a saw-mill, for 
which he (Whipple) brought machinery on his return in 1837. Joseph, 
a bachelor brother of Jeremiah AVhipple, came out with him, and lived 
in the family for several years. They settled in the grove near the 
creek, near what is now known as " Whipple's cave." In July of this 
year Nathan Whitney returned to his claim accompanied by Jacob 
John. They went to work getting out timber for a house to be. built 
on Whitney's claim. This is said to have been the first frame-house 
between Chicago and the Mississippi river; it was framed and partly 
inclosed in the fall of 1837, and completed the following spring. It 
was put up at a great cost of labor and money (for those times). All 
the lumber not made by hand was purchased in Chicago at nearly §200 
per thousand. The family of Mr. Whitney arrived fi-om Ohio in 
February of 1838, and lived in the " Noe house" (log) on the south 
side of the grove till the new house was completed ; this is now used 
by A. R. Whitney for a vinegar house. Jacob John, who had a fam- 
ily, settled where Joshua Lohman now lives. 

In 1848 Harrison and W. Henry Hansen came from Maine, also 
Philip Stahl. The three purchased a large claim from Erastus De 
Wolf, which they paid for chiefly in labor. Most of it is land now 
owned by the Hausens, wlio live west of the village of Franklin 
Grove. It was first claimed by Noe, by whom it was sold to Bowman, 
of whom it was bought b}' De Wolf, who, after disposing of it, 
settled farther south on the Lee Center and Dixon road. 

Dr. Gardner was also an early settler in that vicinity, having set- 
tled where Wagner lives, in Nachusa, in 1838. 

In 1839 Thomas Brown came here with DeWolf, the latter having 
been here before, and made a large claim, intended for a Rhode Island 
colony, Dr. Gardner was also connected with this projected enterprise, 
but the original plan was not carried out. In 1838 Amos Hussey, ot 
Pennsylvania, with his wife and two children, came to the grove in a 



580 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

wagon. He lived in the " Noe house," on the south side of the grove, 
during the winter, 1838-9, and then moved to near where he is now 
living, a few rods north of the corporation of Franklin Grove, and built 
there soon after. The same year Silas P. Tolinan located a few rods 
east of where the Methodist Episcopal church stands, and bought from 
A. Vroman a claim to half a section. About this time James Hulh- 
returned from Iowa, and, together with Hnssey, bought from Vroman 
a large tract, for which they paid §1,400. In 1839 F. DeWolf claimed 
the E. ^ Sec. 24, T. 21, China, tlie south lialf of which he entered. E. C. 
Thomas, who settled in the grove, a family of Coopers, Michael Brewen, 
or " Little Mike," as he was called, and John Durfee, were early settlers. 
The Coopers at first lived near the mill-dam, in Xachusa township, on 
land nuw owned by Samuel Lahman. Mike made a claim east of the 
grove, and Durfee settled south of Whitney, where Gilbert lives. In 
1843 "W. C. Eobinson claimed his farm in Sec. 10, T. 21, on the south 
side of the Dixon and Lee Center road, and built on the same. In this 
year C. Lahman and family came, in company with the Emmerts, all of 
Pennsylvania. Lahman settled on the farm now owned by his son 
David, a little north of A. Ilussey, having bought the property from 
J. Holly, who then left the settlement. Then only the Hollys, Morgan 
and Ayerhart lived on tiie north side of the grove. Two or three years 
after his arrival Emmert built a grist-mill on the creek, which in a few 
years was bought by the Lahmans, who ran it many yeiirs. In 1844 
the Kiddelsbargers came, and settled on the north side of the grove. 
From tliis time till 1854 the settlement grew slowly, but when the 
railroad came through there was a marvelous change. 

Most of the first settlers came from their eastern homes in wagons, 
sometimes drawn by four-horse teams. Their life at that period was 
simple and earnest. The spot they had chosen for their homes was one 
of the fairest portions of Illinois. None thought tiiat the beautiful 
prairie spread out around them would ever all be settled. Franklin 
Grove, around which they built their cabins, was so named, it is said, 
after the youngest son of " Father Dixon." 

The creek which flows through it into the Kock river affords much 
picturesque scenery. Along its banks, in places, the sandstone walls 
reach a height of fifty feet. The beauty of this stream is unsurpassed, 
if equaled, by anything in northern Illinois, excepting only a little of 
the Illinois river. " The ditt'erent varieties of oak, hickory, walnut, 
elm, cherry, maple, and the soft woods except pines were found here 
in large trees by the early settlers. Much of the large timber has been 
cut oft', and some of the ground is now tilled, but the area of the grove 
by the growth of young trees has been increased.'' For several years 
after the pioneers came deer were seen in the grove ; there were also a 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 581 

few wild cats. Prairie wolves and badgers were numerous. The bluffs 
along the creek contain miicli valuable building stone. 

TRAGEDY. 

The history of China records but one criminal murder, and this, 
too, in the pure, primitive days. In the fall of 1847, or early the fol- 
lowing winter, Moody Thompson, a widower, had bought a small place 
on the bank of the creek, in the grove, about one and a half miles 
"west of town." During the winter Thompson lived with the family 
of whom ho had purchased. In June this family left for St. Charles, 
Illinois. Thompson being alone, sent for his friend Olig Gamerson to 
come and stay with him. Accordingly on Wednesday evening the 
latter went, having come from Inlet that afternoon. On the following 
Saturda}' Jacob Wingert, while out hunting, had occasion to call at 
their dwelling. He found their dead bodies in bed, where the}' had 
been brutally murdered with their own axe. Their heads were split 
open, and they had apparently died without a struggle. Their chest 
was found broken open and rifled of its contents. Gold coin to the 
amount of $60 or $70 was found remaining in the chest. Wednesday 
evening Thompson had been to Mr. Riddelsbarger's to get a bag of 
corn. He was not seen alive after this; but one feed for his hogs 
seemed to have been taken out of the bag of corn. It is thought they 
were murdered on the night Gamerson came. This was only three 
davs after the fainilv left to so to St. Charles. They were Norwegians 
by birth, and had been known here for nearly a year. They were 
thought to be upright and peaceable. Considerable effort was made 
to find the criminal or criminals, but the perpetrator of the crime has 
never been found, and a veil of .mj'stery hangs over the horrible deed. 

SCHOOLS. 

For several years the dwellers at the grove got along without a 
school-house of any kind. One of the settlers of 1836 says that Louisa 
Cooper taught a school near Whipple's, about 1839; and the next was 
taught by Lorenzo Whiting, in a little log cabin in Tolman's timber; 
the next in a little log house on the south side of the grove, by Harry 
Godger. One winter Nathan Whitmore taught a school in the house 
of T. L. Minor. He was hired by a club of boys in the neighborhood. 
Girls and small boys were excluded. John M. Crawford at quite an 
early day taught in the James Holly log house. In 1851 the log 
school-house was built a little east of where Amos Ilussey is living. 
The settlers each hauled a certain number of logs. One of their num- 
ber is reported to have said : " By G — d if there is going to be any 
quarreling about this, I will jerk my logs out." 



582 HISTORY OF LEE COITNTY. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The town of China was organized under the state law April 2, 
1850. It was previously called Fremont. Russel Lynn, an earl v settler 
in the south part of the township, whose native township in Maine was 
China, urged the adoption of that name. China originally included 
T. 21, and the S. ^ and Sees. 17 and 18 of T. 22 X., R. 10 E. of the 
4th P. M. In 1870 the west half was set off as the town of Naehusa, 
leaving the present area of China nine by three miles. Town meetings 
were held at the house of H. S. Buckman till 1855, and subsequently, 
with two exceptions, for several years at the Hughes Hotel. At the 
first meeting Geo. R. Linn was elected supervisor, receiving thirty 
votes; Josiah Wheat, clerk, forty-tive votes; Christian Lahman, as- 
sessor, thirty-nine votes ; Moses Curtis, collector, tweut3'-two votes ; over- 
seer of the poor, B. Hunnum ; commissioners of highways, Jesse Hale, 
W. C. Robinson, Nathan Whitney ; justice of the peace, Robt. B. 
Sprout ; Moses S. Curtis and W. C. Robinson, constables. Forty-si.x; 
was the highest number of votes cast for any one office. At this meet- 
ing the town was divided into ten highway districts; a fence law was 
passed; decided measures were adopted to prevent stock from running 
at large. At the next annual meeting seventy -seven was the highest 
vote cast for any office. At a special meeting held at the Hughes 
Hotel, March 1865, seventy-six votes were cast for raising a bounty, 
and three votes were cast against the same. The census of 1880 shows 
for China, exclusive of the village of Franklin Grove, a population of 
681 souls. There are six school districts in the township. China is 
strongly republican in politics, having given, in the election of 1880, 
196 votes for Garfield, 97 for Hancock, and but 5 for the Iowa candi- 
date. Of 262 votes polled at a general election in 1870, 199 were re- 
publican. There were then about 450 legal voters in the township. 
In 1873 China had 90 per cent less delinquent tax than any other town- 
ship in the county of Lee. Besides her line farms, large and costly 
barns, elegant houses, China has for several years been noted for 
blooded stock, including cattle, sheep, swine, and less notably, horses. 
In 1854 or 1855 C. Lahman brought some high-grade short-horns from 
southern Illinois. Henry Hansen commenced improving his cattle 
soon after with good results. In 1867 Henry Hansen and Samuel Dy- 
sart brought the first thoroughbred cattle here from central Illinois. 
These were short-horns. In 1871 Joseph Lahman began breeding that 
kind of stock. Mr. Dysart now has a herd of about fifty, one of the 
finest in the state. He has at diflFerent times taken many diplomas. 
Twice at the Iowa state fair his herd has come oft' victorious. In 1873 
Mr. Dysart, at five different fairs in northern Illinois, took thirty-five 
first premiums, and eighteen second premiums, in a total of thirty-nine 




4 



.J 




'-r^^^i^^ 



(deceased) 



t ; 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 583 

contests, losing only four first premiums. These and other similar vic- 
tories have made the "Pines Stock Farm" one of the most noted in 
the northwest. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Hansen took premiums at 
Rochel'e, Illinois, on everything he had on exhibition from the " Grove 
Stock Farm." Mr. Hansen has recently sold his entire herd. The 
breeding of choice swine and sheep has been pursued by several stock- 
men and farmers. In 1870 Sam. Dysart introduced the fir^t pure-bred 
Berkshire swine. The varieties of sheep include Cotswolds, Merinos, 
and Lesters. Horses for speed were bred by Dr. Hewitt and George 
Gilbert. The Norman and Clydesdale blood is now being introduced. 
Fi'om these and other sources the improvement of stock has been much 
advanced. The assessment value of stock in China township in 1875 
was $70,000, 

Tree culture had here an early history. In 1843 Father Whitney 
established the Franklin Grove nursery, and began grafting on stock 
raised from seed that was brought from Ohio in 1838. In 184:fi he 
sent forth his first advertisement. From that time until the present 
iiis nursery has had a steady growth, until now he has an orchard cov- 
ering more than a hundred acres. He also added other fruits, and 
ornamental shrubs and trees. This, at present, is an attractive spot. 
To this nursery, and the thrift and enterprise of residents in this 
vicinity, must be attributed the beauty of shade and ornamental trees 
for miles around. In September of 1873 W. H. Hansen shipped to 
the Iowa state fair ninety-seven varieties of apples and fifteen varieties 

■of pears. 

MILITARY. 

Of the noble war record of Lee county China claims a full share. 
Two companies were organized at Franklin Grove. Besides these, 
several men went from China in other regiments. Co. G, 75th 111. 
Inf., enlisted at the grove, and organized bj^ choosing Joseph Williams 
■captain ; David Sanford first lieutenant, and Robert L. Irwin second 
lieutenant. They were mustered into the United States service 
August 22, 1862, with the legal number of non-commissioned officers 
and seventy privates. We do not know how many of these were from 
China, as it then existed ; but probably much tlie greater part, if not 
nearly all, were from this township. At Perry ville, Kentucky, the 75th 
sufli'ered terribly'. Here, in their first fight, twenty-two of Co. G fell. 
Co. C, 35th 111. Vol. Inf., was organized at Springfield, Illinois; mus- 
tered into the United States service for three years September 7, 1861 ; 
reenlisted as veterans December 23, 1863. The original oflicers were: 
captain, Ale.xander P. Dysart, promoted major April 18, 1862, colonel 
1868, resigned July 1863 ; first lieutenant, Benson Wood, promoted 
captain May 1, 1862, resigned January 29, 1863; second lieutenant, 
35 



584 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Daniel liiley, promoted first lieutenant May 1, 1862, wounded 1863; 
sergeants: first, Peter F. Walker, promoted second lieutenant May 1, 
1862, captain January 26, 1863, major October 5, 1864; Adaniram 
Keen, discharged August 5, 1862; Lindsey Black, veteran, promoted 
first sergeant July 20, 1863, first lieutenant October 5, 1864; David A. 
Glenn, discharged January 15, 1862; Wesley J. Williams, promoted 
first sergeant May 1, 1862, second lieutenant January 20, 1863, first 
lieutenant January 30, 1863, resigned October 5, 1864; corporals: B. 
F. Dysart, promoted quartermaster-sergeant September 9, 1862, second 
lieutenant Co. C, January 29, 1863, resigned October 5, 1864; John 
C Laluiiaii, promoted sergeant February 1862; Samuel S. Worley, 
veteran, reduced per request; William Seitz, promoted sergeant Janu- 
ary 1, 1863, wounded at Stone River; Sidney Davis, transferred to the 
regular service December 10, 1862; George E. Crumb, Thomas Flynn, 
and Samuel Fish. Of this company the following deaths are noticed : 
Daniel Riley, first lieutenant, January 20, 1863, from wounds; J. 
Lindsley Black, first lieutenant, March 19, 1863; Charles Santee, 
killed November 31, 1862; Jacob C. Sunday, July 20, 1864; Henry 
Hoffmaster, May 17, 1862; John Fahey, killed April 7, 1862; John 
Adams, December 19, 1861 ; Charles H. Evans, June 1862; Jeremiah 
H. Stevens, killed December 31, 1862; George W. Schmucker, June 
17, 1864; Joseph Lascert, killed June 27, 1864; John Rousch, 1863; 
George W. Conrad, killed May 19, 1865; Luther D. Wood, April 28, 
1865; Aurelius Gaslin, 1864. Of the 115 about 30 did not live in 
Ciiina towiiiiliip when they enlisted. The larger ]»art of these came 
from Ashton ; a few from Ogle county. During their service the com- 
pany were in moi'e than twenty engagements, biiginning with "bloo.ly 
Shiloh" ami ending with Goldsboro and Raleigh, North Carolina, in- 
cluding the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, Stone River, Tennessee, 
Kenesaw Mountain and Poach Tree Creek, Georgia, siege of Atlanta, 
march through Georgia, and the Carolina campaign. 

The village of Franklin Grove is situated in the N.E. J Sec. 1, T. 
21, R. 10. The first movement toward making a town here was in 
1848 or 1849, when Christian Lahman, who owned the southern part 
of what is now Franklin, laid out in lots about ten acres in the south- 
western part of the village. The only building then in this vicinity 
was the Minor House, which was used by various parties as a hotel 
until the new one was built on the same site. 

In 1851 George W. Pense came to this place, and built a blacksmith 
sho)3 near the corner south of the hotel. At the same time Webster 
came, who succeeded Thomas in the hotel. Davis also came, and moved 
into the Minor log house. In the fall of 1851, or the following spring, 
Webster built a stone building for a store on the corner west of where 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 585 

George Engel is living. In this building Charles Ambrose opened a 
dry-goods store, and L. Yale clerked for him. In 1852 Charles Bill 
put np the first shoe shop, and Dr. Clark put up a barn where Charles 
Hansen is living. In May of 185i H. I. Lincoln brought a stock of 
goods from Kendall county, and bought from L. Yale the store occu- 
pied by Ambrose. Ambrose then built for a store the present residence 
of F. A. Zoeller; sold out to Lahinan & Bill ; went to Texas in 1855, 
and soon died of consumption. All who knew him speak highly of 
the pioneer merchant. In 1856 Lahman sold out his interest to Bill, 
and built a large store on the corner, now occupied by the residence of 
G. Miller. He failed the same fall, and was closed out at auction. He 
is now a successful farmer in one of the western states. 

The first post-ofBce was established about 18-±8. A. Brown was the 
first postmaster, A. R. Whitno}' mail carrier. The route then was 
from Rockford to Peru. Whitney brought the mail once a week from 
Dixon on horseback ; for this lie received half the emoluments of the 
office, which amounted the first quarter to thirty-seven cents. Dr. 
Clark was the second incumbent, and during his term the name of the 
office was changed to Chaplain. A. R. Whitney' received the next ap- 
pointment. His deputies were Ambrose, Bill and Merritt. Whitney's 
gross receipts for the first quarter amounted to only $4.75. In May of 
lS5-i Dr. George W. Hewitt located here, and sold drugs on a small 
scale. A. L. Merritt soon succeeded him in this line of business, and 
in the fall of 1855 John C. Black located here and bought in with Mer- 
ritt. The next year Black was made postmaster. 

Franklin Grove had now fully attained the dignity of a country 
village. But in the meantime tlie new town had begun to develop. 
This was laid out in 1853, by A. W. Tolman, C. Lahman, and F. D. 
Robertson. The land in the northei'n part was owned by Tolman, the 
other by Lahman. In 1851 the Dixon Air Line of the Chicago & 
Galena Union railroad was completed tiirough here, and the first reg- 
iilar train run to Dixon Decembei' 3, 1854. The same day A. B. Fitch 
came and began as agent for the railroad company. This position he 
has held nearly ever since. This fall Reuel Thorp built one of the 
first houses in the new town, and began in the grain business. Joseph 
Williams built on Spring street where Tliomas lives. L. M. Blaisdell 
built on next lot south. At this time Simmons was living in a little 
house where Gilbert now lives. W. J. Leake started a harness shop 
in the small building now occupied by U. C. Roe for an office and 
medicine room. The building was then owned by John D. Chambers,, 
who worked for Leake. In 1854 Williams put up the first building on 
Elm street south of the railroad. This was an elevator on the site of 
Smith's new elevator. In the rear of this building he kept a small 



586 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

grocery store. S. J. Smith ct Co. and L. M. Blaisdell began in the 
lumber business. In the winter of 1854-5 Rufus Covell came from 
Rochelle and started a small furniture store just south of William's 
elevator. The following spring Robert Scott built on Spring street, 
where Dr. Roe, jr., now lives, and also the warehouse now owned by 
H. I. Lincoln ; Conrad Durkes built on Elm street, and in the fall 
brought a stock of dry goods from Oregon, Ogle county, the tirst suld 
in the new town. Mix it Losey built the store on the corner of Whit- 
ney and Elm streets, and a few weeks later began selling dr}' goods. 
Lagerquist opened the iirst shoe shop; Jonas Ciisbee built, for a hotel, 
the house in which Dr. U. C. Roe lives, and this year Josiah Hughes 
put up his three-story stone hotel building in the old town of Chaplain. 
The work on this building was done by George Engel, who came to 
the town in 1855. The men who settled the village of Franklin 
Grove were young or in the prime of life. They had small means, 
but were energetic. Tlie changes that have occurred here in business 
circles are too numerous to mention. Rufus Covell went to Iowa in the 
spring of 1864, and died there near his home at Nevada the following 
August. Mix is living in Oregon, Ogle county, a retired merchant. 
Losey returned to Ohio, and died of consumption soon after he settled 
here. When the town was incorporated the streets had received but little 
attention. The names of those running north and south, naming from 
the west, are State, Spring, Elm, Walnut, and S^'camore ; from the 
north, North, Middle, Whitney, Franklin, South, and Lahnian. 

INCORPORATIOX. 
In 1857 the town of Franklin Grove was incorporated under a 
general law in force at that date. On May 11, 1857, the citizens of 
the incorporated district met to vote on the question of incorporation ; 
and after a president and clerk were sworn, 36 votes were cast for and 
17 against incorporation. Josiah Hughes, Jonas Ciisbee, L. M. Blais- 
dell, S. J. Smith and A. W. Tolman were elected trustees, with L. M. 
Blaisdell president; S. J. Smith was chosen clerk, and Jonas Ciisbee 
was appointed street commissioner for the ensuing year. The bounda- 
ries of the corporation corresponded to those of the N.E. ^ of Sec. 1, 
T. 21. At a meeting on October 6, 1857, a petition signed by lifteen 
citizens was presented, calling for sidewalks on some of the principal 
streets. October 8 it was ordered that a tax of fifty cents on the hun 
dred dollars be levied on all real estate for building sidewalks, cross- 
walks, etc. December 28 C. Durkes was appointed treasurer of the 
corporation. At a meeting May 12, 1858, the following financial re- 
port was adopted: bills allowed and ordered paid, 8161.17; moneys 
received, $124.97 ; dues unpaid, $34.05. In 1864 alleys were opened 
and about two miles of sidewalk was laid. 



CHEST A TOWNSHIP. 587 

A special charter for the town of Franklin Grove was approved by 
the state legislature in February 1865. It provided for the election of 
six councilmen and a president, a police magistrate and a town con- 
stable, each for four years ; and fixed the date for the first election 
under the same March 1, 1865. Tlie limits of the town were but 
slightly changed, a small strip south of the railroad on the east side 
being omitted. Small additions have since been made on the southern 
side. 

The first election under the new charter resulted in the choice of 
C. Dnrkes for president ; Josiah Hughes, J. J. Lichty, Joseph "Will- 
iams, Jonas Clisbee, Geo. "W. Brayton and Geo. H. Taylor were 
elected councilmen. On motion, Oscar Hughes was elected clerk and 
W. C. Robinson treasurer for the ensuing year. 

In 1872 the town was chartered under the state law of incorpora- 
tion. The issue at the municipal elections has generally been the 
license question. Of those who have most strongly opposed the 
license system may be named Geo. H. Taylor, C. Durkes, Charles 
Hansen, Ezra Wood, and Thomas Scott. With the railroad came a 
demand for liquor. E. McGuire, a noted character in the annals of 
this town, set up a rum-shop in 1854 on State street near the railroad. 
A year or two later it was torn down by a body of citizens and his 
liquors emptied in the street. This act led to considerable litigation. 
The irrepressible McGuire again located near the Hughes hotel and for 
many years after waged war with the anti-license element, claiming 
that if he had been let alone he would have converted the people to 
the cold-water plan, so much was he given to watering his stock. In 
1861 a license was granted, and for a few years a bad state of things 
seemed to have prevailed. To use the language of a prominent citizen 
acquainted with the facts, " Tiie legality of the town board was soon 
after questioned ; its ordinances were obeyed or not as suited the indi- 
viduals ; lawlessness and drunkenness were rampant; gambling was 
carried on day and night in low places." Elections for town boards 
were not regularly held, nor were the proceedings of meetings al- 
ways recorded. " The board ordered walks repaired and road labor 
performed ; scarcely anyone would obey. The walks became unsafe ; 
drunken men staggered in the streets until the thing became intoler- 
able." The new charter of 1864 made strict provision for the regula- 
tion of the liquor question. In July of that year three roughs with 
drawn revolvers tried to intimidate the president of the board, C. 
Diirkes, for the purpose of obtaining permission to gamble in one of 
the saloons. In a mel^e that ensued Samuel Simmons, an inoffen- 
sive citizen, was severely injured. These were the dark days in the 
history of Franklin Grove. No licenses were issued from 1867 till 



588 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

1877, when after an exciting canvass the license party prevailed. 
There are now three saloons in the village, each pa3'ing a license of 
$200. 

According to the census of 1880 the town has a population of 730. 
It has never contracted a bonded indebtedness. In 1860 H. I. Lincoln 
built the first substantial store building in the new town. In 1864 
Frast and Hanger put up a large elevator, now owned by D. F. Lah- 
man. In 1867 P. C. Roone}' built his store. In 1871 Black and 
Twombly put up the block now owned and occupied b\' Black and 
Durkes. Canterbury built in 1872. The Band Hall was built in 1874, 
the wind grist-mill in 1875, and the Franklin Hotel in 1876. 

The only paper here that has survived its infancy is the Franklin 
Grove "Reporter." Its short-lived precursor was the Franklin Grove 
" Gazette," printed in Dixon ; it lived only a few months. The "Re- 
porter" was started by John Blocher, editor and proprietor, and dates 
from August 1869. At the close of its second year D. H. Spickler 
bought the paper. He ran it till May 1875, when T. W. Scott be- 
came the manager. 

Dr. D. H. Spickler was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, 
March 18, 1830. He came west in 1853, and in 1857 graduated from 
Rush Medical College, Chicago. For several years he was associated 
with Dr. G. W. Hewitt, of this place. After his connection with the 
" Reporter" he edited the Mendota " News " two years. He then set- 
tled to the practice of his profession at Ashton, where he died October 
28, 1879. He was buried in the Franklin Grove cemetery. Scott sold 
out to D. B. Senger, the present editor and manager, August 5, 1876. 
The "Enterprise" was edited by P. O. Sproul from June, 1879, till 
November, 1880, the limits of its existence. The " Electric Light " 
•was commenced in June of 1881, by A. D. Webb and W. G. Blocher. 

SECRET SOCIETIES. 

Franklin Grove Lodge, No. 264, A.F. and A.M., was chartered 
October 6, 1858. The charter members were L. M. Blaisdell, Daniel 
B. McKinney, Nathan Whitney, A. R. Whitney, William Forbes, 
Reuel Thorpe, C. Durkes, J. C. Black, George W. Hewitt, A. B. 
Fitch, P. C. Rooney, M. Decker, Isaac F. Forbes, Thomas L. Wood. 
The first officers were L. M. Blaisdell, W.M.; D. B. McKinney, S. 
W.; William Forbes, J.W.; Reuel Thorpe, Treas.: C. Durkes, Sec; A. 
B. Fitch, S.D.; P. C. Rooney, J.D., and J. C. Black, Tyler. The 
present officers are Samuel Dysart, W.M.; B. L. Spence, S.W.; E. E. 
Faunce, J.W.; A. R. Whitney, Treas.; P. Runyan, Sec; Jacob Gall, 
S.D.; S. Mong, J.D.; T. W. Scott. Chap.; A. D. Morrison, S.S.; 
Edward Druramond, J.S.; J. B. Spafibrd, Tyler. For eighteen years 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 589 

A. R. Whitney lias been treasurer of the lodge, and P. Runyan has 
been secretary for twelve years. In the winter of 1867-8 the lodge 
met in the new hall over Rooney's store. This hall they purchased 
in the following year for $3,000. Previously meetings were held in 
the Hughes House, where the lodge was organized. Its membership 
is now fifty-five, only two of whom are out of the State of Illinois. 
Since the last return to the Grand Lodge, August 1880, the Franklin 
Grove Lodge has sustained the loss of three members. Dr. G. W. Hew- 
itt, Thomas L. Wood, and L. C. Fish. 

Nathan Whitney Chapter, No. 129, Royal Arch Masons, was char- 
tered October 9, 1868. Charter members were P. C. Rooney, Nathan 
Whitney (in honor of whom the chapter was named), A. R. Whitney, 
A. B. Fitch, Geo. W. Hewitt, Reuel Thorpe, William Forbes, J. M. 
Forbes, M. Flint, Samuel Dysart, H. H. Glenn, W. H. Emerson, J. L. 
Strock. The first officers were P. C. Rooney, H.P.; A. B. Fitch, E. 
K.; Nathan Whitney, E.S.; W. H. Emerson, C.H.; Wra. Forbes, P.S.; 
Reuel Thorpe, R.A.C.; A. R. Whitney, Treas.; H. H. Glenn, Sec; 
Geo. W. Hewitt, M.3d V.; J. M. Forbes, M.2dV.; Samuel Dysart, M. 
1st v., and M. Flint, Tyler. The present oflicers are P. C. Rooney, 
H.P.; H. A. Black, E.K.; James Crombie, E.S.; H. Bly, C.H.; Samuel 
Dysart, P.S.; E. E. Faunce, R.A.C ; A. R. Whitney, Treas.; P. Run- 
yan, Sec; J. R. Whitney, M.3dV.; Wm. F. Clark, M.2dV.; Wm. 
Stewart, M.lstV.; T. W. Scott, Chap. (G. W. Hewitt, deceased); Will- 
iam Flint, Steward, and J. B. Spaftbrd, Tyler. The present member- 
ship is fortj'-five. A. R. Whitney has been treasurer since the organ- 
ization of the chapter. For eleven years Philip Runyan has acted in 
the eapacit}" of secretary. 

Lady Franklin Chapter, No. 22, O.E.S., was organized June 13, 
1872. The first officers were P. C. Rooney, Worthy Patron ; Mrs. C. 
K. Black, Worthy Matron ; Mrs. M. J. Whitney, A.M.; Mrs. O. K. 
Griswold, Treas.; Mrs. C. A. Black, Sec; Miss A. M. Runyan, Cond.; 
Mrs. S. E. Spickler, A.C.; Mr. G. D. Black, Warder ; Mrs. Julia Han- 
sen, Adah ; Mrs. Lydia Faunce, Ruth ; Mrs. Madeline Dysart, Esther; 
Mrs. Mary Durkes, Martha; Miss Mollie Forbes, Electa; Mr. N. C. 
Roe, Sentinel. The present officers are Mr. Samuel Dysart, W.P.; 
Mrs. Jennie Dysart, W.M.; Mrs. M. J. Whitney, A.M. (pro tem); 
Mrs. R. M. Blaisdell, Treas.; Miss A. M. Runyan, Sec; Mrs. S. E. 
Spickler, Cond.; Mrs. Belle Thompson, A.C.; Mr. J. Forbes, Warden ; 
Miss E. H. Runyan, Adah ; Mrs. M. J. Forbes, Ruth ; Miss L. J. Run- 
yan, Esther; Miss C. E. Fitch, Martha; Mrs. Mary Durkes, Electa; 
Mr. J. B. Spaflord, Sentinel. The membership numbers sixty-si.x. 

Lodge No. 409, I.O.O.F., Franklin Grove, was organized October 
11, 1870. The charter was issued to S. W. Reigle, George Fishback, 



590 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

George Engel, "W. H. Bassler, and Nelson Strong. At the first meet- 
ing fourteen were admitted by card and initiation. In 1871 tiie lodge 
had forty-live active members. In 1880 eighteen names were reported 
to the Grand Lodge. The present ofiicers are John Blocher, N.G.; 
Solomon Sunday, V.G.; Kincaid Runvan, Treas.; S. W. Reigle, Sec.; 
Geo. Engel, P.G.; S. W. Reigle, D.D.G.M. 

March, 1874, the Daughters of Rebecca, Astoria Lodge, No. 67, re- 
ceived their charter, and S. W. Reigle instituted the lodge. 

Warren Encampment, No. 122, was organized at Franklin Grove in 
1870. In February, 1880, it was removed to Aniboy. 

RELIGIOUS. 

At quite an early date religious meetings were held by the Method- 
ists, Germanj Baptists, and the T'niversalists, of the Franklin Grove 
settlement. Log cabins and log school-houses served for temples 
of worship. Even the saw-mill on the creek was sometimes brought 
into requisition ; and when in a busy time it was considered necessar}' 
to run it Sundays, the water would be shut off only long enough for 
the assembled worshipers to go through with their praises and devo- 
tions. The writer did not learn the denomination, if denominational 
they were, by which these " saw-mill " meetings were conducted. We 
doubt not, however, that they were of the genuine stamp. The first 
class of the Methodist church was formed by Father McKane, the Rock 
river missionary, probably before 1840, and C3'rus Minor was leader. 
The class met at his house and at Morgan's, and perhaps elsewhere. 
"In 1853 and 1854 R. R. Bibbins, of Light House Point (Ogle county) 
circuit, preached here once in four weeks Sabbath evening. In the fall 
of 1854 Brother Henry Martin, then stationed at Light House Point, 
came here and made an effort to raise the scattered membership; he 
reorganized the class with James Welsh leader." The class then met 
in the log school-house at the head of the grove. Brother Welsh 
Sister Rogers and Joseph Williams were often the only members 
present; occasionall}- old Sister Morgan would attend class. In 1854 
Docter Roe and his wife were members of this class. In the fall of 
1855 M. Decker was sent to Lee Center, and Franklin Grove became a 
part of his charge. This year the first quarterly meeting was held in 
the new school-house, Luke Hitchcock, the presiding elder, being 
present. A. D. Field, H. Richardson and Brother Penfield followed 
M. Decker as pastors of the society. In the fall of 1860 W. T. Harlow, 
principal of the Rock River Seminary at Mt. Morris, came twenty 
miles to fill his appointments here. "Garrison's" and Grand Detour 
were then the other points on the circuit. In the fall of 1861 Rev. 
Brookius came and remained two years. In 1802 the Universalist 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 591 

church was used for worsliip. During this year many were added to 
the church ; three classes were formed. In 1863, during the pastorate 
of C. W. Wright, the church building was begun on the corner of 
what are now known as State and Middle streets, in the western part 
of the village, very near where the Tolmans settled. In the same 
year a board of trustees was chosen, among whom were James H. 
Welsh, A. R. Whitney, and Joseph Williams. In the fall of 1866 H. 
J. Husted organized the Sabbath-school, with twenty-five scholars. 
The same year twenty were added to the church. The school now lias 
an enrollment of seventy-eight, E. A. Wood, superintendent. The 
pastors not mentioned have been C. Webster, " Brother Penfield," L. 
M. Anderson, H. T. Giles, John Williamson, A. P. Hatch, S. T. Snow, 
James Bush, A. J. Scott, J. Wardle, J. C. Cooper, and A. H. Schoon- 
maker. The present othciary of the church are : trustees, George H. 
Taylor, A. S. Jacobs, E. A. Wood, George Newcomer, John D. Sitts, 
and M. L. Gaver ; stewards, George Newcomer, John Welsh, H. L. 
Gaver, H. Street, E. A. Wood, Mrs. Durkes, and Mrs. Forbes ; pastor, 
A. H. Schoonmaker. The church is clear of debt and has a member- 
ship of about fifty. 

On July 12, 1881, the Dixon District Camp-meeting Association 
was organized at Franklin Grove. The officers of the association are : 
president. Rev. L. Hitchcock, D.D. ; vice-president, Hon. Isaac Rice; 
secretary. Rev. I. E. Springer ; treasurer, Rev. A. H. Schoonmaker ; 
executive committee, Rev. A. H. Schoonmaker, Rev. F. P. Cleveland, 
Rev. R. M. Smith, Rev. G. ^Y. Carr, Hon. F. G. Petrie, R. B. Sproul, 
and James Brow.n. Ten acres of ground just outside of the village 
corporation, west of the Methodist Episcopal church, was bought 
from I. Zug for $1,000. This is being fitted up, and is to be used for 
a permanent camp-meeting ground. The first meeting opened August 
31, 1881. 

The Revs. W. W. Harsha and E. Erskine, and Elder Charles Cros- 
by, were a committee appointed by the Rock River (O. S.) presbytery 
for the organization of a Presbyterian church at Franklin Grove. Ac- 
cordingly' the committee met in the public school room January 1, 
1861. The following persons presented themselves, and were duly 
organized under the name of the Franklin Grove Presbyterian church : 
Tiiomas Scott and his wife, Elizabeth; George H. Brewer and Mrs. 
Abbie D. Brewer, James Leidy, Mary A. Girton, Mrs. A. Twiss, Mrs. 
C. D. and Mrs. S. Loomis, Jeremiah Ketchura and Mrs. Phoebe Ketch- 
urn ; George W. Brayton and Lucy A. Brayton by letter ; and on pro- 
fession of faith, Mr. P. Y. Van Vrankin, Richard Pollock, Miss Mary 
A. Pollock, Mr. J. Gilbert and Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert, Silas P. Tol- 
man and his wife, Clarinda. Mr. C. D. Loomis and Jeremiah Ketchum 



592 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

were elected elders. C. D. Loomis was the first clerk. G. W. Braj'- 
ton, G. W. Hewitt, G. W. Pitcher, G. H. Brewer and Jeremiah 
Ketchiim were the first board of trustees. At a meeting February 9, 
1861, George H. Brewer was elected secretary of the church and board 
of trustees. There had been occasional preaching a short time before 
the organization was effected. W. W. Harsha was the first pastor. 
During January of 1861 Mrs. Van Vrankin, Mrs. Jane Hussey, James 
Butler and Mrs. Sarah Butler were admitted; in June, 1862, James 
M. Dysart, Martha A. Yan Vrankin, Gertrude M. Van Vrankin, Alice 
M. and Lucy A. Bray ton. September 19, 1863, G. W. Bray ton, 
Thomas Scott and J. Gilbert were ordained and installed as ruling 
elders by W. L. Lyons, the second pastor. At the same date Dr. G. 
W. Hewitt, his wife, Carrie D., and Mrs. Sophia Brown were received 
on examination ; and Mrs. E. M. Lyons by letter. The Rev. Lyons 
has been succeeded in the pastorate by W. Hare, A. F. Morrison, 
Spencer Baker, S. N. Vail, W. C. Cort, F. C. Cochrane, and H. S. Jor- 
dan. A Sunday-school was organized in 1857, with T. W. Scott as 
superintendent, in which capacity Mr. Scott has acted ever since with 
sligiit intermissions. This was a vmion school, and it now numbers 
about 100 members. The present membership of the church it sixteen. 
Li 1865 this society conjointly with the Liitiierans (German) built a 
church, which they have since used in common. 

The German Lutheran church was organized under the preaching 
of Rev. William Uiil, and meetings were held in Lincoln's Hall, tiie 
Universalist cliurcii, and the school-iiouse, previous to the building of 
the church, about one year. George Engel, George Fishback, George 
Kreitzer and Joiin Genk constituted the first board of trustees. Tlie 
pastors have been William Angelberger, who organized the Sabbath- 
school, Charles Young, C. A. Reuter, H. Stauff'enberg, and Rev. StoUe. 
Tiie present trustees are Joseph Goether, Ernst Dietrick, Z. Wendel, 
and Henry Gonnerman. For several \-ears tlie church has been weak, 
there having been a dissension which lias divided its members. 

The German Baptist church, familiarly styled the Brethren or 
Dunkards, has great financial and numerical strength. The first 
families of this faith to settle liere were the Lahmans and the Emmerts, 
who came in 1843. The following year the Riddiesbargers came, and 
about this time meetings were held in their respective dwellings and 
subsequently in the log school-house. Father Enunert was tlie fir.^t 
preacher. Christian Lahman was also a minister in this church. The 
first house of worship was built on tiie Dixon road in the present town 
of Nachusa. This was a small grout house, about 20x30 feet, on the 
south side of the IS'.E. ^ Sec. 5, T. 21. It has since been twice re- 
modeled, until its dimensions are 35x60 feet. About fifteen years ago 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 593 

a'churcli was built at Ashton. In the fall of 1879 the central church 
was built at Franklin Grove, a little northwest of the village. This is 
a large building. In these three edifices services are alternated. This is 
styled the Rock Kiver church. Its present membership is about 175. 
Seven or eight j'ears ago it was 300, but man}' have left, thus reducing 
the number. The church has no officiating pastor ; but they, so to 
speak, do their own preaching ; that is, there are two resident ordained 
elders or bishops, and others of inferior orders, there being three orders 
of ordination in the church. These bishops and elders sliare the labor 
of preaching the gospel. The most apparent characteristics of this 
people are the simplicity of their dress and worship, and in business 
their industry and thrift, with a lack of what is commonly called enter- 
prise or public spirit. 

The Universalist church of Franklin Grove was organized by 
Thomas J. Carney, who wrote the constitution, by-laws, etc. In 1856 
a church was built on the corner of Elm and Bradford streets. While 
it was building meetings were held in the house of Jonas Clisbe, now 
Dr. IT. C. Roe's dwelling. The Hausens, Uncle John Fish, "old man 
Clisbe," who had the contract to build the church, John C. Black and 
Isaac Twombly were early members of the organization. But many 
years prior to this organized society there was preaching at Haiasen's, 
Whipple's, Cooper's, and at other private houses. T. J. Bartholomew 
was the first preacher. J. O. Barrett and C. F. Dodge preached each 
two years. The Rev. Chase and the Rev. Cook were pastors. Cook 
being the last. For several years there have been no regular services, 
and the society, once quite flourishing, seems now to be nearly 
broken up. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first and only school-house in Franklin Grove was built in 
part in 1856, on the corner of Elm and Bradford streets. It was then 
30x10 feet. In 1867 thirty feet in length was added, making it 30x70 
feet. The first principal was T. W. Scott, ably assisted by his wife. 
The school was soon graded into four departments, one primary, two 
intermediate, and one high school. Mr. Scott was connected Avith the 
school in all seventeen years. The other principals were Moler, 
Wood, Whetstone, Newton, and Webb. Of the teachers who deserve 
mention by reason of their long or efficient service, or both, are Miss 
Hattie Walters, Miss Young, Julia M. Brackett, Virginia Brown, 
Sophia Town, Mrs. Tyler, Maggie Bailey, Miss Ramsdell, Bricj' 
Gaver, and Mrs. Xewton. E. W. Newton, S. A. Griswold and A. 
Plessinger are the present trustees, and Prof. Thorp is the principal. 



594 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



In 1863 the Franklin Grove Cemetery Association was formed, and 
Isaac Tvvombly was made president. The long-neglected ground was 
enlarged and fenced. It is said that Mrs. Holly was tlie first one 
buried in this cemetery; this was in 1839. It is situated west of the 
northern part of the corporation of Franklin Grove, joining it. In 
1872 a sidewalk was constructed from the Methodist Episcopal church 
to the cemetery ground. 

In June, 1874, James McCosh organized the Silver Cornet Band of 
Franklin Grove, with twelve pieces. In October they were made a 
corporate body, and as such proceeded to the erection of a band hall, 
which after a year or two passed out of their hands. For about two 
years it has been used by E. W. Xewton for a plow manufactory. 

The Cheese Factory Association of Franklin Grove was organized 
in February 1881, A. H. Schoonmaker, president; N". Hansen, vice- 
president; H. Black, secretary and treasurer; A. R. Whitney, C. L. 
Anthony and Charles Wertman, directors. A committee was appointed 
to draft constitution and by-laws. February 12, 1881, an agreement 
was entered into between the Association and C. L. Anthony, of White- 
sides county, by which he agreed to manufacture full cream cheese from 
the milk of not less than 100 cows at two and a half cents per pound. 
Manufacture of cheese was begun May 4, 1881, in the village of Frank- 
lin Grove. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Nathan Whitnet, Franklin Grove. Col. Nathan Whitney, or 
more appropriately Father Whitney, was born in Conway, Massachu- 
setts, January 22, 1791. His grandfather, Capt. Jonathan Whitne\-, 
was one of the selectmen who organized the town of Conway, about 
110 vcars ago. He bore arms in defense of the colonies all throug:h 
the revolutionary war. He emigrated to the Indian Orchard, called 
" Seneca Castle," near the city of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, 
about ninety years ago. Capt. Jonathan was followed two years later 
by his eldest son, Nathan, who settled near him, when our subject was 
two years of age. The elder Nathan Whitney had live sons, Luther, 
Otis, Nathan, Jonathan, Cheney, and one daughter. A few years ago 
these five brothers were all living, their united ages being four hun- 
dred years. Three still survive. The eldest died in 1880 of cancer in 
the eye, aged ninety-eight years. The younger, Nathan, like his father, 
seems to have been born a pioneer. He opened a farm near Allison, New 
York, and another in the town of Elba. He first visited Lee county 
in 1835, again in 1836 and 1837, his family following in 1838. He 
was one of the commissioners to organize the county of Lee, Illinois, 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 595 

and he has since twice held the office of county commissioner in said 
county. His nurseiy was the first north of the Illinois river. From 
De Witt Clinton, of New York, he has three militia commissions, 
those of captain, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. He was in the engage- 
ment at Fort Erie in the war of 1812. Mr. Whitney is the oldest Mason in 
Lee county, if not in the northwest. During the Morgan excitement 
he was " among the faithless faithful found." He married Sarah Graef 
when twenty years of ago. He has had a family of ten children, three 
of whom died young. Of the others only one, the youngest, was a 
son, with wliom Mr. Whitney is now living, about a mile south of the 
village of Franklin Grove, on the farm claimed by the colonel forty- 
five years ago. 

A. R. Whitney, nurseryman, Franklin Grove, was born February 
22, 1821, in Orleans count}', New York. He is the youngest child 
and the only son of Col. Nathan Whitney. Mr. Whitney was but 
fourteen years old when the family emigrated to China from the State 
of Ohio, in which they had lived a few years prior to this movement. 
August 14, 1851, he was married to Mary J. Oakle}'. Their issue are 
four children : Jesse, Carrie (wife of A. W. Crawford, South Dixon), 
Nathan, and May. The sons are married and associated with their 
father in his extensive business, the culture and shipping of fruit, and 
the manufacture and sale of cider. The mother of A. R. Whitney died 
in April 1865. 

William Dtsaet, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in Henderson 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1828, son of James and Elizabeth Dysart. 
His father's parents and his mother's mother came from Ireland, and 
his mother's father from Germany. They were of strong constitutions 
and lived to a ripe old age. His mother was born in 1799, and died 
in 1875. His father died March 1873, aged eighty-five years. Ten 
children were born to tliese parents, eight boys and two girls, all of 
whom grew to maturity. They were all reared on a farm, and 
received a common schooling. Joseph Dysart, the grandfather of 
our subject, and a brother, Alexander, were the only members of 
a family of five or more sons who came from the north of Ireland to 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Henderson county. 
Alexander traded much with the Indians, and became very wealthy. 
From 1807 till 1812, inclusive, he was a member of the general as- 
sembly of Pennsylvania, from Henderson county, and again in 1815. 
In 1846 James Dysart came to Lee county, and between that and 1849 
bought land enough to give each of his children one half-section. In 
1850 William Dysart came to Dixon, Illinois, and the same year broke 
twenty acres of his farm in Sec. 13, T. 21, China. In 1853 he built a 
house where he now lives. In February, 1858, he celebrated his mar- 



596 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

riage with Mary Grazier, of liis native county. Their issue are two 
daughters, aged thirteen and eleven. Mr. Dysart owns the N.W. ^ 
Sec. 13, and the E. i of S. W. J same, 120 acres of timber in Ogle county, 
240 acres in Cerro Gordo and Bremer counties, Iowa. In 1869 Mr. 
Dysart built his barn, at a cost of $4,500. He is a republican in poli- 
tics, having formerly been a whig. His father was a whig until he 
became an abolitionist. Of the many genial men we have met in this 
vicinity Mr. Dysart is rather more than an average. 

Samcel Dysakt, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in Huntingdon 
county, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1834, son of William and Eliza 
Dysart, from whom he inherited a strong constitution. He was reared 
on his father's farm, and received a common schooling. In 1855 he 
came to China township and went to work on a half section of prairie 
previously purchased by his father. This is the E. i Sec. 14, T. 21, to 
which he has since added an eighty in Sec. 13, making a farm of 400 
acres. On February 24, 1858, Mr. Dysart was married to Margaret J. 
Henderson, born September 11, 1834, a farmer's daughter, and the 
playmate of his youth. Ten children have been born of this marriage : 
Harry W., December 26, 1858; Lilly V., June 7, 1860; Lola W., Jan- 
uary 10, 1863 (Lola died October 11, 1865, and Lilly, March 15, 1872) ; 
U. Grant, September 14, 1865; Drusilla D., December 1, 1866; 
Horace IL, September 18, 1868; Jesse R., July 12, 1871; Birdie B., 
April 4, 1873; May J., August 23, 1875. Mr. Dysart began farming 
with the intention of raising improved stock as soon as he should get 
his farm sutRciently improved. Accordingly in 1867 he began with 
four thorough-bred short-horns, and now has one of the linest herds in 
the state. He has heretofore given attention to the breeding of Berk- 
shire swine, having shipped them as far as the Rocky mountains. Mr. 
Dysart was one of the tirst members of the Lee County Agricultural 
Association. He has been several years a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture. In consequence of his prominence as a stock breeder 
he was appointed live-stock commissioner to the Paris exhibition of 
1878, and received his commission from President Hayes in February. 
He sailed in May, and besides spending three months in Paris, traveled 
several weeks in dift'erent parts of Europe. Mr. Dysart's residence, 
built in 1877 at a cost of between §6,000 and $7,000, is elegantly fur- 
nished. His grounds are beautifully decorated with choice flowers, in 
the care of which he is much engaged. His large stock barn is in 
keeping with his other buildings. The farm is known as the " Pines 
Stock Farm," having taken the name of the " Pines place " from the 
lai'ge pine trees planted near the house. In politics Mr. Dysart is a 
republican. 

B. F. Dtsart, lumber dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Hen- 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 597 

dersoii county, Penns^'lvania, 18^1 ; son of James and Elizabeth Dy- 
sart. In 1856 he came with his father to Lee county. He attended 
school at Lee Center and Dixon. In the fall of 1860 he began im- 
proving his farm, the N.E. J Sec. 23, T. 21, China, and built a house on 
it. August 7, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 34:th 111. Inf., and was mustered 
at Camp Butler, September 2. November 4, 186i, his resignation was 
accepted and he was discharged. The same year he was married to 
Miss A. C. A. Harrison, of Canton, Stark county, Ohio, by whom he 
has one son, Edgar H., born January 1866. After his discharge from 
the army Mr. Dysart was one year United States revenue assessor in 
East Ohio and West Virginia. He was one year engaged in business 
in Canton, Ohio; thence to Franklin Grove, where he lived one year. 
In the meantime he was improving his farm, before mentioned, on to 
which he moved in the spring of 1868. Here he lived till 1876, when 
he sold out and moved into the village of Franklin Grove, and en- 
gaged in the lumber business with C. D. Hussey. In 1866 Mr. Dysart 
sold his farm of 160 acres in Nachusa township. He is a republican. 

Amos Hussey, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in York covmty, 
Pennsylvania, August 1806. His father, Amos Hussey, and his moth- 
er, Abagail Edraondson, were both born in Pennsylvania. His father 
was of Welsh ancestry, and followed the occupation of farmer ; he had 
a family of twelve children, five of whom lived to maturitj'. He died 
when our subject was fourteen years of age. The mother of the latter 
was of English descent, and died nearly fifty years ago. Amos 
Hussey, jr., learned the liusiness of weaving, spinning, and dressing 
cloth, and followed the same for a few years. About 1834 he married 
Jane F. Holly, whose birth was the first in Fredonia, New York, Jan- 
uary 1, 1817. • In 1838 Mr. Hussey came with his wife and two 
children overland to Franklin Grove ; lived the first winter on the 
south side of the Grove, and the next year came to his present loca- 
tion, a little northwest of the village of Franklin Grove, in Sec. 35. 
His wife died May 1876. He and an elder sister residing in Ohio are 
the only survivors of his father's family. His family consist of three 
living: Mary D. (Mrs. Josiah Little, Amboy, HI.); Jerome (married 
and living in Amboy), and Columbns. The second, third and fourth 
of his family died young: Jesse, aged three years; William H. Har- 
rison, eight years, and Medrick D., between one and two years of age. 
Mr. Hussey now owns a farm of 115 acres, having sold some of his 
land. In politics he is a republican. 

George H. Taylor, grain dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in 
Cheshire county, New Hampshire, 1823. His father, John Taylor, 
was of Scotch ancestry. His mother was Catherine Livermore. The 
Liverraores were early Puritan settlers in New England, and came 



598 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

from Holland. John Taylor was a tanner by trade; he had a family 
of eight children, only one of whom was a son. In 1838 he came to 
Ogle county, Illinois, and settled at Daysville, and snbsequentlv 
claimed half a section of land. Here he lived till 1840, when he re- 
moved to St. Charles, Illinois, where he died in 1854 or 1855. His 
wife died in 1871, aged eighty-si.\. In the fall of 1846 George H. Tay- 
lor married Emily C Wood. Their children are : Alice (Mrs. William 
B. Loyd, St. Charles, Illinois), Ella (Mrs. William Hemme, Califor- 
nia), Flora (Mrs. D. R. Timothy, China, Lee county, Illinois), Clara 
(Mrs. David T. Jones, Washington, District of Columbia), Frank and 
Lucius. In 1857 Mr. Taylor came to Franklin Grove and engaged in 
the grain business, which he has since followed. In 1870 he built his 
elevator at a cost of 85,000, with a storage capacity of 20,000 bushels. 
Mr. Taylor is a republican in j)olitics, having been an abolitionist. His 
wife is a member of the Methodist ciiui'ch. 

U. C. Roe, doctor, Franklin Grove, was born in Eddyville, Lyon 
county, Kentucky. His father, John Roe, was born in Philadelphia, 
August 19, 1800, of English and German blood, and possessed a splen- 
did physical organization. When he was twenty-one years old he 
located in Lyon county, Kentucky, on the Cumberland river, and was 
here married to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Col. Nathan Lyon, a 
native of Ireland. In 1827 John Roe moved with his family to Spring- 
field, Illinois, and began the study of medicine. In an early day he 
settled at Light-house Point, Ogle county, having previously made a 
claim on the Illinois river, in Putnam county, but on going to Galena 
to enter it found that a speculator had got ahead of him. In the fall 
of 1837 the subject of this sketch made his first trip to Chicago. In 
the winter of 1837-8 he went to a school kept in his father's log house, 
and in the winter of 1838-9 in tlie new seliool-hou.-;e, to Charles P. Far- 
well, now of Chicago. He worked on a farm summers till 1844, at- 
tending the Mount Morris Academy winters. In 1845 he entered the 
Ohio Botanico-Medical College, and attended one term of lectures. 
After sixteen years' practice of medicine he received a diploma fi-om 
this institution, rpon his father's removal to Chicago, about 1845, 
our subject entered into a large and lucrative practice. In 1846 he 
married Almeda Brown. Their issue are : Nathaniel C. (married), 
Ella (Mrs. T. J. Giddings, Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Lucy (Mrs. A. R. 
Hamlin, Wisconsin) ; Frederick U. and Carrie, Emma and Belle, aged 
fifteen years, and John, aged two years, are dead. In the spring of 
1854 Mr. Roe came to Franklin Grove and lived here till 1860, and 
returned again in 1870. In 1860 he began the manufacture and sale 
of medicine, in which business with his sons he is now engaged. He 
has a large number of teams and wagons out through the country in 





t,^ 



'''wild If ^ 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 601 

the sale of his medicines. The doctor also treats chronic diseases, and 
lectures on phrenology and, the laws of health. Pie is an ordained 
deacon in the Methodist Episcopal church, and a greenbacker in 
politics. 

Conrad Durkes, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in the Pal- 
atine in 1829. His parents were Philip and Appolonia (Stelzer) 
Durkes. His father was tiiree years a soldier, and under Napoleon 
was taken prisoner on the march to Moscow. Conrad was the youngest 
of a large family, only two of whom are living. In 1842 he came to 
New Orleans with his father, who was a mechanic; thence after six 
months they v/ont to St. Louis, and in 1845 to Chicago, where his 
father died in 1858, and his mother in 1866. Here his widowed sister 
is living. Conrad Durkes remained in this city till 1852, when he 
went to Oregon, Ogle county, where he sold goods till 1855. He 
then came to Franklin Grove and began in the dry-goods business, 
which he has since followed here with one interruption of three years. 
By close attention to business Mr. Durkes has amassed a good property. 
In 1858 he married Mary Jones. They have four children living: 
Augustus P., Ida E., Warren C. and Stelzer A. ; Mary Kate died in 
1870, aged four years. His family belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Mr. Durkes is a Mason and independent in politics. He 
received an average schooling in the German public schools, but has 
since obtained in actual business that which is far more efficient, and 
which has made him a man of excellent business qualifications. 

Ezra A. Wood, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in Augusta, 
Canada, in 1833. His mother was Mary (Earle) Wood. His father, 
Anthony Wood, was born in Schoharie county. New York. In 1838 
Anthony Wood left Canada, after a short residence there, and came to 
Ogle county, Illinois. He settled near Oregon and purchased a claim 
to 160 acres in Nachnsa township and improved it. He died on his 
way overland to the Pacific coast in 1850. He was twice married and 
had eleven children, two by his first wife. Ezra Wood was attending 
school at Mount Morris when his father died, but did not go to school 
after this event. In 1860 he went overland to Colorado, and there 
enlisted, October 1861, in the 1st Col. Inf. The regiment saw some 
fighting in New Mexico, and skirmished there and along the Rio 
Grande with the "rebs." and Indians. In June, 1862, this regiment 
was encamped at Val Verda on a sandy blufi'. There Mr. Wo jd, with 
many others, was taken sick with mountain fever, and did not recover 
till fall, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. He 
came to Franklin Grove in the fall of 1864, having traveled over much 
of the western country. In June, 1865, he married Charlotte Herring- 
ton. Mr. Wood is a republican and a member of the Methodist church. 
36 



602 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Henky a. Black, stationer and jeweler, Franklin Grove, was born 
in Waldo county, Maine, in 1842; son of John C. and Clolie (Wilber) 
Black, both of ]\[aiiie. His father was a hotel-keeper; his faniilv con- 
sisted of seven children, six of whom are living. The family came to 
Franklin Grove in the fall of 1855, and John Black went into the 
drug business with A. L. Meritt. Mr. Black was made ]iostmaster 
soon after, which office he held till 18G1, after which he did but little 
business. He died in 1864 with consumption, having suffered many 
years from the effects of asthma. Henry Black, the subject of this 
article, attended school two years at Lombard University, Kno.x county, 
intending to complete a course there, but the civil war interfered with 
this plan, and in December of 1863 he enlisted in the 75t]i 111. Inf., 
Co. G, Capt. Irwin. By an order from the war department he was 
detailed clerk in the quartermaster's office at Camp Butler, in which 
capacity he acted about two months. After this he was in the adju- 
tant-general's office at the same point, most of the time as chief clerk, 
till he was mustered out, August 1865. In the following November 
he married Clara A. Timothy, daughter of Otis Timothy. Their chil- 
dren are Nellie, born June 22, 1808; Lindsey, June 26, 1870; Edith 
M., May 2, 1875. His graiulfather on his father's side was of Scotch 
descent, and his paternal grandmother was born in Ireland, and came 
to Maine when she was si.v years of age. His mother's people were 
Scotch. His grandfather Black was militiaman in the war of 1812, 
and participated in the defense of shipping on Penobscot Ba}'. For 
this service he received a land warrant. In politics Mr. Black is a 
republican. 

T. W. Scorr, teacher, Franklin Grove, was born in Huntingdon 
county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1832. He is the youngest child of 
James and Elizabeth (Jordon) Scott, both born in Pennsylvania. Of 
their family of five four are living. Mr. Scott's grandparents all came 
from Scotland. His father was a mechanic. Our subject received his 
education chiefly at Central Academy, Juniata county. In Februarj-, 
1856, he married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of James Dysart. He 
came west to Nachnsa in March 1856. After remaining there a few 
weeks he came to Franklin Grove, which has since been his home. 
At this time he began opening the farm on which Samuel Riddlesbarger 
lives. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Scott organized the school in the new 
school-house at Franklin Grove. He was connected with this school 
till lb78 and taught in all eighteen years, all but one of which he was 
at its head. So long was he connected with the school that during the 
latter part of his service he could look over his pupils and see a dozen 
or more of them sitting in seats formerly occupied by their parents, who 
had also been his pupils. Among other things shown us as testimonials 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 603 

of regard from his pupils was a large bible, presented to him at an 
exhibition at the close of examinations for the first year. Mrs. Scott 
died May 11, 1862, leaving three children : Fi-ank G., born September 
1, 1858; Lois M., March 2, 1860, and Lizzie D., April 18, 1862 
(deceased July 28, 1862). She was born in Huntingdon county, 
December 14, 1837. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, 
to which Mr. Scott also belongs. In 1868 Mr. Scott bought a lot and 
built his house in the village of Franklin Grove. He sold his farm in 
1874, upon which he had lived four years previous to the death of his 
wife. 

W. C. Robinson, merchant,- Franklin Grove, was born in central 
New York December 26, 1817. His parents were Nathan and Mary 
(Minor) Robinson. He was reared about a mile and a half from the 
Pennsylvania state line in Chautauqua county, NewYork, into which his 
father moved at an early day and cleared up a farm. It is here that 
our subject has his first recollections. His father's ancestors were Scotch ; 
his mother's English. His father raised eleven children, seven of whom 
are living. In the fall of 1841 W. C. Robinson left home with a brother 
and went to Louisiana. Here they chopped wood during the follow- 
ing winter. In the spring he came to Ogle county, his brother return- 
ing home via New Orleans. In the winter of 1842-3 Mr. Rob- 
inson again went down the Mississippi. Returning in the spring 
of 1843, he bought a claim to his farm in Sec. 10, T. 21, China town- 
ship, and built on it. The following year he married Harriet Hansen, 
eldest daughter of Charles Hansen, sr. Their issue are: Sophia (wife 
of Robert McCoy, Iowa), Henry, George, and Anna (Mrs. Frank 
Mentzler). Mrs. Robinson died April 10, 1872. In 1856 Mr. Robin- 
son engaged in the drug business, having rented his farm. In 1874 
be went into partnership with his son George W., who was married 
in 1874, to Mary E. Spiller, by whom he has one daughter. Mr. 
Robinson is a republican, but voted the democratic ticket till Fre- 
mont's candidacy. 

David R. Minor, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in the State of 
New York, in 1827. His father, Cyrus R. Minor, was born in Massa- 
chusetts, in 1782, of English ancestry. In 1836 David Minor came 
with his parents and their family to Lee county, where they settled. 
The family consisted of Lockwood, Albert, Sarah, Daniel, and David. 
Lockwood died in Missouri, September 1870. Daniel died in Califor- 
nia in 1852, aged twenty-five years. Cyrus Minor died in 1846. In 
1854 David Minor married Cina Whitinore. Their children are Daniel, 
Iva, Rose, David H. and Cyrus E. Mr. Minor is living on his farm 
in Sec. 12, T. 21, China. This is land he claimed in an early day, and 
worked several years before he was married. He belongs to the Evan- 



604 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

gelical church. Is a republican in politics. His father was a wliig. 
The latter was thrice married. The mother of David Minor died in 
1839. 

David F. Lahman, farmer and stock dealer, Franklin Grove, was 
born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1837. He is the son of 
Christian and Elizabeth (Emmert) Lahman. He came west with his 
parents in 1843. He was reared a farmer. In 1863 he married Anna 
Briigh. Lulu is their only child. Mr. Lahman has lived on the home- 
stead since 1858, at which time he came in possession of 205 acres. He 
built his barn in 1867, his house in 1869, which with his other build- 
ings, cost about $7,000. Mr. Lahman now owns 532 acres in Lee 
county, 165 in Ogle, and an interest in a large tract in Story county, 
Iowa. Mr. Lahman is a man of great business activity. For about ten 
years he made stock shipping his business. He does but little of this 
DOW. From his farm he turns each year from 500 to 800 head of stock. 
For several years he has been extensively engaged in poultry dealing, 
handling from $18,000 to $20,000 in one season in this traffic. There 
are but few men who do as much business as Mr. Lahman. He lias 
live brothers and two sisters living, having lost his parents, one 
brother, and one sister. Mrs. Lahman is a member of the German 
Baptist church. 

Israel Zug, butcher, Franklin Grove, was born in Lebanon county^ 
Pennsylvania, in 1827. His parents were John and Margaret (Lane) 
Zug. His fathers ancestors were from Switzerland, and his mother's 
from Holland. His father was born in 1797, and died in 1873; his 
mother was two years older, and died in 1871. Israel Zug followed 
farming, his father's occupation, till he was about seventeen 3'ears old ; 
then he learned the tanner's trade. In 1850 he came to Peru, Illinois; 
lived there one year, and then bought 80 acres of land about eight 
miles north of that city, and farmed it till 1855. In 1856 he came to 
Franklin Grove, and the following year opened a meat market. He 
has followed this line of business ever since, and has established a good 
trade. In 1848 Mr. Zug married Rachel Johnson. Their issue are 
seven: John, Nathan, Alfred, Mary, Frank, Hattie, and Llewellyn. 
John, when about fifteen or si.xteen 3'ears old, left home, went east, and 
enlisted in a New York artillery company. He was in the service 
about one and a half years; subsequently- learned the mason's trade, 
and was married in Memphis, Tennessee, to an Iowa lady. About si.x 
years ago, while working in St. Joseph, Missouri, he wrote to his wife, 
at Virgil City, that he would be home in a few days. He started from 
St. Joseph at the appointed time, but was never afterward seen by his 
family and friends. His fate is a mystery. He is thought, however, 
to be dead. 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 605 

John D. Sitts, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in Oneida 
count)'. New York, in 1831. His parents were George and Harriet 
(Bartlett) Sitts, who were born and reared in the Mohawk valley. 
His mother's ancestors came from Holland, and his father's from 
Germany, at an earlj' date in the history of New York. His father 
was a contractor on the Erie canal. In 1849 he came to Chicago and 
engaged in a commission business, which he followed till his death in 
1863. John Sitts, his son, received a common schooling and learned 
the molder's trade. In 1854 he came to Chicago and in 1857 to 
Franklin Grove. Here he engaged in the lumber business, in the firm 
of Sitts, Thomas & Co. This he followed chiefly for about ten years. 
In 1872 he began in the grocery business, having previously farmed in 
Lee and Ogle counties. In 1863 he married Eva E. Lincoln. Their 
children are Henry B., Gertie G., Bertha C. and Helen E. ^Mr. Sitts 
has been four years a notary. He is a republican. His mother died in 
1844. Of his father's family of nine only four are living, one sister and 
two brothers in Chicago. 

D. B. Senger, editor, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, July 8, 1849; son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bayer) 
Senger. His father was a shoemaker. He had a family of four, of 
whom our subject is the eldest. The family settled at Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa, in 1865. Here the junior Senger worked on the shoemaker's 
bench and attended the common schools till he was twenty-one years 
old. Then he went to Western College, attending there nearly two 
years, the last in 1873, in the meantime teaching to support himself. 
In 1876 he bought from T. W. Scott the Franklin Grove "Eeporter," 
having first come to Lee county in 1873. He was married in 1875, 
to Susan A. Buck. He has two children, a son and daughter. 

JosiAH Hughes, hotel keeper, Franklin Grove, was born February 
15, 1808, in Otsego county, New York ; son of Willian and Sally (Dilly) 
Hughes. His father was a farmer, and of his family of eight sons and 
three daughters Josiah was the eldest. On New Year's day of 1831 he 
was married to Lydia Barry. Ten years later his mother died at 
Waterville, and in 1844 he came with his wife, two children and his 
father to St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois. In this vicinity he bought 
a fiirm, which he worked a short time. He then moved into the village 
of St. Charles and dealt in stoves, etc. On September 1, 1854, he arrived 
in Franklin Grove. The following year he built the Hughes Hotel, a 
three-story stone building, at a total cost of nearly $9,000, having 
bought the premises from C. Lahman for $1,800. Mr. Hughes has had 
five children, only one of whom, the eldest, lives : Oscar (married and 
living in Henderson county, Kentucky), Julia (Mrs. Trumbull, died 



606 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

aged twenty-eight years), and three who died young, the eldest being 
only five years. 

George Fishback, carpenter, Franklin Grove, was born in 
Alsace, then part of France, in 1828. His parents, George and Mar- 
garet Fishback, had four children, of whom lie was the eldest. His 
father died when he was eight years old. He came to New York city 
in February of 1853, and worked three years at his trade; thence he 
came to Lee county, Illinois, and in 1857 he bought property in the 
southwest part of the village of Franklin Grove. Here he has since 
lived and followed his trade. In 1854 he married Rose Schweisberger. 
Their children number five: George, Lena, Margaret, John, and Rose. 
Frank died aged one year. George, Lena and Margaret are married 
and living in Dixon. 

John L. Strock, mechanic, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1841. His parents were Samuel and Esther 
(Lahman) Strock. Their family consisted of three sons and two 
daughters. John Strock lived on his fiither's farm till he was sixteen 
years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1861 he came 
to Mount Carroll, Illinois, and on June 6 of the same year enlisted in 
Co. C, of the 92d 111. Inf They were mustered at Rockford, Illinois, 
September 4, 1861, and were sent to Perryviile, Kentucky. Tiie sub- 
ject of this sketch was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, 
Nashville, Stone River, Chattanooga, with Sherman to the sea, 
and around to Baltimore. He was shot through the right arm 
Nicky-Jack Gap, losing thereby a part of the radius near the wrist. 
He was mustered out July 15, 1865. In 1867 Mr. Strock came to 
Franklin Grove and worked at his trade till 1876, having in the mean- 
time built many of the fine barns that adorn this region of the country. 
He is now in companj' with the Lahman Brothers in the manufacture 
of the Great Western Seeder, having recently rented the large wind- 
mill which he built in 1876, and in which he has a half interest. In 
1869 he mariied Abbie Withey, of Lee county, by whom he has two 
children : Warren, born January 1870, and Irniie, August 1876. Mr. 
Strock belongs to the order of Masons and in politics is a republican. 

John Blochek, Franklin Grove, was born in Gettysburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, February 23, 1833; sou of John and Catherine (Bishop) Bloch- 
er. These parents had a family of five sons and six daughters, six of 
whom are living. John Blocher, the father, was an 1812 militiaman. 
Subsequently he moved from his farm near Buffalo, New York, to 
Gettysburg. The youth of our subject was spent on a farm until he 
was sixteen years of age, subsequently in a woolen factory. In 1852 
he came to Lee Center, and after remaining a year returned east. In 
1856 he married Ann Gear and came back to Franklin Grove. He 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 607 

began in the daguerreotype business, wliicli he followed till 1869, 
when he began the "Reporter." In 1872 Mrs. Blocher died, leaving 
four children to mourn her loss. Tlieir names are William, Flora, 
John H. and Charles. In 1875 Mr. Blocher was married to Elizabeth 
"Wattles. Their issue are two: Claude and Ella. Mr. Blocher is a 
member of the Presbyterian church, as was his first wife, his present 
wife being a Methodist. He is a republican, and belongs to the order 
of Odd-Fellows. 

Louis M. Blaisdell (deceased) was born in Kennebec county, Maine. 
His father was a farmer and ship-builder. Three of his father's family 
grew to maturity, the youngest of whom was Louis. None of the 
family are now living. Our subject left his home when quite young, 
for his health. He was in the south, Chicago, and in 1843 came to 
St. Cliarles, Illinois, and began in the sale of dry-goods. In Decem- 
ber, 1847, he married Rosalind Durant, who came with her mother 
and two brothers from Vermont to St. Charles in 1845. Mr. Blaisdell 
removed with his family to Franklin Grove in 1854. Here he began 
in the lumber business, and subsequently dealt in grain. His house, on 
Spring street, was one of the finest in the "new town" of Franklin. 
Here his family are now living. Mr. Blaisdell was successful in busi- 
ness. At the time of his death (March 1863) he owned a 160 acre 
farm in Bradford township, besides considerable property in the village 
of Franklin Grove. His famil}' are Louis, liorn June 1850 ; Alice, 
March 1857; and Rosalind, November 1861. Mr. Blaisdell was of 
Scotch descent; belonged to the order of Masons, and was a republi- 
can. Mrs. Blaisdell's mother's father was from Rhode Island ; Eng- 
lish descent. Her mother was born in 1798; her father in 1800. 

Oscar G. Smith, grain dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Frost- 
burg, Alleghany county, Maryland, September 17, 1850. His parents 
are Joseph E. and Henrietta (Merrill) Smith. The former came from 
Hesse-Cassel, Germany, when he was sixteen years of age. Of a fam- 
ily of nine only four live, two sons and two daughters. The family 
came west in 1852 and settled in South Dixon, Lee county, where they 
have since lived. In 1874 Oscar Smith married Margaret C. Burket, 
of Lee county. Their issue are Mabel, born July 6, 1875 (deceased 
July 3, 1876), and Walter Lee, January 1878. In 1877 Mr. Smith 
sold his farm of 130 acres, in Nacluisa township, for $7,000, and en- 
gaged in the grain-buying business, at first at Dixon with Captain Dy- 
sart, and since 1878 in Franklin Grove. The same year he bought the 
Williams warehouse property for $1,600, and in 1879 built his new 
warehouse at a further cost of about $1,400. In the spring of 1881 
Mr. Smith entered into partnership with Robert C. Filson, who was 
'born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1847. He is the son of 



608 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Samuel atid Marv E. (Miller) Filsoii, who had a famil}' of four. The 
fatlicr died in August 1803. Robert Filsoii eanie to Lee county in 
1870; was married in 1872, to Xanev J. Shorrar, hy whom he has 
four ciiildrcn : William S., Mary E., Minnie V. aTid Edwin C. 

Joshua Lahman, farmer, was boiii June 1839, in Washington 
county, Maryland, into which his parents moved from Adams count}', 
Pennsylvania, a few years before. lie is the son of Christian and 
Elizabeth (Emmert) Laliman. He was reared a farmer. In 1843 lie 
came with his parents to Franklin Grove. In September, 1861, he en- 
listed in the 3-ith 111. Inf, Co. C. He was in service two years; was 
wounded in the arm and thigh at Murfreesboro, Tennessee; was sent to 
the hospital at Cincinnati, where he remained nearly six months; he 
was mustered out June 13, 1863. For two years after the war Mr. 
Lahman walked on crutches, and thinking that he would never recover 
the use of his limbs he learned harness-making. Three years he ran 
a iiarness shop in Iowa; he was there married to Hannah M. Batschel- 
ett. She was born in Illinois, but went to Iowa when but ten years 
of age. In 1868 onr subject came back to Lee county and began 
farming. He now owns 240 acres in Sees. 11 and 12, T. 21, China. 
In 1879 he built a tine brick house. He lias a family of four children : 
Edgar R., born October 11, 1867; Clifford E., February 8, 1869; 
Elizabeth, July 22, 1875, and Clara F., October 19, 1877. 

JosKPH Lahman, farmer, Franklin Grove, the oldest member of 
one of the most prominent families in this part of Lee county, was 
born January 24, 1833, in Adams county, Pennsylvania. His parents. 
Christian Lahman and Elizabctli Emmert, were both of German an- 
cestry. Two Ltihman brothers settled in Lancaster county, Penns}'!- 
vania, about 1700. In 1843 Ciiristian Lahman and his family settled 
on the north side of Franklin Grove, nearly opposite the Uunkard 
church, on the place now owned by David Lahman, his son. In 1856 
Joseph Lahman married Lorenda Diehl, who died April 28, 1879, 
leaving five sons and three daughters, the fruits of their married life: 
Fremont D., born November 1856; Oliver D., April 1S5S; Floi'ence 
J., May 1860; Roscoe D., July 1862; Frank E., December 1864; 
Ella J., January 1868; Charles E., January 1872; Grace, May 1874; 
In February of 1881 Mr. Lahman was married, in Pennsylvania, to 
Mrs. Susan B. Gitt, of Adams county. Both belonged to the German 
Baptist church, in which Mr. Lahman is an ordained elder. He owns 
about 800 acres of laud in Lee and Ogle counties, besides about 400 
acres in Iowa. He is living a little west of the village of Franklin 
Grove, on the S.E. J Sec. 2, T. 21, where Lockwood Minor first settled. 
Here Mr. Lahman has lived for about fifteen years. Previous to this 
Mr. Lahman ran a mill on the creek for about si.xteen years. 



CHINA TOWNSHIP. 609 

George W. Hewitt, M.D. (deceased), was born in Middlebnrg, 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1830. He was the son 
of G. W. and Margaret (Conkleton) Hewitt, to whom were born four 
sons and three daughters. His medical studies were pursued under 
Dr. Samnel Chew, of Baltimore. At the same time he attended lectures 
at the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1854. On the 
first of May of the same year he settled to practice medicine at Frank- 
lin Grove. Early in his practice he took a high rank in his profession. 
In 1871 he was appointed a delegate from the Illinois State Medical 
Society to tlie American Medical Association. During the late war 
Dr. Hewitt served as surgeon in 34th reii;. 111. Vols. He was on the 
staft of Col. Kirk when he was promoted to brigadier general, with 
whom he served for some time as brigadier surgeon. He was uncom- 
promisingly devoted to his profession ; he was a member of the Amer- 
ican Medical Association, and an honorary member of the California 
Medical Society. In the best sense of the word the doctor was a 
philanthropist, ever anxious to avail himself of every opportunity to 
acknowledge the common brotherhood of humanit}' and fatherhood of 
God. In accordance with his convictions, and as a means to the end 
he had in view, he united with the Masonic fraternity. He was made 
a Master Mason at Lee Center, August 30, 1857; took his chapter de- 
grees at DeKalb, August 11, 1859, and received his commandery degrees 
at S^'camore, May 9,1866. He was a charter member of Franklin Lodge, 
No. 2G4, also of Nathan Whitney Chapter, and at his death was an 
active member of the commandery at Dixon. On September 25, 1856, 
he was married to Miss Caroline Davis Miller, with whom he lived 
until November 19, 1863, when she died, leaving him two sons, aged 
five and three years respectively. During the last illness of his la- 
mented wife she and the doctor were together received into the Pres- 
byterian church on their profession of faith. On September 1, 1879, 
a team which Dr. Hewitt was driving ran away with liim, throwing 
him out against a ci-eek bridge and precipitating him into a creek 
twenty feet below. He received injuries in this fall from which he 
only partially recovered. October, 1880, he received his first stroke 
of paralysis; the second, January' 5, 1881, caused his death on the 12th 
of the same month. Henry M. Hewitt, eldest son of the above, was 
born August 24, 1857, in Franklin Grove, Lee county. He received his 
preparatory education at Normal and Evanston, Illinois; graduated 
from Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois; and after this attended 
medical schools in the city of New York and on the continent of 
Europe. In September, 1879, he returned to his home at Franklin 
Grove, where he is now practicing medicine. His brother, George W. 



610 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Hewitt, born July 31, 1859, is in the Union Law School, of Chicago, 
from wiiicii lie expects to graduate in 1882. 

John Leake, fanner, retired, was born in Leicestershire, England, 
April 17, 1808. His father, William Leake, and mother, Clarissa 
(Chapman), daughter of Daniel Chapman, were also natives of Eng- 
land, and there died. His grandparents on his father's side were Wil- 
liam and Mary Leake, also of English birth and burial. Mr. Leake 
was raised a son of toil in the true sense of that word. Farming has 
occupied his time in chief, 3'et after arriving at manhood he also en- 
gaged in milling. He was married December 2, 1836, to Miss Hannah 
Skermer, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Cooper) Skermer, both of 
English birth. Mrs. Leake is one of those women of industry for 
which old England is so noted. This union has been blessed with six 
children : Clarissa, Mary A., William, Siisanah, John H. and Joseph 
T. Influenced by the flattering reports from America sent them by 
relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Leake also set sail about September 1. 1843, 
on the sailing-vessel Garrick, commanded by Capt. Kiddy. After 
about a month's voyage they reached Chicago, where Mr. Leake con- 
tracted with John B. Tinker to convey self, fomily and baggage at a 
low rate to Dixon's Ferry. Arrived here Mr. and Mrs. Leake imme- 
diately began the work of the pioneer in the southwest corner of what 
is now China township, where they still live. They have become in 
good circumstances and good standing in the comtnunit}'. 

William Graves, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is a son 
of William and Sarah M. (Bostwick) Graves, and was born in the State 
of New York, February 19, 1839. He was reared on a farm, with only 
such school advantages as were afl'orded in his boyhood days. In 1853, 
in company with his mother, one brother and one sister, he came to 
Illinois, and settled for a short time in Newark, Kendall county, Illi- 
nois, but in November, 1854, they came to Lee county, and settled per- 
manently in China township, on Sec. 15, T. 21, K. 10, where our 
subject now owns a flne farm of 200 acres of well improved land. Feb- 
ruary 15, 1870, he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Evans C. and 
Harriett A. (Whitmore) Thomas, of Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illi- 
nois. She was born March 17, 1848. They are the parents of two 
children living, Grace and Louis C. Mr. Graves is now actively en- 
gaged in stock raising as well as farming. He is one of the live men of 
Lee county, and takes an active part in any enterprise that tends to the 
mutual improvement of his own interest or that of the community in 
which he lives. 



VIOLA TOWNSHIP. 611 



YIOLA TOWNSHIP. 



The voters of T. 38 N., E. 1 E., met at the house of Moses Van 
Campen on tlie 2d of April, 1861, and nominated Abratn Van Campen 
clerk pro tern, and Simeon Cole moderator. They being duly elected, 
proceeded to the business of organizing the town of Viola. Polls 
opened and the following first town officers were duly elected. Fifty- 
two ballots were cast, a majority being: for supervisor, Samuel L. 
Butler; assessor, Simeon Cole; town clerk, Samuel Vasbnrgh ; con- 
stable and collector, John Melugin; justice of the peace, Henry 
Marsh; commissioners of highways, William Holdren, Ralph E. Ford, 
and Moses B. Van Campen ; for poor-master, Evins Adrian, and for 
pound-master, John Melugin. The names proposed for tlie town, But- 
ler, Elba, and Eldorado. Previous to this the town was called Stock- 
ton, the name being given on account of the large numbers of stock 
being herded by Robert M. Piele, and others who were also on the 
creeks with large herds of cattle. The first town officers were sworn 
in and their bonds given to the name of Stockton. 

At a meeting of highway commissioners of the towns of Brooklyn, 
and Stockton, held May 11, 1861, for the purpose of dividing road on 
the line between towns tliirty-seven and thirtj'-eight, or very soon 
after, the name of this township was changed to Viola, the names pro- 
posed at the previous meeting having been found to conflict with other 
township names in the state. 

The soil of this township is a rich loam, having a sand and gravel 
subsoil at a depth of from seven to fifteen feet ; the drainage is by wide 
and deep ditches leading toward and through the inlet swamp. The 
surface is, for two miles on the east and the same on the south, rolling ; 
the balance that is tillable is fiat and even in surface. About three- 
quarters of this township is under cultivation ; the remaining quarter 
is known as the inlet swamp. 

The beautiful natural grove situated in the southeast corner of Viola 
township, half a mile west and same distance north of the southeast 
corner, is divided into lots of from 1 to 60 acres. It contains about 320 
acres. In an early day, or when first settled, it was called Guthrie's 
Grove, after William Gutiirie, its first settler, but is now called and is 
marked on most maps as Little Melugin Grove. In early times it was 
sometimes called Lawton's Grove, after William Lawton, who was an 
early settler. The Big Melugin is also a beautiful natural grove, partly 
in Brooklyn township, and one half or more in Viola, there being about 
one section or 640 acres in Viola. This is also divided up into grove 
lots of 3 to more acres. 



612 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Willow creek is the only natural water stream in Viola township. 
There are two other " runs" called dry runs, water being in them only 
at wet seasons of the year. These all empt}' into the inlet swamp. 
The wells of this township are of an exceptionally pure and cool nature 
and reached at a depth of from ten to thirty feet, giving always a plen- 
tiful supply of this needed article. This township was first settled in 
1834 at Guthrie, or as it is now called Little Melugin Grove, by William 
Guthrie. The first buildings were put thereon the extreme south end 
of the grove and built b3' William Guthrie ; the first wagon roads were 
anj'where to the nearest point over the then vast and open prairie, but 
soon after settlement and organization they were laid out on section 
lines, or mostly so by the elected highway commissioners. The north 
and soutli roads ran through the township, the east and west only a 
part of the way through, partly on account of the inlet swamp. 

Among the first white persons and settlers about the groves (as 
these towns were first settled there) was David Town, then Dick Allen, 
then Zacli. Melugin, after whom the groves in Viola and Brooklyn 
were named, then William Guthrie, who also named the small grove. 
After these came John Gilmore, William Lawton, who sold to Walter 
Little. Then they began to come in faster, among those a little later 
being Evins Adrian, who perhaps has made himself more felt than any 
of his predecessors in this township and Lee county. 

There are several large farmers in this township ; but among the 
most noted are Evins Adrian, with his 1300 acre homestead and miles 
of osage hedge fence and herds of fine blooded stock reared by him. 
Mr. Adrian is not a large purchaser of stock except to improve his 
already high grade. He is a stock raiser and seller, doing all business 
on his own premises. Mr. H. B. Cobb is also an extensive stock man 
in this t6wnship. He not only raises large droves, but is also an ex- 
tensive bu3'ei' and shipper of large bunches of hogs as well as cattle. 

About four years ago Mr. Evins Adrian lost one of his large barns 
by fire. It was 42x60 in size, with a fine basement for stock, and had 
just been filled with hay. Li it was also stored a lot of farm tools, 
harness, and some valuable live-stock. It was the work of an incendi- 
ary ; the total loss was about $5,000. He rebuilt, and had the new 
barn ready for occupancy in about thirty days after the burning. 

SCHOOLS. 

There are six school buildings in this township, and anothei con- 
templated this fall. The cost of these was from $400 to $600 each. 
There are seven school districts in Viola, and schools are held from six 
to nine months a year in each. The school fund is $7,496. 



VIOLA TOWNSHIP. 613 



OFFICERS. 



Viola's present town officers are : supervisor, James Adrian ; town 
clerk, RiiFiis Jolinson ; assessor, Calvin Johnson ; collector, Robert 
Hutchinson ; commissioners of highways, Joseph Merrill, three years; 
Alexander Harper, two years ; Abram Bennett, one year ; justices of 
the peace, Alexander Harper and Truman Johnson ; constables, Rufus 
Johnson and William H. Bennett; school trustees, A. J. Ross, three 
years; Truman Johnson, two years; James Taylor, one year; and 
school treasurer, Calvin Johnson. The number of votes polled at tlie 
1881 election was 130. 

Mr. Evins Adrian was the first person married living in Viola, to 
widow Smith, formerly Marrilla Goodale. The next was William Happ, 
who married a Miss Smith, of Smith's Grove. He afterward in a spree 
stabbed liis wife, who died. Truman Johnson's was probably the third 
marriage, to Miss Mary Melugin. 

The first adult person who died in this township was Walter Little, 
grandfather of the present sheriff of Lee county. An infant child 
of William Lawtou's died previously. Mrs. Curtis Lathrop and Mr. 
and Mrs. Andrew Little also died in the early history of Lee county. 
The first birth in this township was a child to William Lawton, which 
died in its infancy. 

One mark of prosperity in this township is its large and intelligent 
family records, giving the residents not only^great present aid, but pro- 
viding for the future management of the aft'airs of this vicinity. 

In the early history of Viola township, long before Lee coiinty was 
set off, roaming bands of Indians from several tribes inhabited the 
beautiful groves, there being those now living among its citizens who 
have played with the children of the redinen, and were eye witnesses 
to the great council and last payment in Illinois of the Indians by the 
government at the grove at Shabbona. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

M. W. Harrington, farmer, Compton, removed with his parents 
when four years old from Grand Isle county, Vermont, and located at 
Jolict, Will county, Illinois. He was born in Grand Isle county, Ver- 
mont, May 21, 1835. His father, at an advanced age, is still living. In 
1862 he removed to Viola, Lee county, and on August 13, 1862, en- 
listed in Co. E, 100th 111. Vol. Inf., and remained eighteen months. 
He was wounded in the battle of Chickaraauga, September 19, 1863, 
which disabled him for service, and he was honorably discharged. He 
married, July 2, 1858, Mary E. Cole. They have three children : 
Charlie E., Willie M., Oric C, and one adopted child, Carrie A. He 



614 HISTORT OF LEE COUNTY. 

has a good and well managed farm of 120 acres, and is a representative 
farmer. In politics he is rupiiijlicaii. 

Cathaeine (Johnson) Gray, widow of Henr\^ W. Gray, farmer, 
Compton, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, September 1826. 
Her youth was spent in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where she re- 
sided with her parents. They came to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1830, where they remained until she was twenty-five years of age. 
In 1855 she removed to Illinois, locating in Lee count}-. She is a 
member of the Metiiodist Episcopal church. In 1844 she was married 
to Henry W. Gray. She has live children living, three having died 
since her husband's death, which occurred twenty-two years ago. Her 
three sons at home, Emory, James, and Lewis, are working 100 acres. 
They also thresh and shell grain during the season. 

William W. Gilmoke, farmer, Compton, born in Brooklyn town- 
ship, Lee county, November 8, 1835, was the second white child 
born in the grove. His mother is living. He had the common school 
advantages, such as could be obtained in his pioneer youth. Nearly all 
liis life has been spent near his birthplace. Mr. Gilmore has held 
local town offices for several terms, and given good satisfaction. He is 
a chapter Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a 
democrat in (lolitics. He was married January 15, 1856, to Rcirina 
Carnahan. They have five children: Jennie, now Mrs. Chas. Gutfin, 
of Compton ; John, Ida, Hattie, and Floy. He has a 255 acre farm, well 
managed, and is building a residence at Compton, where he will re- 
move. He was engaged during considerable of his life in the dry- 
goods and general store business, also in agricultural and hardware, in 
Melngin's Grove and at Mendota. Mr. John Gilmore and Hannah, his 
wife, father and mother of the subject of this sketch, were the next set- 
tlers, after Zachariah Melugin, at the grove, and nearly their entire life 
has been spent at or near their early settlement. They have been 
identified with the growth and prosperity of Lee county for near halt' a 
centur}', and have endeared themselves to all who have known them. 
Mr. J. Gilmore was a Master Mason in New York, and upon his re- 
moval west he was presented with a valuable token of jewels by his 
comrades. They are now the heirlooms of Mr. W. W. Gilmore. When 
Mr. John Gilmore first settled he had $40 and an old team, which was 
all he possessed. 

Makgareita (Hannan) Barr, widow of John Barr, farmer, Comp- 
ton, came to America in 1850. She landed at the city of New York, 
and came directly to Illinois, locating in Lee county. She was born in 
county Antrim, Ireland, in May 1833. She received common school 
advantages in her native country. Her youth, till seventeen, was spent 
there. She was married May 13, 1851, to John Barr, who died in the 



VIOLA TOWNSHIP. 615 

spring of 1881, leaving herself and nine children. She has a 203 acre 
farm, which the j'oungest son, Alexander, manages for her. It is well 
stocked and cultivated. Tlie other children are Martha, Jane, James, 
Robert, William, Maggie, Mary, and Ellen. Mary, Ellen and Alex- 
ander are at home and are tlie onl}' members of the family unmarried. 

MosEs B. Van Campen, farmer, Compton, landed in Illinois on 
April 13, 1854-, locating in Lee county. He was born in Warren 
county, New Jerse^^, October 2i, 1816. His mother lived till over 
ninety years of age. His father died when 3'oung Moses was but 
ten years of age. He received common school advantages in his native 
state, where he lived till twenty-four years of age on a wooded farm. 
In 1840 he moved to Pennsylvania and commenced the clearing of a 
new farm, and remained there fourteen years. He was married Novem- 
ber 30, 1844, to Eliza Ann Winters. They have four children living. 
He has now a homestead in Melugin of twenty -live acres. Mr. Van 
Campen holds certificates, bearing date Marcii 29, 1826, from his teacher, 
Benjamin Depue, given at Pahaqiiariy, New Jersey, which are quite 
interesting relics of liis early school days. In 1854 he began in tliis 
count}' with only a yoke of oxen and good health. Tlie first town 
meeting and the first election in Viola were held in his house. The 
first school in district No. 3 was held for three terms in his house, 
with no charge for its use. Mi". Van Campen has been largely iden- 
tified witii his township, and is among the most respected of her 
citizens. He is a Jackson democrat. His children are Cyntha, James, 
Emanuel and Cecilia. His son Emanuel manages the homestead 
and a rented farm, and is one of the valued young men of his township. 

John M. Abell, farmer and carpenter, Compton, was born at St. 
Charles, Kan<! county, Illinois, December 25, 1844. His mother is still 
living. Mr. Abell has followed the carpenter business for seven years 
till the past year. In 1864 he enlisted in the artillery service. Battery 
G, 2d reg., and remained till the close of the war. He is a member 
of the United Brethren church, and in politics a republican. He mar- 
ried, March 11, 1869, Leonora Lazarus, and they have four children: 
Charley, Phillip, Harry, and Laura. He has a 143 acre farm, under 
good cultivation. Mr. Abell has lived in Viola thirty-six years. 

C. F. Van Patten, farmer, Steward, came to Shabbona, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, in 1856, wiiere he lived eleven years. He was born in 
Gienville, Schenectady count}'. New York, January 6, 1826, and there 
received common school advantages. His youth and early manhood were 
spent at home on the farm. In 1868 he moved from De Kalb county to 
Viola. He has held several local town offices. He is a leading member 
of the Methodist Episcopal society of the flats. He was married October 
22, 1855, to Mary Jane Young. They have fourteen children living, one 



61() HISTORY OF LEE CODNTY. 

dead. lie has a 320 acre farm, well managed and well stocked. The 
family of Mr. Van Patten are worthy of mention, being of more than 
usual intelligence, and all standing high in the estimation of their 
neighbors. 

Joseph Merrill, farmer, Compton, was born in Hartford township, 
Licking county, Ohio, February 14, 1831. His youth and manhood, 
till thirty-five years old, was spent in Ohio at the blacksmith trade. 
He moved to Viola in ISGG. He is a Chapter Mason, and in politics a 
democrat. He married, in the summer of 1853, Sarah J. Noe, who 
died March 28, 1809. He was again married January- 31, 1869, to 
Lydia J. Johnson, widow of Alfonso Johnson. He has si.x 'children, 
three by first and three by second marriage. They have a tine large 
farm, formerly the property of A. Johnson. 

B. F. Johnson, farmer, Compton, was born in Kane county, Illinois, 
March -1, ISiG. He had a common school education, mostly received 
in Lee county. His youth till about six was spent in Kane county, at 
which time he was brought to Viola, Lee county. In the spring of 
18(55 he enlisted in Co. I, 15Gth 111. Itif, remaining till the close of the 
war. In politics he is a republican. He^married, February 24, 1877, 
Arrilla Compton. They have two children, Lewis Emory, and An- 
drew. He has a 300 acre farm, well stocked and cultivated. Mr. John- 
son was uiiniiig in Montana territory for six years, from 1870 to 1876, 
with more than ordinary success. The lastyear took out over $26,000. 
Mr. Johnson's family were the first settlers on the prairie in Viola 
township. 

EviNS Adria.v, stock raiser and farmer, Compton, tl e genial 
proprietor of the Glenwood farm, was born in county Antrim, Ireland, 
October 15, 1815, and received a portion of his education in that 
country and partly in Illinois and New York. His youth tili about 
eighteen was spent in Ireland on a farm. In 1833 he came to America, 
landing in Quebec, Canada, where he remained about two years. He 
then went to Erie county, JSTew York, and remained about two years, 
getting $7 per month wages, when he removed and settled in 
Illinois, before Lee county was set oft" or organized. He was married 
October 1840, to Mrs. Marilla Smith (widow of Rev. George Smith). 
She died in February 1857, and he was again married in July 1857, to 
Mary Ann Agler. He has nine children, six by the first and three 
by the second marriage. His magnificent homestead contains 1300 
acres. Mr. Adrian is an aggressive farmer and buys but little stock, and 
that only to improve his herds. He usually keeps on hand 2()0 head 
of cattle, 300 sheep, 100 hogs, besides horses and mules sufficient to 
work and manage his farm. He feeds all grain raised, and is a large 
purchaser of corn from the adjoining farms. He is selling every year 




S. F. Ml LLS. 



VIOLA TOWNSHIP. 619 

large lots of stock, weighing and doing all business at home, having all 
conveniences for so doing. In an earl}' day he chopped and split rails 
at fifty cents per hundred, and has come op to his now independent 
and commanding position only by energy, self-sacrifice, and an indom- 
itable will. His daughters, Emma, Marrilla and Sarah, also his 
sons, John and Willie, deserve mention, as they have been and are now 
largely interested and worthy helps to their father in his vast under- 
takiiicfs, and now in the shadow of his life remain to cheer and assist 
him tiirough. Mr. Adrian has not only done well for himself and 
family, but is largely interested in the growth and prosperity of his 
township, giving liberally and rendering mature advice in school, road, 
and otlier improvements. He has honored his township by being their 
supervisor several terms. 

H. B. Cobb, farmer and stock buyer and shipper. Steward, was born 
in Tallard, Connecticut, November 27, 1834. His youth till sixteen 
was spent in his native state at home. When sixteen years of age he 
went to Massachusetts and engaged in a cotton-mill, and remained till 
nineteen, and then came west, locating first at Lamoille, Bureau county, 
Illinois. Here he worked in a nursery for Samuel Edwards, at $13 per 
month. However, he soon after went at regular farming, living there 
about four years. In the spring of 1856 he removed to Lee county. 
Mr. Cobb had three brothers in the late civil war. He has been super- 
visor of Yiola four years, township treasurer about fifteen years. He 
is a Mason and a republican. He was married May 15, 1859, to Ellen 
C. Beamer. They have five children : Minnie J., Lillie A., George H., 
Flora E. and Laura L. He has a 490 acre homestead, over 900 acres in 
Viola township, and a joint farm in Brooklyn of 110 acres. Mr. Cobb 
has one of the finest farm residences in Lee county, and few equal it any- 
where, being first-class in all its appointments. His farm is first-class, 
well managed, and well watered. He keeps about 250 cattle, on an 
average, all the time, also other fine stock. Mr. Cobb is one of the 
largest stock raisers and shippers of Lee county, and among the most 
popular and energetic farmers. 

CuMMiNGS NoE, farmer. Early Dawn, was born in Caldwell, Essex 
county. New Jersey, July 20, 1809. He had common school advan- 
tages partly in New Jersey and partly in Ohio, going to school part of 
two winters in a log school-house without a pane of glass in the build- 
ing, a log being left out and oiled paper pasted over the opening to ad- 
mit light and keep out the wind. His youth till nine years of age was 
spent in New Jersey. About 1817 he moved with his parents to 
Franklin county, Ohio, near Columbus, and there remained about two 
years, when he again removed to Licking county. His mother died in 
Franklin county, and he lived with a brother-in-law three years near 
37 



620 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Columbus. He then returned to Licking and lived with his brother, 
adjoining his father's place, about three years. In the fall of 1834 he 
removed to Illinois, locating and remaining a year in Tazewell county, 
then to Franklin, Jo Daviess county, before Lee county was set off, re- 
maining over a year, and then to Ogle county for eight years, at the 
end of which time he came to Lee county, living in Willow creek for 
many years. In 1878 he came to Viola. His sons William and Amos 
enlisted in the summer of 1862 in Co. B, 27th 111. Vol. Inf. They 
were in the battle at Vicksburg that season. They contracted disease 
from which both died, never returning. Mr. Noe is a member of the 
United Brethren church, and is anti-Masonic in politics. He was mar- 
ried April 1, 1830, to Martha Parkhurst. They have four children 
living (eight deceased). He has a 160-acre homestead, well stocked and 
managed. Mr. N^oe came to Illinois in company with an elder brother. 
Each had a wife and two children in a wagon. All their capital was 
health and SIO in money, which not being current had to be returned 
to Ohio for exchange, which took many weeks. 



ASHTON TOWNSHIP. 

This town is located in the north tier of townships. It is one-half 
the size of a congressional township, being si.x miles from east to west 
and three miles from north to south. It originally formed a part of 
Bradford township. The surface is for the most part undulating. 
Stone suitable for building purposes abounds in considerable quantities. 
The finest quarry is just north of the village of Ashton, which is said 
to be equal in quality to any in northern Illinois for building. 

The first person to locate^in the township was Erastus Anderson, 
in 1848. He was followed in a few weeks after by his brother Tim- 
othy, their father coming in December of the same year. At that time 
there were only four houses to be seen, and part of these were twenty 
miles distant. In 18-19 a man by the name of Hubbard settled in the 
west part of the township. In 1852 Daniel Suter located near the site 
of the German Baptist church, and H. Sannders farther to the west. 
These comprise most of the settlers of what is now Ashton township 
prior to the location of the Northwestern railroad in 1854. 

The tirst settlers of Ashton township say not a tree was to be seen 
nearer than the grove, at what is now Franklin ; that game was plenty, 
that ducks, geese and sandhill cranes reared their young here in the 
swamps, and that chasing the prairie wolf was of frequent occurrence. 
Sheep had to be closely guarded. Prairie fires sometimes broke out, 
sweeping the grass, which was very abundant, and sometimes the build- 



ASHTON TOWNSHIP. 621 

ings and crops of the pioneers, leaving behind a black and desolate 
waste. 

The land of Ashton township was bought principally by specula- 
tors about the time the lirst settlers made their appearance. They 
rated it from $5 to $10 per acre. Those with small means settled 
farther from the railroads, where land coiild be had for less money. Ash- 
ton township is yet owned largely in large farms, and worked by tenants. 

In 1S54 emigrants began to come in from every quarter and lo- 
cated in Ashton township. In that year the first house was built by 
James L. Bates, where the village of Ashton now is. The town was 
laid out in 1855. J. L. Bates kept the first store here. The first ware- 
house was erected in the latter part of 1854, and in this was kept 
the first post-oflice. The first blacksmith shop was erected in 1855, by 
S. M. Kifnes. 

The first church erected was the Methodist Episcopal, in 1863. 
A lot was ofiered, free of charge, to tlie church society which would 
erect the first building in the village. The Methodist Episcopal people, 
not feeling themselves able to build a durable church, erected a tempo- 
rary structure to secure the lot till such time as they were able to build 
a durable church. Tiie second church was erected by the Free Method- 
ists in 1864. This is said to have been the first church of the kind in 
the state. The societj^ was first organized in Ogle county, four miles 
north of Ashton, by J. G. Terrol, in 1860, but for convenience the 
society was divided and a church built in Ashton. Among the promi- 
nent members at the time of its organization were Charles Butolpk, 
Jonathan Dake, Sidney and Melville Beach, Sylvester Forbes, Isaac 
Martin, Samuel Walker, James Heed, William Martin, their wives and 
others. Rev. Terrol was followed by Kev. W. Underwood. The so- 
ciety at one time, shortly after its organization, numbered ninety active 
members. It now numbers twenty-five. It is in a flourishing condition. 
The society has kept in good running order a Sunday-school most of 
the time. It has now united its Sunday-school with that of the Pres- 
byterians. Its church principles are absolute freedom and strong oppo- 
sition to all secret societies. 

The third church erected here was by the Catholics, in 1866. Its 
members are for the most part Germans, and number about fifty active 
communicants. 

The Christian church was built in 1868. The prime leaders were 
F. Nettleton, J. P. Taylor, and Peter Plantz. It was organized with 
fifteen members. It first held its meetings in the school-house. The 
society flourished with the other societies of the town till within the 
past two years, when misfortunes be3'ond its control befell it, but it is- 
now in a fair wav to revive and recover its former standing. 



622 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

The German Baptists built tiieir present church house one fourth 
of a mile south of town, in 1866. Its membership at the present is 
something more than forty, and is in a flourishing condition. The cem- 
etery connected with this church is on a beautiful rising ground. 

The Presb3'terian church was erected in 1877. The building com- 
mittee were Messrs. Mills, Petrie and Polluck. At the time of organ- 
ization its membership was fourteen. The leading members were 
Griffith, Hutsen, and Brewer. The first minister was Rev. S. Vale; 
present pastor. Rev. Jordan. The present elders are S. F. Mills and J. 
Brewer. The society is in good condition. 

The Lutheran society holds its meetings in the Presbyterian 
church. 

The Masons and Odd-Fellows each have a society here. The for- 
mer was organized in 1862, and is prosperous. The hitter was organ- 
ized in 1807, and though not so numerous in members is enjoying a 
good degree of prosperity. 

Temperance orders of various kinds have sprung up at various in- 
tervals, only to be lost sight of and suffered to die. 

Ashton boasts of the finest school building in the county. It is a 
stone edifice erected at a cost of $28,000. The school employs six 
teachers. 

THE ASUTON BANK. 

This bank was opened by Mills & Petrie in 1867. During its exist- 
ence it has never closed its doors. During the month of June, 1881, 
it received checks amounting to over $80,000, the greater part of which 
was for produce shipped from this point. 

Ashton has several times been visited with very destructive fires 
for a town of its size. The first fire of note was in 1863. The grain ele- 
vator was burned, and the loss was estimated at $2,000. Next, the 
Ashton flouring mill burned in 1863 ; loss, $60,000. In 1871 the railroad 
property, which consisted of two tanks, the depot and a coal-house, 
in which were stored 1,200 tons of coal; in addition to the rail- 
road property, a lumber yard and four dwelling houses were burned, 
the estimated loss being $75,000. This fire originated in the coal-house. 
In 1874 the hay-press and elevator were burned ; a loss of $30,000. 
Besides these fires named there have been numerous smaller ones. 

At the present time Ashton has three elevators, two hotels, and 
flouring mill, six churches and seven congregations, one bank, of which 
Mills & Petrie are the sole proprietors, and several very good stores 
for a country town. The Masons and Odd-Fellows are the only secret 
societies. 

There has been but one tragedy in the township. The perpetrator 
of the heinous crime of wife-poisoning was a man by the name of 



ASHTON TOWNSHIP. 623 

McGee. He was a minister stationed at Ashton. It seems the vil- 
lain had become enamored of another besides his wife, and not possess- 
ing moral courage sufficient to free himself from the matrimonial bonds 
in an honorable way, resorted to poison as a means of putting his wife 
out of the way. Strichnine was his agent; this he gave to his wife in 
minute quantities for some time. The doctor was summoned, but not 
suspecting the treacherous villainy that was being practiced, did not 
discover what had been done till a short time before she died. The 
fatal dose was administered by him just before he repaired to the church 
to preach. He was arrested and incarcerated in the county jail. He 
then thought to place his crime upon his fonrteen-year-old daughter by 
making her sign a paper stating that she had poisoned her mother. In 
this he failed. He was tried, convicted and sent to the state peniten- 
tiary for a term of fourteen years. His wife was much loved and 
respected by the community, as are his children, and no one reflects on 
them the villainy over which tliey had no control, but all are filled 
with sympathy for their misfortune. 

W. A. Petrie, of the firm of Petrie & Mills, bankers, Ashton, was 
born in 1812, near Syracuse, New York, and is the son of Rudolph 
and Elizabeth (Vrooman) Petrie, natives of New York. His parents 
were of German descent, and his maternal grandfather was captain of 
a fort in the pioneer times of New York, and was killed and scalped 
by the Indians ; and a son was also killed and mutilated in the most 
horrible manner. The Vroomans are an old established family of New 
York. W. A. Petrie received a fair education and came to Lee county 
in 1858, and went into partnership with his present partner, Mr. S. F. 
Mills. Mr. Mills is a native of New York, born in 1830 near Utica, 
and is the son of Loran A. and E. (Petrie) Mills, natives of New York. 
Mr. Mills' father was colonel of the state militia. His father was of 
Scotch extraction, his mother of English descent. He came to Ashton 
in 1854 and engaged in the grain and lumber trade and was joined by 
Mr. Petrie in 1858. In 1861 they gave up the grain and lumber 
trade and engaged in the mercantile trade, and in one year sold $109- 
000 worth of goods, their yearly average being $80,000. In 1867 they 
quit the mercantile business and opened a private banking house in 
Ashton, in which business they still remain. They were both married 
in 1879 at the same ceremony: Mr. Petrie to Sarah E. Howard, 
daughter of William and Mary Howard, natives of England, who emi- 
grated to America in 1856 and settled in Ohio, and Mr. Mills to 
Louisa Getman, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Vrooman) Getman, 
natives of New York. They live in the same house on a beautiful 
farm one mile west of Ashton. Mr. Petrie has held the office of 
notary public for twelve years, and is elected for four years more. He 



624 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

has been trustee of the township four years and still holds the office, 
and was supervisor for two years. They constitute a tirui of live 
business men, who have the business confidence of the community. 

Sidney Beach, farmer and stock raiser, Ashton,was born in Delaware 
count)', Ohio, in 1827, and is the son of Israel and Roda (Lockwood) 
Beach, natives of New York. The former was by trade a shoemaker. 
They settled in Ohio in 1822 and engaged in the business of farming, 
■which pursuit they followed the remainder of their lives. They were 
members of the Presbyterian church. Israel Beach served in the war 
of 1812 as drummer. Sidney Beach remained in Ohio till he was fif- 
teen years old, then came to Ogle county, Illinois, with an older sister, 
where he remained three years and accumulated some property, which 
he lost; hence he says his " first three years in Illinois were spent in 
getting e.xperience." He returned to Ohio when eighteen, but after a 
lapse of three years returned to Ogle county and began trading in cat- 
tle as much as he was able, which proved to be quite lucrative. Then 
he speculated in land to some extent. In 1856 he was married to 
Sarah Vandermark, daughter of Daniel and Anna Vandermark, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania. By this marriage he has three children: 
Clement L., Jessie C. and Sidney. Mrs. Beach's father was of Ger- 
man descent and a button-maker by trade. Her mother was of Eng- 
lish e.xtraction and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Mr. Beach owns 680 acres of good farming land. He markets 
some grain, but stock principalh'. He is a prominent republican, and 
was formerly a whig. He took an active part in raising recruits dur- 
ing the war. He and his wife are members of the Free Methodist 
chnrch. He began life for himself with less than $10, and what he 
now possesses is the result of his own industry. 

James King, farmer, Ashton, was born in Merrimac county, New 
Hampshire, in 1S21. His jiarents were John and Sarah (Hill) King, 
natives of New Hampshire and children of English parents. James' 
grandfather was Gen. Wolfe's aide-de-camp at the battle of Quebec. His 
parents came to Illinois, where they spent their last days at the resi- 
dence of their son. Mr. King received but little educational training 
in his early youth. He emigrated to Illinois in 1854 and settled in 
Bradford township, where he remained till 1875 engaged in farming. 
Having sold his farm of 165 acres he moved to Ashton. He was married 
in 1849, to Rolana Barnard, daughter of Ezekiel and Judith (Sargent) 
Barnard. She was born in Warren county. New Hampshire. By this 
union he has three children : Almon E., Walter B. and Flora D. His 
two boys are at present engaged in the mercantile business in Red- 
wood, Minnesota. Mr. King, like most men who came to Illinois in the 
time of its first settlement, had but little means, but by judicious 



ASHTON TOWNSHIP. 625 

management and industry prospered. After selling his farm he has 
lived in Ashton, where he has a beautiful home and forty acres near 
the village. He has held the offices of commissioner and supervisor. 
In politics he is a staunch republican. 

Petee Plantz, farmer, Asliton, was born in New York in 1805, 
and is the son of Richard and Maria Plantz, both of whom were of Ger- 
man descent, and members of the Lutheran church. Peter was edu- 
cated in the common schools of his native state. He was married in 
New York, to Margret Putman, daughter of John and Catherine Put- 
man, natives of New York, and members of the Dutch Reformed 
ciiurch; both were of Holland extraction. Mr. Plantz has by this 
coalition six children : Victor, Margret, Henry, Hannah, and Abraham. 
He came to Illinois in 18.51 and settled in Ogle county, where he re- 
mained till 1856, when lie came to Ashton, where he has since lived. 
Until recently he was engaged in farming, but has sold his farm and 
retired from business. He served three years as commissioner of high- 
ways. The success of Mr. Plantz is due wholly to his energy and in- 
dustry. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. He 
has a comfortable home at Ashton, where he expects to enjoy the 
fruits of his former labors. 

Melville Beach, farmer and stock raiser, Ashton, was born in 
Essex county. New Jersey, in 1812, and is the son of Israel and Roda 
(Loekwood) Beach, both natives of New Jersey. Tlie former was a 
shoemaker by trade, and with his family emigrated to Ohio in 1822. 
He engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed the remainder of 
his life. He and his wife were devoted members of the Presbyterian 
faitii. Israel Beach served in the war of 1812 as drummer. Melville 
received his education in the pioneer schools of Ohio, where he resided 
till 1852. He was married in 1851, to Eliza Scott, a native of Connecti- 
cut, and daughter of Cark and Flora (Beckley) Scott, who emigrated 
to Ohio in 1835, when she was six years old. Her parents were Pres- 
byterian, and her father by trade was a button-maker, and raised a 
family of seven children. Mr. Melville Beach has a family of four 
children : Melville W., three years a student of Wheaton College ; 
Melva E., music teacher, educated at Spring Abbey, Michigan, and 
Wheaton College ; Cora C. and Esmarelda A. Mr. and Mrs. Beach 
have been members of the Free Methodist church since its organization 
liere in 1860. Mr. Beach is one of the active members of the Free 
Methodist church at this place, having been class leader nearly all the 
time since its organization, as well as filling other offices of the 
church and Sunday-school at difl'erent intervals. In his early life he 
followed the trade of his father. Having previously purchased land in 
Lee county, he moved in 1852 with his family to Ogle county, where 



626 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

he remained two years, and then came to Ashton, where he has since 
resided. He now owns a fine farm of 1273 acres, upon wliich he raises 
hogs and cattle, and owns a very pleasant home in the village of 
Ashton. lie is a radical anti-secret-society and anti-slavery man, and a 
staunch republican. 

KiLEY Paddock, farmer, merchant and banker, Ashton, is a native 
of Ohio, born in 1810, and is the son of Ebenezer and Nancy Paddock, 
natives of Kentucky. They first settled in Butler county, Ohio, then 
in Clark connty, of the same state, and subsequently emigrated to Vigo 
county, Indiana. Mrs. Paddock was a member of the Baptist faith. 
Riley Paddock received such educational training as was to be had in 
the pioneer schools of Ohio. He was married in Vigo county, Indiana, 
to Eliza Snoddy ; she and her parents were natives of Kentucky. By 
this coalition he has four children : Bell Jane, Mary E., Victoria, 
and William E. The girls have all been students of Mount Morris 
Seminary, Illinois. William E. was educated at Jennings College, 
Aurora, Illinois, and is now engaged in the mercantile trade with his 
father, in Ashton. They deal in boots and shoes, and dry goods. Their 
trade amounts annually to about ^25,000. Mr. Paddock settled in 
Ogle county, Illinois, in 1837, where he remained till he came to Ash- 
ton. He began life with limited means; he has made farming his 
principal business. In 1872 he became one of the charter members of 
the First National Bank at Forest, Illinois, of which he has been, since 
its organization, one of its directors, and is now vice-president and 
director. He owns 300 acres of fine farming land, which he has well 
stocked, and 160 acres of Iowa land. He and his wife were formerly 
members of the Christian church. In politics he is a republican. 

Erastus Anderson, farmer, Ashton, is a native of Canada West, 
and was born in 182-1:. He is the son of John H. and Martha (Mor- 
gan) Anderson ; the former, a native of New York, emigrated with bis 
father to Canada when sixteen years of age, where he grew up. He 
served as a British soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of 
Lundy's Lane. In 1848 he came to Lee county, where he remained the 
balance of his life. Erastus Anderson's mother was a native of Canada, 
and died a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Anderson 
came first to Michigan, where he remained till 18-46, when he settled in 
Ogle county, where he lived till the spring of 1848, when he settled in 
the northeast part of Ashton township, where he still lives. He was 
married in 1847, to Mary Halverd, a native of Norway, by whom he 
has had two children : Roda A., now Mrs. W. M. F. Clark, and John H. 
Mr. Anderson's education is only such as he has been able to obtain in 
active business. He began life for himself by working at whatever he 
could earn a penny, and so continued till he had saved enough to buy 



ASHTON TOWNSHIP. 627 

eighty acres of land ; then he began farming for himself. In politics 
he has always been a republican. Erastus Anderson's grandfather was 
a sliip-carpenter by trade, a Scotchman by birth, and emigrated to 
Canada. His paternal grandmother by birth was a German ; his mater- 
nal grandmother's people formerly came from Ireland. Mr. Anderson 
has a fine farm two and one-half miles northeast of Ashton. It is well 
improved and well stocked. 

Henry Saundees, jr., farmer and stock raiser, Ashton, is a native 
of Hardin county, Pennsylvania, born in 1826, and is the son of Henry 
and Mary (Buck) Saunders, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Ger- 
man extraction, and farmers by trade. They left to their children a 
handsome property, but owing to the course pursued by the adminis- 
trators it was all lost and their children became penniless. H. Saun- 
ders, sr., was captain of the state militia. By faith he was a Catholic. 
H. Saunders, jr., came to Illinois in 18i5, and remained one year, then 
returned to his native state, and came again to Illinois after an absence 
of almost two years. He was married in 1851, to Rachel Morgan, a 
nativeof Illinois, daughter of Edward and Nancy Morgan, both natives 
of Ohio. They have nine children : Winfield B., Joseph J. F., Jerome 
(deceased), Alice (deceased), Jane, John, Edward, Lucy, and Harry L. 
He has an excellent farm of 286 acres, situated two miles west of Ash- 
ton, which is well improved and well stocked. He and his wife are 
not members of any christian sect, but believe in the practice of chris- 
tian principles. Formerly he was a republican, but is now a democrat. 

A. A. Heckart, grain buyer, Ashton, is a native of Pennsylvania, 
and a son of Peter and Elizabeth Heckart, both natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, but now living one half mile north of the village of Ashton. A. 
A. Heckart was born in 1844. He received a good common school 
education. He first engaged in the mercantile business in Ashton. He 
is now employed at Ashton by George H. Taylor & Co., grain mer- 
chants, where he has been for several years. He was married in 1868, 
to Mary J. Colwell, of Iowa, and they have one child, Temperance. 
He served in the war of the rebellion, first in Co. B, 4:6th 111. Vols., 
was wounded at Shiloh, and discharged from the service. Having re- 
covered he again entered the service of his country in the 75th 111. 
Vols., in Co. G. Altogether he served two years and ten months. In 
politics he is strictly republican. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. at 
Ashton. 

John A. Andrus, attorney, Ashton, is a native of New York, 
born in 1833, and is a son of Elim and Margaret (Mooney) Audrus, 
both natives of New York. John's grandfather, Benjamin Andrus, 
served in the revolutionary war. His literary education is that of the 
common school and the Holly Academy of New York. He graduated 



628 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

ill the Bryant & Stratton Commercial Business College, New York. 
He then read law for some time, and then came west and taught school 
in Michigan two years, and at Rochelle and Ashton each one year. 
He was engaged in the mercantile business for twelve years, and in 
farming for a time. In 1877 he was admitted to practice law in 
Michigan, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar in Illinois. He was 
examined before the appellate court at Chicago, in a class of forty-nine, 
seven of whom were rejected. He has since practiced in Ashton. 
He held the ofBce of police justice in Ashton for four years. He and 
all his family, so far back as he can tell, have been members of the 
democratic party. He was married in 1861, to Rhoda A. Siple, daughter 
of John and Harriet Siple, of Ohio. They have two children : Dora 
A., a senior of the class of '82 of the University of Champaign, her 
course being that of literature and science. The second child is an 
infant. 

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP. 

CONTKIBCTED BY WILLIAM B. ANDK0SS. 

At the time Lee county adopted township organization, in 1850, 
Hamilton embraced what is now Hamilton, East Grove, May, and the 
south half of Marion, and William B. Stuart was its first supervisor, 
he serving two years in that capacity, when R. B. Yiele succeeded him 
for the next three years. In 1855 W. B. Stuart was again elected and 
continued in the office that and the following year. In 1856 the board 
of supervisors took ott what is now the township of May, still leaving 
two and a half congressional townships in its territory. In 1859 
Marion was organized, taking T. 20 N., R. 9 E. as its limits, thus 
again taking from Hamilton a half congressional township. In 1865 
T. 19 N., R. 9 E. was organized, taking the name of East Grove, leav- 
ing Hamilton with only the territory of one congressional township, 
T. 19 N., R. 8 E. of the 4th P. M., and these are its present limits 
and it is the southwest corner town of Lee county. 

SETTLEMENT. 
Prior to township organization, as adopted in 1850, within the 
present limits of Hamilton there were no settlers except the Indians, 
and none of the inhabitants can speak of exercising the right of suf- 
frage at precincts, as some in other townships of earlier settlement do. 
From the best information the writer can obtain the first dwelling built 
in tiie limits of this town was by Charles or Ross Freeman on the S. ^ 
of Sec. 32, — the date not known, — which was afterward moved to 
another location and remodeled into a school-house. The first man to 



HAMILTON TOWNSHIP. 629 

build a house and make a home in this township was a German by the 
name of Jacob Pope, wlio came in 1854 and settled on the S. ^ of 
S.E. J of Sec. 26. Morris Logue, from New Jersey, occupied the 
N. i of ]Sr.E. i of Sec. 27, built a shanty and broke up his land in the 
same year, and the next season brought his family. David and John 
Knight cam^ from Ohio also in 1854, and having purchased Sec. 35 at 
once began improvements. They boarded in Walnut that year, but 
in 1855 erected a house on their land. In the spring of 1857 David 
Griggs, another Ohio man, settled on the S.E. J of Sec. 34. His 
house had been built the year before by a man whom he had sent for 
that purpose. J. F. McMurray, a Pennsylvanian, arrived in the 
spring of 1857 and made a home on the S.E. ^ of Sec. 33. Amos T. 
Kegwin, of Windham, Connecticut, purchased the N.W. J of Sec. 27 in 
1856 and built a house thereon in 1858, and has occupied it since. He 
and his son, Horace Kegwin, together have added piece by piece until 
they now have a section or more in all in the vicinity of the original 
purchase. In the summer of 1858 Anson Stone's house was built by 
E. D. Carpenter on the N.E. J of Sec. 26, the same now occupied by 
his son, R. P. Stone. J. Shields bought and occupied the N. ^ of 
N.E. ^ of Sec. 24 and most of the S.E. i of Sec. 13 in 1858. William 
Sculley settled on the E. i of N.W. i of Sec. 24 in 1858. Michael 
Dunn came to his farm, the S.E. I and the S. i of N.W. I of Sec. 24 
in 1859. Bennett Havens was early in the town on the S. J of N.E. j^ 
of Sec. 36, and served for several years as supervisor. He is now at 
Walnut station. L. B. Moore, on the S. W. J and W. ^ of IST.W. ^ of 
Sec. 24, and M. Fleming on the S. ^ of S.W. J, were also among the 
early settlers and still occupy the same. J. L. Reed came to the W. ^ 
of S.E. i of Sec. 23 in 1862. Rev. K G. Collins, a Baptist clergy- 
man for a time residing in Lamoille, figured largely in lands of this 
town on both sides of the Green river, and still holds some. All the 
foregoing settlers were south of the swamp. That part of the town- 
ship lying north remained unsettled for many years and served as a 
range for large herds of cattle. The first improvements on that side 
were made by non-resident owners who rented their lands. Of this 
class A. T. Anderson, of Polo, opened a large farm on the north part 
of Sec. 7. Perhaps the first to break any of the prairie for cultivation 
in this part of the town was William Rink, on Sec. 5. He resided in 
Dixon and rented it. The first to inhabit that portion was John D. 
Shafer, a bachelor, who built a cabin on Sec. 8 and herded cattle there 
for several years. James Durr was on the N.W. ^ of N.W. J of Sec. 
19 in 1862. 

The Winnebago swamp on either side of Inlet creek covered nearly 
the whole township while in a state of nature. A few sections in the 



630 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

southeast and northwest corners were comparatively higher and drier. 
A former writer in speaking of it says: "It is almost entirely covered 
by what is known as Winnebago swamp, which renders a great por- 
tion of it uninhabitable at the present time."' The lauds, however, to 
quite an extent have been bought up by actual settlers, who resort to 
drainage. Some parties owning large tracts have made terge ditches, 
and every year the swamp is growing perceptibly less. The probabil- 
ities are that ere many years it will be the most desirable land in the 
county. The soil is of the richest quality, and of great depth. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school taught in this town was in a room of David Griggs' 
present residence, by Mrs. Cornelia Mayona, daughter of A. T. Keg- 
win, in 1861 or 1862, and Miss Lizzie Larkins followed in the suc- 
ceeding summer, and still later Miss Lavina Swisher followed her. Mr. 
McMurray moved over into Bureau county, and the house he left was 
made into a school-house, and Mrs. Mayona taught there. All this was 
before school districts were organized, and teachers were paid by private 
subscription. In the fall of 1863 or 1864 school district No. 1 was or- 
ganized, and the ne.xt spring a building was bought of Ross Freeman 
on Sec. 32, and moved near David Griggs, on the southwest corner of 
Sec. 34. This was used until 1874, when a new school-house was 
erected, the site being on the west side of the W. + ofN.W. i Sec. 35. 
It is a beautiful structure, and speaks well for the educational interests 
of its vicinity. School district No. 2 was organized about the same 
time as district No. 1, and the first school was taught in a portion of 
Thadeus May's dwelling, on Sec. 26, by Miss Lydia Havens. The first 
school-house was built in 1864 or 1865, at the southeast corner of S.E. 
i Sec. 25. Afterward it was moved to the southwest corner of Sec. 
25, where it still is. There are four parts of school districts united 
with otiier towns, one each with Walnut, East Grove, Harmon, and 
Hahnaman. 

The first preaching that the settlers of Hamilton township had was 
in a little school-house known as the Dodge school-house, on the prai- 
rie south of the county line. The Sabbath was but little respected at 
first, as nearly everyone went gunning on that day, and to reform this 
habit David Griggs, William Griggs, Solomon Welsh, J. F. McMur- 
ray, Johnson Griggs and J. H. Knight contributed to pay for preach- 
ing, and employed a neighbor, tiie Rev. Ford, who lived at the east end 
of Red Oak Grove, paying him fifty cents for each Sunday. The sing- 
ing was led by Prof. I. B. Dodge, with his violin. It was not a devout 
congregation; few, possibly none, of those who attended the services 
were professing christians, nevertheless they recognized the necessity 



EAST GROVE TOWNSHIP. 631 

for divine worship in the settlement, and tlius were the sweet influences 
of better things inaugurated. The Rev. Lumery, who sometimes used 
strong language, remarked of this beginning that "the singing was fit 
to be heard anywhere, but the religious propensities of the people be- 
longed to the devil." There are no religious organizations in this 
township, but a Baptist church was organized just over the south line 
in Walnut, in Bureau county, at the house of John H. Sayer, in May 
1853, and half of the organizers were from this town, namely, Amos 
T. Kegwin, Alice K. Kegwin, his wife; Ezekiel Sayers, Caroline Say- 
ers, his wife ; S. H. Sayers, and Mrs. Lyda Stone, while from Walnut 
there were John H. Sayers, William Mapes, Susan Mapes, his wife : 
Thadeus May and his wife, and I. B. Dodge. For a number of years 
after organizing meetings were held at irregular intervals at the dwell- 
ings of John H. Sayers, Ezekiel Sayers, Amos T. Kegwin, and some 
others, ministered to by itinerants ; no regular pastor settled over them 
until 1870, when the Rev. Mr. First was called, and the village of 
Walnut having sprung up the location of the church was removed 
there, and services at stated times were held, and soon after, in 1871, a 
fine church building was erected, and the means of grace thus used have 
been blessed, and "numbers have been added to them," until now they 
have a membership of over 100. 



EAST GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

CONTRIBUTED BY WILLIAM B. ANDEUSS. 

This township was originally in what was known as Winnebago 
precinct, the voting place being for a time at Samuel Meek's and then 
at David Wclty's. In 1850 Lee county adopted township organiza- 
tion, and what is now the township of East Grove was embraced 
with May, Hamilton, and the south half of Marion, all called Ham- 
ilton. In 1856 May was organized therefrom, and in 1859 Marion, 
and it was not until 1865 that East Grove was organized in its present 
boundaries, namely, T. 19 N., R. 9 E., and Fenwick Anderson was its 
supervisor for that and the succeeding year. It is of the south tier of 
towns of the county and the second from the southwest corner. 

SETTLEMENT. 

Esq. Charles Falvey purchased a claim of one William T. Wells in 
1836, and occupied it in 1837. This was in what is now the north 
half of Sec. 34, in the grove that afterward gave the name to the town. 
On the north his nearest neighbor was a Mr. Robinson, six miles dis- 
tant in the south part of what is now Marion, who afterward (in 1839) 



632 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

sold liis claim to David Welty. Esq. Falvey has resided there almost 
continuously since. He owns lands also in Bureau county, a little 
south, near Ohio station, and a portion of the time he has resided 
there. He is of an active, energetic make-np. and has been identified, 
in some phase, with almost every movement in not only the township 
of East Grove but the surrounding towns in Lee and Bureau counties. 
He enlisted under Thomas Carlin, afterward governor of Illinois, and 
served through the Black Hawk war. Xow in his old age he is with 
an only child, a daughter, Mrs. Weldon, on his farm near Ohio station, 
his wife having been dead man}' years. Joseph Smith (familiarly known 
as "Dad Joe") settled in 1833 in the grove bearing his name, south- 
west of East Grove, some three miles in Bureau county. He was a 
guide for Gen. Atkinson's army, and a spy under Zachary Taylor in 
the Black Hawk war. H. W. Bogardus was also prominent as a settler 
of early date. In 1839 David Welty resided a short time in the north 
part of this town, while erecting buildings on a claim he purchased of 
a Mr. Robinson, in the south part of what is now Marion. His residence 
has been in Marion and Dixon ever since, and will be spoken of in no- 
tices of them no doubt. Fenwick Anderson came from Canandaigua, 
New York, to Dixon in tlie fall of 184i, and remained there until 18'i9, 
then came to what is now the S. i of Sec. 34 of East Grove. He pur- 
chased a claim of Robert Tate. This Mr. Tate was a workman in the plow 
shops of John Deere, at Grand Detour. His family, with a son-in-law 
by the name of Kyes, worked the claim until Mr. Anderson bought it. 
This house, a rude log structure}, was for a number of years a stage 
depot on the Galena and Peoria road. When he came his nearest 
neighbor on the north was 'Squire Falvey, on the east Aaron Kelly. In 
1852 he, with S. P. Mcintosh, put up a kiln of 200,000 brick in the 
south part of the grove, which when burned j^roved most excellent, 
and from which he built his present residence in 1853. Thomas Shehan 
came to Bureau county in 1844, and moved to Sec. 35, in East Grove, 
in 1849, buying a claim of one John Kasbier. S. P. Mcintosh came 
from Alton, Illinois, at the time of the land sales in Dixon, and pur- 
chased the E. ^ of Sec. 36 of East Grove township, and the E. ^ of 
Sec. 1 in Ohio township, though he did not occupy it until 1856. John 
Downey, A. A. Spooner, John Flynn, ^I. Coleman, A. Barlow, D. 
Sullivan, Henry Hul)bell and Samuel Tubbs settled in this town soon 
after those formerly mentioned. 

In 1842 John W. Harrison, a deputy sheriff from Toronto, Canada, 
while on a visit to this region, was murdered by James S. Bell, near 
the N. W. corner of Sec. 35. David Welty, then a justice of the peace, 
held the preliminary examination on a charge of murder, and committed 
him to jail at Dixon, to await his trial in the circuit court, if indicted 



EAST GROVE TOWNSHIP. 633 

by the grand jury. A bill of indictment was found and returned into 
court September 13, 1842. After motions to quash the indictment 
and continue the case to the next term had been denied, a change of 
venue was taken, and Judge Thomas C. Browne, then presiding, sent 
the case to Whitesides county circuit, where he was tried, convicted of 
manslaughter, and sentenced to the Alton penitentiary. After serving 
a part of the term of his sentence he escaped from the prison and was 
never retaken. 

A charter was granted by the legislature of this state to H. W. 
Cleveland, who built a turnpike in Sec. 3 of this town effecting a cross- 
ing over Inlet creek, and a toll-gate was kept at the southern terminus. 
This was on the Peoria and Galena stage route. Mr. Cleveland sold 
his interest to a Mr. Millard, and his heirs to Charles Crofts. All this 
was prior to 1849. 

A somewhat detailed account of a murder committed in this town 
in 1849 is here given, as it has a connection with the "Banditti of the 
Prairie " of those times, and perhaps was the last of their depredations 
committed, as so many in this case were implicated and came to their 
death that it broke np the gang. 

The one giving an account of this murder says : " In the summer of 
1849, on a Monday morning, Charles Crofts (reputed to belong to the 
gang or band of the 'Banditti') came to Hyra Axtell, and the two 
came to my house inquiring if I had seen or heard anything of Crofts' 
hired girl. Her name was Salina Montgomery, aged about tifteen 
years. Neither myself nor family could give any tidings, not having 
seen or heard of her for some time. Crofts claimed that she had dis- 
appeared without saying anything to the family of her intention of 
going away, and wJiat had become of her was a mystery. Axtell took 
an opportunity to communicate with me, unobserved b}' Crofts, and 
said he believed there was something wrong in the matter, and that 
the neighborhood should be informed and a search made. I agreeing 
with his suggestion, we accompanied Crofts to his house (being con- 
nected with the toll-gate on the south end of the turnpike) and were 
with him about the premises. There were three men mowing not far 
from the house, Eli Shaw, and the names of the other two I cannot re- 
member, except that the first name of one was Dennis. There was also 
in their company one Samuel Perkins, usually called ' Sam Patch,' hav- 
ing a rifle with him. After being there some time and having conversa- 
tion with them in various phases, Axtell and myself became more fully 
convinced that a misdemeanor had been committed. We concluded to 
go in difierent directions and inform the mother of the missing girl, 
who resided in Dad Joe Grove, or in that vicinitj', and the neighbor- 
hood generally. He went west and south, and I north and east, and 



634 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

hy niglit near a hundred people had gatliered. We searched that night 
throngli the woods and grass, and the next day until noon, and liually 
Crofts' house. Crofts had stated that the girl had taken all her clothes 
with her. While searching the second story we discovered that one 
of the ceiling boards had marks of having been recently moved and re- 
placed. We took ofi the board and found the best clothes of the miss- 
ing girl, and under them implements for making counterfeit half 
dollars. These incidents strengthened the convictions of foul plav. A 
consultation of the crowd was had, and two (W. B. Stuart and James 
Blainsen) w'ere deputed to goto Dixon for a boat with which to explore 
Green river. There was an element of the credulous who sent two 
(Samuel Meek, jr., and Patrick McFadden) to consult a fortune-teller. 
The search was continued while these committees were gone, but 
without success. The committees returned ; the one with a boat and 
Nathaniel G. N. Morrill, the owner, and the other reporting that the 
fortune-teller said a murder had been committed, and five persons were 
implicated, that the one who had committed the overt act had neither 
boots on nor was barefooted, that he was ragged, and wore a straw hat, 
that the law would never be enforced against any of them, and yet the 
public would be satisfied that they were the ones who were concerned 
in the matter. Perkins wore moccasins and otherwise answered the 
description of the one first spoken of. The search went on. This N. 
G. N. Morrill was peculiarly well adapted for working in business like 
this. About this time Stuart and Blair, each with a party of men, 
went to their respective homes for dinner, and when Blair arrived his 
wife informed him that Perkins had been there during the forenoon, 
looking pale and haggard, and inquired of her if they had dragged the 
lower bayou. She told him she did not know, and he went away 
hurriedly. Blair deemed this important tidings, hurried through his 
dinner, and came to Stuart's with the information, and on consultation a 
complaint was made and a warrant was issued by 'Squire Stuart for the 
arrest of Perkins, and placed in the hands of Constable Willard and 
Richard Meek. Previous to this Perkins had been living in a shanty 
in the grove, about half way between Crofts' and the bayou. On the 
search being instituted, he removed his family and eflfects to his father- 
in-law's, Reuben Bridgman, a little north of the present limits of the 
city of Amboy. The constable, with his assistants, proceeded to Mr. 
Bridgman's and were informed by him that Perkins had taken his rifle 
only a short time before and went into the cornfield (of about 30 acres) 
to hunt chickens. 

More assistants were procured, and the cornfield was surrounded. 
By this time it was about ten o'clock at night, with a bright moon. 
The family at Mr. Bridgman's were in bed except Perkins' wife. The 





a%t'>-k 



EAST GECVE TOWNSHIP. 637 

old gentleman got up and stated that Perkins had not yet returned 
since going into the cornfield in the afternoon. He pointed to a cotton- 
wood tree, which he said was in the direction Perkins had taken, that 
a little before sunset they heard the report of a gun which they 
supposed was a shot at prairie-chickens. Constable Willard, with Richard 
Meek, James Keeling, W. B. Stuart, and F. R. Dutcher, went in the 
direction of the tree, and a few rods before reaching it they found Per- 
kins lying on his back, dead. Notice was given to those around the 
field, and a crowd was soon there. Perkins was still grasping his gun 
with both hands, and the toe of his moccasined foot was in the guard 
on the trigger, the muzzle on his breast. A portion of the skull was 
found nearly a rod from the body, the inside powder-burnt. The coro- 
ner (Solomon Parker) was sent for, who summoned a jury of inquest. 
The}' investigated the case and rendered the following verdict : " The 
undersigned being duly summoned and qualified by the coroner of Lee 
county, as a jury of inquest on the dead body of Samuel Perkins, found 
dead in the cornfield near Reuben Bridgman's, believe the said Perkins 
came to his death by shooting himself with a rifle-gun through the 
head." (Signed) " Jessee Hale, foreman ; W. B. Stuart, Richard 
Meek, Francis H. Northway, Joseph Farwell, William M. Hopkins, 
Samuel Bixby, Elisha Palmer, John C. Church, Ira P. Hale, John 
Skinner, R. P. Treadwell. Inlet precinct, August 3, 1849." Mean- 
while the search for the missing girl had been going on. This Mr. 
Morrill adopted the plan of going down the stream to where it loses 
itself as to having a channel by spreading over the swamp, and by 
wading upward thoroughly searching every part. It was a dry time 
and the water quite low. This plan was followed, and when the 
mouth of the little bayou (as the coroner termed it in his report) was 
nearly reached, the body was found. Tlie upper part of the face was 
bruised as though struck with some heavy substance, and some insist 
that a bullet-hole was in the forehead. The excitement ran high, the 
male portion of the country for a dozen or more miles in every di- 
rection had come out. Coroner Parker was among the number and at 
once impaneled a jury of inquest, who took possession of the body 
and held their inquest. The following witnesses were examined, as the 
records show : Drs. J. B. Gregory, of Dixon, and Harmon Wasson, of 
Amboy, as physicians ; Samuel Meek, sr., Eli Shaw, John Koons, Hyra 
Axtell, X. G. H. Morrill, Samuel Shaw, Richard Meeks, T. L. Dennis, 
Charles Crofts, Sally Perkins, Catharine Shaw, and Lyman Hubbard. 
After the examination closed, the following verdict was rendered : 
" We, the undersigned, having been summoned and sworn to hold a 
jury of inquest on the dead body of Silena Montgomery, found dead 
in Inlet creek, in Winnebago precinct, Lee county, and State of Illi- 
38 



638 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

nois, aud having attended to tlieir duty by a faithful examination of the 
said body, and by an examination of witnesses in the case and all dili- 
ge' "; inquiry they iiave been able to institute, do report their verdict to 
be, that the said Sileiia Montgomery came to her death by violence, and 
that one Samuel Perkins, late of Lee county, was the immediate agent 
in procuring her death, as we verily believe." (Signed) " George E. Has- 
kell, foreman ; Joseph Gardner, Sabin Trowbridge, I. Means, Alva 
Hale, L. D. Wasson, Lewis Olapp, Cyrus Williams, Philip Mowry, 
Joseph Lewis, Ozias Wiieelcr and B. F. Brandon. Winnebago pre- 
cinct, August 4, 1849." The circumstances surrounding led to the con- 
clusion that Crofts, Eli Shaw, and the two others that were found mow- 
ing for Crofts at the commencement of the search, were implicated in 

the affair. Warrants were issued, and W. B. Stuart and Curtis 

were deputed to arrest Crofts and Shaw. They, with Hyra Axtell, 
started, and on the way, near Samuel Meek's, they found a team and 
lumber wagon, and in it lay Eli Shaw dead. One report is that he died 
from the effects of strychnine and whisky, and that it was found that 
be had purchased some of the former at Dixon, of Dr. Gregory, on that 
day. From the records in Dixon it is found that a coroner's inquest 
was not held until March 1, 1850. As his death occurred so long be- 
fore this he was probably buried and exhumed when the inquest was 
held. The verdict was as follows : "Verdict of the coroner's jury, im- 
paneled to ascertain how and in what manner the body of Eli Shaw 
came to its death. We, the jury in said case, do find that Eli Shaw 
came to his death from causes to the jury unknown. DLxon, March 1, 
1850." (Signed) " John Dement, foreman ; A. L. Porter, A. H. Eddy. I. 
Means, N. F. Porter, J. W. Davis, J. M. Cropsy, C. A. Smith, John 
V. Eustace, Thomas H. Ayers, Cyrus Williams, N. G. H. Morrill." 

After leaving the body of Shaw in the care of Meeks the three be- 
fore mentioned went on to Crofts' house, arriving there at a late hour 
of the night. Near the door they found a horse and spring-wagon 
and a trunk in the wagon. Crofts was about ready to go away. 
Through a rit't in the window curtain they saw him load one pistol and 
lay it upon the table near him and take up another and commence to 
load it. At this juncture the door was burst open, the loaded pistol 
and Crofts grabbed at the same time, and Crofts duly ironed by the 
arresting party. The trunk was taken from the wagon, Crofts placed 
in it, and Stuart hurriedly drove to Dixon and delivered the prisoner to 
the jailor. Crofts' wife and her brother, John Bryant, were in the 
house at the time of the arrest but did not attempt to interfere. The 
remaining two implicated oties left this vicinity, but were heard of at 
Peoria, and the otKcers having the warrants for their arrest proceeded 
there, found and took them in charge. They were ironed and placed 



EAST GROVE TOWNSHIP. 639 

upon a steamer for Peru, there to take the stage for Dixon. Not long 
after leaving Peoria tlie prisoners, having the privilege of walking 
about the boat, watched their opportunity and simultaneously threw 
themselves overboard and were drowned, the irons upon them facili- 
tating to make an etfectual taking oft' in this way. Of the five impli- 
cated only Crofts now remained alive. He remained in jail, having 
been indicted by the grand jury August 23, 1819, and the case con- 
tinued to the next term. His wife visited him occasionally, and a few 
days before the term time and shortly after one of these visits the 
jailor, calling at the cell, found Crofts with his throat cut and life ex- 
tinct; a razor lay by with which the deed was done. The next day a 
coroner's inquest was lield, which resulted in the following verdict : 
' Upon the view of the body of Charles Crofts, now lying dead in the 
jail of Lee county, at Dixon, Illinois, we, the jury of inquest duly im- 
paneled and sworn diligently to inquire, and a true presentment make, 
how, in what manner and by whom or what the body of the said 
( 'iiarles Crofts, which here lies dead, came to its death, do find that 
Ihe said Charles Crofts came to his death by cutting his own throat 
with a razor on the afternoon of the 22d November, a. d. 1819, while 
confined in the jail of Lee county.' (Signed) ' William W. Heaton, 
foreman : Charles Dement, E. W. Hines, J. B. Brooks, James Benja- 
min, A. M. Pratt, R. B. Loveland, James Campbell, Horace Preston, 
E. B. Blackman, Gilbert Messer, Elias B. Stiles. Dixon, Lee county, 
Illinois, November 23, 1819.' The theory generally held in relation 
to this matter, which caused the murder of the girl Selina, is as fol- 
lows : Crofts' premises was considered a rendezvous of the banditti of 
those times. Crofts owned the turnpike across the Winnebago swamps 
and kept the toll-gate at the south end, it being near the center of 
Sec. 3, of East Grove. Several individuals had been known to pass 
over the turnpike from the north and were not heard from afterward, 
especially a peddler who had formerly frequented these parts, and it is 
supposed this hired girl knew so much of the workings of this ban- 
ditti that the}' concluded it was not safe for her to live, and as 'dead 
men tell no tales,' they murdered her. Crofts planned the mode of 
proceeding, Perkins was guilty of the overt act, and the other three 
helped to secrete the body, so all were, as principals or accessories, 
participants in the matter." 



640 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 



Wyoming, the southeastern township of Lee county, is the con- 
gressional T. 37 N., E. 2 E. of the 3d P.M., and is bounded north by 
Willow creek, on the east by Paw Paw in De Kalb county, south by 
Earlville in La Salle county, and west by Brooklyn. In the days of pre- 
cincts it formed the south third of Paw Paw precinct, and when set off 
and organized as a township in 1850 was named Paw Paw township, 
and since the beautiful grove, hereafter described, that gave this name 
stands almost whollj' in this township, and the post-office is named Paw 
Paw Grove, it would seem that this name should have been retained. 
But as the township next east chose the same name, it became neces- 
sary that one of the contending parties renounce its favorite name. It 
is reported, but by no means verified, that when contention began to 
wax hot the question was left to be decided by lot, and that the lot 
fell on our time-honored Paw Paw of Lee county. And it may be 
thought by some that this ill turn of luck is what has tended to give 
to the citizens of Wyoming their proverbial love for whatever is straight 
and honest and of good report, as opposed to games and " options " of 
luck and chance. Be that as it may, it cannot be doubted that the 
citizens of township 37 did then, and do to-day, fervently love their pio- 
neer name. On the plat of their chief village we read : " Town of Paw 
Paw Grove." Two other villages on the township lines are designated 
South Paw Paw and East Paw Paw, and naturally the term West Paw 
Paw is much used, while the abrupt business man everywhere seems par- 
tial to the short old name, and the railroad authorities, in deference to 
a prevailing sentiment, so named the station. " But what's in a name," 
eays the poet, and so said tlie people. No ill-will seems to have been 
engendered. The change was ordered here, so at the suggestion of 
James Goble, and in deference to tlie wishes of the many who came 
from the beautiful valley of Wj-oraing, the present name was adopted 
by the county commissioner's court, Isaac Harding, Warren Badger 
and Lorenzo Wood comprising said court, and on May 14, 1851, the 
board of supervisors ordered that "the township formerl}' called Paw 
Paw shall hereafter be called Wyoming." 

The first settlers located around Paw Paw Grove. This is still 
a charming piece of forest. It is some three miles long, and from one 
to two miles wide. It lies east of the railroad station and about three- 
fourths of it in W^'oming. From its northeast corner Paw Paw creek 
runs through it in a southeasterly direction, and after making a junc- 
tion with Indian creek empties into the Illinois river. A small tree or 
shrub, unknown to many people in other parts of the United States, 
east and north, grows freely in this grove and bears a sweet, edible 
fruit, somewhat like the banana in flavor, but often larger in size. 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 641 

This is the papaw. It was a favorite with the Indians, and gives its 
name (somewhat changed in spelling) to a considerable number of 
places. When the white settlers first came " the timber," as they 
called this tract, contained about two thousand acres. Unlike other 
groves, it was free from underbrush. The sugar maple was very 
abundant. There were many large black walnut trees, four kinds of 
oak, the hickory, and Cottonwood, with a few butternuts and syca- 
mores. " From one of the maples that grew here," says a well known 
physician, "in 1855, I sold considerable lumber and had left enough 
wood to supply all the fires of my family for a year." Plums, black- 
berries and gooseberries were also plentiful here. On the east side, 
near the county line, was an excellent spring, where the water bubbled 
up from the bottom, pure, sparkling and abuudant, and never freezing 
in winter. At the northwest corner was another, in all respects equal 
to the former, and with a volume that seemed inexhaustible. It was 
the great and constant feeder to Paw Paw creek. These springs were 
treasures in those early days when water fit to drink was rarely seen 
by travelers in the west. James Goble, who came in 1837, says he has 
frequently seen an acre of wagons camped around the latter spring,where 
now stands the Oak Grove creamery, supplied by this same spring. 
The prairie grass of this region was remarkable in quantity, and equal 
to grain in quality, while in the lowlands a rider on horseback could 
tie the tall, rank slough-grass together above his head. Yet it was very 
healthy and free from ague. When 'Rev. Caleb Morris was seeking the 
most healthful location he learned from the Indians that this was their 
favorite resort for raising their papooses. Here then were great 
attractions for emigrants, but the tenure of the land was uncertain, 
for it was generally believed that this grove was included in Indian 
reservations; and the old chief Wabonsie and his tribe still had their 
home within its limits when the whites began to reside here. As is 
well known, the Black Hawk war did not close till 1832. It had 
raged from Dixon southward, as well as elsewhere, and included this 
region. For at Indian creek, not far away, there had been a horrible 
massacre, and Wabonsie and his neighbor Shabbona had taken part 
in the campaign, though these noble red-men fought on the side of the 
whites. For a year later there were disturbances from disatfected 
Indians; hence it was not until midwinter of 1833-4 that any white 
men came here and stayed even a short period, so as to make claims upon 
the land. It was nearly fifty years ago, yet quite a number of the 
early settlers are still living. Reminiscences of frontier life and adven- 
ture and the strange contrasts of the old times with the present, 
which they describe, have oftentimes a fascinating interest. At one 
period there were desperate men here, horse thieves, counterfeiters and 



642 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

gamblers, who gave their locality a hard name for a long time, down 
to as late as 1860 ; but it is matter of grateful record that those who 
gave direction to atfairs, the men who have made Wyoming what it is 
to-day, were strong, brave, fearless and shrewd. These old people will 
soon he gone. By their hearty couperation in the effort of the histo- 
rian they have done a service which all readers will appreciate. Dates 
and details are usually dry and tedious: but the records of the first 
things that relate to our own hearthstones are specially valuable in 
local annals. 

It seems clear that Levi Kelsey was the first to emigrate here. He 
is now deceased. But in the later j'ears of his life he resided at Men- 
dota. where he was president of the bank. Hon. O. W. Bryant, who 
knew him well, speaks in high terms of his kindness, integrity and 
capacity for business. His widow, Mrs. E. S. Kelsey, writes from Men- 
dota, August 2, 1881, substantial!}- as follows: Mr. Kelsey- had traveled 
over most of this state, and was well acquainted with its history. He 
was favored with a remarkable memory for dates, places, persons, etc. 
He was the first person, with one Joel Griggs, to make a claim and 
build a house at Paw Paw Grove, in the winter of 1S33-4. But be- 
lieving he was on the Indian reservation, and not being able to ascer- 
tain the correct boundaries, he abandoned the claim, and came to Troy 
Grove, I think, in March. I came out west in September 1834, and 
remember Mr. David A. Town coming to our house to inquire about 
the claim at Paw Paw and the chance of being disturbed. Nothing 
was said about buying the claim, for I do not believe that Mr. Kelsey 
ever thought that he had a right to anything at Paw Paw. I was pres- 
ent and heard their conversations. It was in December or January 
that my husband went to Paw Paw Grove. Often heard him tell 
about it, and of having Indians for neighbors, and of fun with the lat- 
ter on occasion of cutting a bee-tree. The Indians induced Griggs to 
cnt several trees for them, but not finding the right one he became 
tired of it ; then they tried my husband, who refused to cut any. They 
then set their squaws to chopping, who, after several failures, succeeded 
in finding plent}- of honey. Mr. Kelsey was largely rewarded for his 
bravery in refusing to work for them, and pronounced "good shemoka 
man "; while Mr. Griggs was " shemoka squaw ishnoba," no good. 

There was a prevailing belief shared by j)rominent citizens, among 
whom may be named A. J. Harrington, Esq., and ex-Sheriff James 
Goble, that Mr. Kelsey settled here before the Black Hawk war. The 
circumstantial evidence on their side seemed almost conclusive, in the 
absence of positive proof to the contrary. But Mrs. Kelsey fortifies her 
statement by a sulisequent letter, and does it so well that doubtless the 
gentlemen named, will gracefully allow the lady to hold her posi- 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 643 

tiou. She writes UctoDer 7, 1881 : " I liave looked over my husband's 
inenioraiidnm book, and also bis account of partnership witb Joel 
Griggs, and find that tbe date of their going to Paw Paw Grove was 
January 20, 1834. I have often heard Mr. Kelsey say that he was the 
first settler there. As to iiis being there in 1829, that is all bosh ; for 
he came west in the fal' of 1828, peddling clocks, under a twenty 
months' engagement. His route was in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louis- 
iana, and other southern states. I have an account of his being sick at 
Alexandria, and a man dying in the bed beside him. Thence he went 
to St. Louis, where he was unwell all winter ; then he was at Palmyra, 
Illinois, for a time, studying with a physician ; was again in St. Louis, 
in ill-health, at the breaking out of the cholera in 1832; then engaged 
in peddling dry goods and Yankee notions in Illinois, for a St. Louis 
firm, and continued so to do till he went to Paw Paw in 1834. Mr. 
Kelsey was not in northern Illinois until about the time of the break- 
ing out of the war. He would not have gone so far up as the rapids 
of the Illinois river, because the country was not settled enough to in- 
duce any one to peddle in it." 

Tracey Reeve, president of the Citizens' National Bank of Prince- 
ton, Illinois, writes July 27, 1881, as follows : " I went to Paw Paw 
Grove in May, 1834, with three other men, to locate claims; but 
concluded, from the best information we could get, that the grove was 
reserved for Indians. We saw no person there, white or Indian. We 
camped there over night in some Indian huts. It was very cold for 
the time of year, and a terrible storm raged there during the night. I 
had quite an adventure in getting from there to Troy Grove, the nearest 
settlement, but suppose you will not care to hear about that." An old 
neighbor of Mr. Reeve, who had boated down the Mississippi with 
him in eai'ly days, and who now resides in Wyoming, tells what that 
adventure was. After leaving Paw Paw Grove Mr. Reeve came to 
a creek, where the water was so high it overflowed some distance 
beyond the banks. In attempting to cross his wagon was ups,et, and 
himself thrbwn headforemost over the dasher. Next morning, when 
about to pay his tavern bill at Troy Grove, he missed his silver money, 
about eight dollars. He retraced his course to the scene of the mishap, 
found the money, and was about to start again, when he was confronted 
by some thirty Indians. They acted as if they would make trouble, 
but with his slow team he could not avoid them ; being a man, how- 
ever, of great presence of mind, and knowing a few of their words, 
he drove boldly up to them, said "Good morning" in Indian lan- 
guage, and passed or. without hindrance. A moment after there broke 
forth from them the loudest laugh he ever heard. They had anticipated 
some amusement at his expense. These statements settle some ques- 



644 HISTORY OF LEE COTJNTT. 

tions which have arisen as to priority of residence. And while due 
credit is awarded to those who were on the ground before him, the 
higher praise must be given to David A. Town, as the first white set- 
tler around this grove who stuck w here he located claims. He was 
a native of Vermont, emigrated to Marion county, Ohio, and thence 
to Paw Paw Grove in the fall of 1834. He is described, by one of his 
neighbors who kept tavern in Dixon, as a man of determined will, a 
leader in local affairs, capable and square in business. "I have 
known him to refuse to sell seed grain for a high price, saying: 'you 
can buy it elsewhere ; but I have poor neighbors who cannot get 
money to buy. I shall give the seed to them.' " His nephew, Hosea 
R. Town, gives below very interesting reminiscences in this connec- 
tion: "Uncle David A. Town was the first white man who settled at 
Paw Paw Grove. He built his first house on the southeast side of the 
grove, just west of the farm now owned by Pierpont Edwards. It was 
a log house, 16x18 feet, with a door in the east side, one six-lighted 
window in the west side, and a big fireplace and chimney in the north 
end. This chimney was built outside of the house, so as to give more 
room inside. It was made of sticks split out with the fro, and laid 
cob-fashion, and then plastered inside and out with mud made from 
common clay. The floor of the house was made from boards that were 
split from logs cut the length we wanted, and then hewed with a 
broad-axe. The roof was made of shakes split out with the fro about 
three feet long, and four or five inches wide, and then laid double onto 
poles placed lengthwise of the house to hold them up, and then another 
pole laid on to hold them down, and then another layer of shakes with 
the butts to this pole, and then anotiier pole to hold them down, and 
so on till the roof was completed." O. P. Johnson, now of Brooklyn, 
who i-ived the shingles, says this house was built by himself and three 
others in a day and a half, in ]S'ovember 1834. Uosea R. Town con- 
tinues: "David A. Town made a claim here, and broke and fenced 
twenty acres, and in the fall sowed ten of it with winter wheat. He 
then bought half of the ' Ogee section,' owned by Mrs. Job Alcott, a 
half-breed French and Indian woman, for §1,000 in silver. He then 
left here and went to the north end of the grove, and built his second 
house, which John Patrick now owns. When my father got here, in 
December 1835, he took the first house and south half of that claim." 
Those who knew this brave pioneer most intimately say of him : 
"David A. Town was a square man, a true friend, but a bad enem\'." 
Says one: "I have known men to go to him with the money to buy 
seed grain, and offer a high price, yet he would refuse to sell it, saying, 
'You are able to buy elsewhere; I have needy neighbors to whom I 
must give this.' " 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 645 

The following picturesque description of the man is by Andrew 
Breese : "David A. Town was a remarkable man, known all over this 
country. Smart, energetic, jolly, drank a little when away from home,but 
not so much as not to know what he was about ; square man ; wanted 
to rule; wanted others to come to him for advice; very resolute, 
large size, strong, rough man, cock of the walk ; as long as he lived 
was for Paw Paw." 

There came with David A. Town, in 1834, his wife and four chil- 
dren. The latter were named George, Martha, David A., jr., and 
Sarah. The father was wont to say of his good wife : " With all my 
faults, Betsey never gave me a cross word." Going with Aunt Boxy 
horseback, both on one horse, to make a visit, the former lady pru- 
dently carried her shoes in her hand, not wearing any, but meaning to 
put them on just before the end of the journey. Being thrown off 
into a slough, holding up her new shoes she congratulated herself: 
" There, I have saved my shoes." With such an example, economy 
became a cardinal virtue in the community. Mrs. Town was loved 
and respected by all who knew her. 

A stranger having inquired of David A. Town one day when meet- 
ing him for the direction to a certain place, and then taking an oppo- 
site course, Town's suspicions were aroused. Pursuing the stranger 
on horseback, he overtook him, drew out of him the confession that he 
was a counterfeiter, discovered and captured his dies, and the man was 
sent to the penitentiary. What Deacon Hallock said afterward of the 
daring and quick wit of two of the leading citizens was true also of 
other good men here. " Town and Bryant were a terror to horse 
thieves and counteifeiters." The former was an early justice of the 
peace, and his appointees, like himself, were incarnations of the terror 
of the law. Later, wlien the township was organized, he was its first 
supervisor, serving two terms. He died in 1861. He and his wife 
were buried in the gravej'ard lialf a mile south of Paw Paw. Only 
two of his children are now living, David A., jr., a broker at Earlville, 
and Sarah, now Mrs. Terrj', at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

The settlement begun by Town was largely augmented the same 
fall by the arrival of the Harrises, Butterfield, Ploss, and Wilcox. All 
these belonged to the same general family who emigrated from Michi- 
gan in one company, and of whom the Rev. Benoni Harris, then past 
three score and ten, was the venerable head. This family', a little col- 
ony in numbers, consisted of eight grown-up children, besides Father 
Harris and his equally aged wife. The children were Benjamin and 
Benoni, Stephen and Joseph, Polly, Thankful, Amanda and Delilah. 
Six were married. Polly was the wife of Edward Butterfield, and 
these had a son, Solomon. The next two were married to John Ploss 



646 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

and John Wilcox. Next year Delilah was married, of which event 
more farther on. 

Butterfield, while serving in the Black Hawk war, had seen this 
locality, and being delighted with its attractive features, resolved to 
make it his future home. Returning after the Indians had been van- 
quished, he had no difiicult}' in persuading his relations to emigrate. 
Benoni Harris, sr., was a Methodist preacher. Both himself and wife 
are buried in Ralph Atherton's garden, at the southeast corner of Paw 
Paw Grove. Hers was the first death at the grove. The dwelling 
occupied the first winter by these immigrants was a double log cabin 
erected on their arrival. Somewhat later a frame house, the first in 
all this region, was built by Harris. It may yet be seen, a few rods 
west of the original site, on James Ketcham's land. Having been 
sawed asunder, a part of it is used for a dwelling, and the rest for a 
corn-bin. 

In the spring of 1835 Butterfield came up to the west end of the 
grove, made a claim on the S.E. J of Sec. 10, and built a cabin near 
where Hendrick Roberts is living, in the outskirts of Paw Paw, but 
on the south side of the Chicago road. This embraced substantially 
that part of Paw Paw lying east of Flagg and North streets. One 
season was all he spent here before returning to the east end of the 
grove. This dwelling was an historical one, as the following facts 
show: It was the first house; it was on the first claim; it was the 
home of the first couple married in the township; it was the first store, 
and the first house to be burned. 

It is a generally accepted tradition that David A. Town was the 
original permanent settler of Wyoming township. This belief shows 
how easily error becomes perpetuated. His claim to priorit}- is limited 
to Paw Paw Grove, at the east end of which he settled, as already 
described. He spent the summer of 1835 at that point, where he 
fenced twenty acres, and that year sowed the land to fallwheat. Early 
the same year he claimed the S.W. ^ of Sec. 11 in this township, and 
removed to it with his family, we feel safe in saying, not before the 
early autumn. While yet living on the first claim an attempt was 
made to jump the second, and a cabin was started ; but Mr. Town, 
with his characteristic resolution, expelled the interloper by driving 
his team off the claim when he was at work. Butterfield sold his 
claim, on which was the "Big Spring," now covered by Wheeler's 
creamery, and which was then an object of value, for about $20, either 
to David or George Town, probably to the former, for whom the latter 
occupied it on his marriage and held it. The cabin was south of the 
road. In 1837 George Town built a hewed log house north of the 
road, but farther west, near Grummond's corner, and, changing his 



WYOIIING TOWNSHIP. 647 

location, lived there till 1856, when he moved to Kansas, where he 
died in January 1870, leaving his family in good circumstances. His 
widow is yet living. 

About the time that Butterfield was making the first beginning in 
tlie township, on the present site of Paw Paw village, John Ploss 
made a small improvement on the south side of the grove, and in like 
manner led the way to the settlement of south Paw Paw. He built 
his house in the woods, on the bank of the creek, some fort}' rods north 
of Deacon Hallock's, and fenced five acres of ground, but remained not 
later than fall, when he went back to Michigan. Eber St. John bought 
the claim. Tliis man had some property, was inoffensive, and too 
forceless to keep the best company. In a little while he moved to 
Shabbona, where he mysteriously disappeared, and it was supposed that 
he had been murdered for his mone}'. His claim embraced the larger 
part of South Paw Paw, and was purchased by Deacon Orlando Board- 
man. 

Isaac or Asahel Balding was one of the first settlers in the town- 
ship, having arrived as early as 1835, and located on the Dixon and 
Chicago road, midway between the two Paw Paws, where he kept the 
first stage-house and tavern. Deacon Hallock's definition of the early 
tavern, that " it was a place where blacklegs congregated," has a veri- 
table illustration in the history of this one, as related by Hosea Town : 
^' Balding sold out to William Rogers, he to Dick Allen, he to John 
Simms, who mortgaged the place for S-100, to get his son John out of 
jail in Chicago for passing bogus money, and never redeemed it. All 
these, except Balding, were regular bandits. The stage stopped at this 
house as long as it ran by Paw Paw.'" Simms had the stand in 1810, 
and it was the only tavern then at the grove ; but travelers, as was the 
custom, put up anywhere. Stages were put on this route, between 
Galena and the village of Chicago, in 1831. 

Gillett came in 1835, and died tlie same season of cholera in Chi- 
cago. In December of this year came Russell Town, before alluded 
to, who resided on the old place, at the east end of the grove, eleven 
years, then removed to the William Strader place, two miles west of 
Paw Paw. He died in this township December 31, 1867. His widow, 
still living in Paw Paw, is the sole surviving representative of those 
having families and settling at the grove prior to 1837. They brought 
five children : Hosea, Harriet, David, Zerah, and Elizabeth, and four 
were subsequently born: Caroline, the first at the grove, April 21, 
1836; Oscar, Ellen, and Eliza. Hosea, David, Caroline and Eliza 
have always been residents of Wyoming, and to the two former we 
owe acknowledgment for reliable pioneer information. 

One Algar, settled at Four-Mile Grove, in this township, in 1835 



648 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

or 1836. He died not many years after, and his grave, the first at this 
grove, is in the highway in front of George Yenerick's, where a tall 
cherry stump stands sentry over the hallowed spot. 

In 1836 Job Alcott arrived and built a cabin equi-distant between 
the two Paw Paws; this and the Butterfield or George Town cabin, 
were the only ones on the south side of the Chicago road for many 
years. Alcott's was succeeded by the " Hollow House,'' noted for its 
dancing-hall and bar. About 1848 S. P. Rogers, ppened a country 
store in this building. Originally from Ohio, he had married, in Illi- 
nois, the Pottawatomie Indian woman Madaline, former wife of Joseph 
Ogee, a half-breed. She owned the Ogee reservation, which contained 
640 acres, and was secured to her by the treaty of Prairie du Chien, 
July 29, 1829. About the first conveyances in this county pertained 
to this tract. David A. Town purchased the west half, as before stated, 
for $1,000. He got 170 rods in width for 160 (best half of bargain). 
Later, "William Rogers bought the remainder. 

The first plat of this section was made by Willard Hastings. It 
was never recorded, and by reason of this omission the land could not 
be sold for ta.ves, the collection of which was for a long time precarious 
and troublesome. After tedious but patient examination, William 
McMahan, county surveyor, discovered the witness trees, marked "O 
G," and in 1880 ran out the boundaries, platted the land, and recorded 
the plat. The Le Clair reservation, granted to Pierre Le Clair by the 
same treaty of Prairie du Chien, was surveyed in 1843 by Wheeler 
Hedges, and by him the survey was also legally recorded. The north 
and south road opposite the old Morgan house divided the two reser- 
vations, which comprised the greater part of Paw Paw Grove. Charles 
Pierce says Samuel J. Best and Augustus Wiley bought the Le Clair 
reservation of 640 acres for $2.25 per acre. Wareham or Wiram Gates, 
everywhere known as " Bogus" Gates, purchased part of the land from 
Wiley. 

Charles Morgan and wife and seven children probably came in 
1836, from Virginia, and the ne.xt year he was keeping tavern half a 
mile east of David A. Town's house. William Rogers, already men- 
tioned, came in 1836. He was the first postmaster, having his office 
near Morgan's tavern. The next post-office was fifteen miles east of 
him. He was a man of versatile genius ; had charge of the removal of 
the Indians from here to Council Bluffs in 1837; was an officer in the 
Mexican war, and afterward sherifi of Sacramento, California. 

Henry and Medad Comstock, brothers, and blacksmiths, arrived in 
1836. Both were drowned while hunting ducks in Iowa, in 1839 or 
1840. 

The first weddings were in 1836. On July 4, this year, Samuel 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 649 

McDowell, who now came to the southeast side of the grove and made 
his home there for a number of years, was married to Delilah Harris. 
This was the first marriage in this part of the country. Among the 
invited guests were Shabbona and two other Indians, who expressed 
great delight at the honor thus shown them. "After the wedding 
the men went into the grove, cut a liberty pole, brought it out on 
their shoulders, fastened the flag of our country to it, and raised it ; 
when the stars and stripes floated to the breeze there went up such a 
shout as never before went up at Paw Paw Grove."* The next wed- 
ding was that of George Town and Fidelia Sawyer, December 13, 
1836. This was the first in what is now Wyoming. A week later, 
December 20, remembered as the remarkabl}^ cold day, Levi Carter was 
married to the widow Gillett. Kev. Benoni Harris ofiiciated on these 
three occasions. 

Jacob D. Rogers came in 1837 from Pennsylvania. His claim of 320 
acres, mostlj', if not wholly, in Sec. 10, was next west of George Town's 
claim, and therefore included the west part of the site of Paw Paw. He 
was the first to settle out in the prairie, west of the grove, and was ridi- 
culed for it. Yet he was a remarkable man. He was very devout, and 
heartily respected by all. He became a member of the Anti-Outlaws' 
Societj', which seems to have been a vigilance committee that sought 
to bring big rascals to justice, and possibly one or two to a sudden end. 
He was a man of uncommon strength, an exhibition of which was liable 
to occur whenever his disgust (not wrath) was excited. At one time, 
when everything was brought by teams from Chicago, he was at that 
place, and among other things purchased a harrel of salt. He asked the 
man with whom he dealt to assist him to load it. The merchant made 
some trivial excuse for not doing so, whereupon " Uncle Jake," with the 
remark, " Go and soak your head," seized the barrel of salt and put it 
over the rear end gate of an old Pennsylvania wagon. At another time 
his wagon was standing near the fence across the road from his barn, 
wherein were five three-bushel sacks of oats, which he asked the two 
hired men to carry to the wagon while the boy hitched up the team. 
The men thought the wagon could be driven to the barn. This dis- 
gusted him at once, as he thought it smacked of laziness. He threw 
one sack on one shoulder, another on the other shoulder, then caused 
the men to put two more across them and the fifth still across those two, 
making a weight of four hundred and eighty pounds, then addressing 
the men said, " If either oTie of you men is too lazy to walk across the 
road I will carry him on top, if the other has ambition enough to put 
him there." He then carried the oats to the wagon. A stranger to 
fear, an inveterate talker, with the profoundest feelings of contempt and 

* Ilosea Town. 



650 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

disgust for his enemies, eitlier real or imaginary, his tongue was not 
infrequent!}' a source of great annoyance to those with whom he became 
displeased. On the other hand, whoever succeeded in arousing his 
sympathies had a regiment at command. He would hazard anything 
in assistance. He was a conductor and his house a station on the 
"underground railroad." Disliking drunken school-masters he built a 
school-house, hired a teacher, and joined to secure a good school, which 
speedily took the pupils from the other. His log house, which was 
built in 1837, stood where Mr. Kitchie's now is, on Sec. 10. His 
neighbors urged him to open a temperance tavern, but he declined. 
He, however, offered to furnish lodging and food to travelers and their 
horses for fifty cents a night, because the taverns were then charging 
two dollars and a half for it. They were compelled to come down to 
his prices, and kept to them for 3'ears, and he then turned over to them 
the patronage that came to him. 

James Goble, afterward sheritf, came with Rogers. Their wives 
were sisters. He says : " I have known Mrs. Rogers when a fire 
broke out to seize a kettle of water, mount a horse, dash away and ])ut 
out the flames." William Jenkins and family came in 1837. He 
says " Paw Paw was a strange place then. It seemed to me that every 
other man I met was hunting a horse-thief, and you couldn't tell wiiich 
was the thief — 'twas usually both." It was at this time that John 
Sims appeared, and kept tavern, west of David A. Town's. Sims had 
been a circus proprietor. It is said that when drunk he would some- 
times kick over the tables loaded with food for guests at his tavern. 
Counterfeit money was found afterward by tlie purchaser of the house 
where he had lived. 

The Butterfield or George Town cabin now passed into the hands 
of Wheeler Hedges, who arrived about this time. Willard Hastings 
was afterward in partnership with him, and the two kept tavern, 
stage-house, and store. The latter was final owner of the stand, which 
was burned down early in May 18-11. He made a claim of the James 
Fonda land and erected a cabin; and he also built twice on the Rob- 
erts propert}' in Paw Paw, first in 1841. The second was a frame 
house. A good business man, whose chief aim was to make money. 
He was killed on the railroad at Earlville and buried at Paw Paw a 
few years since. 

This year a thousand Indians were encamped for a week at the Big 
Spring at the northwest corner of the grove (now near Mr. Wheeler's). 
They had come from Indiana in their removal west, and this was the 
rendezvous where they were paid off' by the government. After re- 
ceiving their pa}' they went toShabbona Grove and were met by a cir- 
cus, which got away as much of their money as it could. The Indians 



AVYOMING TOWNSHIP. 651 

that lived in these parts had already heeu removed this year to their 
new ' ting-grounds in the west. Their burial-ground liere was near 
the southeast corner of Paw Paw Grove, occupying less than an acre of 
open ground. "There were," saj's William Jenkins, "some twenty of 
the dead reposing in a peculiar way. Each body was placed between 
two halves of a hollow log, which were supported above the ground 
upon posts. Other bodies were buried in the ground. The old chief 
Shabbona returned to this vicinity afterward to live, and died 1859. 
During the Black Hawk war he learned that the hostile savages were 
marching for the white settlements, intending to surprise and massacre 
all. At the peril of his life, alone, he spud his pon3' over the coun- 
try, warning every family as he hurried past. Most of them believed 
him and escaped. Those, or man}' of them, who delayed or sought to 
defend themselves where they were, perished. Ever after, this old 
chief, 'always courteous, a true gentleman,' was gratefully welcomed 
in Wyoming and wherever else known. He was distinguished, not 
for his eloquence, but for his influence among the tribes and his friend- 
ship for the whites. Both races ' had confidence in his truthfulness 
and good judgment.' When he visited Washington Gen. Cass intro- 
duced him to the crowd which had gathered to meet him, as ' the 
greatest Indian of the west and a true friend of the whites.' 

Waubonsie, chief of the tribe at Paw Paw Grove, was ever on the 
most friendly relations with Shabbona, and the latter and his tribe were 
frequent visitors to this place. These two chiefs counseled together 
like brothers. Waubonsie is described as having less force and influ- 
ence than Shabbona, whose advice he respected and followed. The 
trail from Chicago to the large Indian town at Rock Island, still to be 
seen at some points, ran past Shabbona Grove and along the south side 
of Paw Paw Grove. 

In 1838 Rev. Caleb Morris had arrived. It is said that his wife 
owned slaves at time of marriage, but he induced her to free them. 
With him came his daughter, the widow Nancy Robinson, and her 
children, one daughter and six sons. One of the latter, William, was 
afterward postmaster. These all located south of the grove. One 
Mead came this year. This cabin was the third on the south side of 
the Chicago road, near the county line, on a claim purchased from 
Benjamin Harris. To Four-Mile Grove came the second settler, Dun- 
bar, who died soon after. Deacon Orlando Boardman came in 1840, 
from Pennsylvania, and settled on a claim purchased from Eber St. 
John. "It was through his instrumentality chiefly," says Deacon 
Hallock, " that the first Baptist church was built at South Paw Paw. 
He had some means, was very benevolent, and made traveling 
preachers of every persuasion welcome. He formed an active factor 



652 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

in the iimJorgroiind railroad, as did many otliers round here, but 
some were on the opposite side. Charles Morgan told Deacon Board- 
man, "whether I am abolitionist or not, my iest mares are." Morgan 
liad a line span. Deacon Hallock, who also arrived this year, further 
informs us that there were then eighteen families encircling Paw Paw 
Grove, thirteen of whom were in this township. Of this number, be- 
sides those already named, there were White and French Pete. The 
same season Bailey Breese came and bought a claim of 160 acres from 
William Rogers, including nearly all that on which East Paw Paw is 
situated. Mr. Breese's family came in May 1841. Among his chil- 
dren were Andrew, now a merchant at Earlville; Phebe, now wife of 
Dr. Vosbury of the same place, and Vincent, wiio lives at East Paw 
Paw. Mr. Breese was a speculator in real estate in the east, a man of 
fine education, public spirited, and very influential in shaping affiiirs at 
the grove. Pete May and family came in IS-il. He bought from 
George Town nearly all the land on which the village of Paw Paw 
now stands, but never received a deed. He disappeared mysteriously 
about 1851, under such circumstances as to authorize the belief that he 
was foully dealt with. In 1870, while removing an old fence on his 
former place, some persons found a human body buried beneath it, sup- 
posed to be that of May. He was probably the victim of a drunken 
quarrel. Hon. O. W. Bryant in 1842 settled at Four-Mile Grove. 
Elder Norman Warriner came in 1843, and for twenty years was pas- 
tor of a Baptist church. The township and range lines were surveyed 
in 1838, but the sections were not run out until the winter of 1842-3. 
As soon as the last survey was finished preemptions were promptly 
made under the original act of 1841. Hitherto people had held title 
only by right of occupancy. A mutual protection society had existed 
to prevent claim-jumping, and Samuel McDowell was captain. An 
instance is given by Charles Pierce illustrating their treatment of of- 
fenders. A settler had given a home and employment to a lad till he 
could go out for himself and earn good wages ; but he made an un- 
grateful return by jumping one of the two forties which were his 
friend's all. Promptly the society met, and the ingrate defiant 
mounted a barrel to explain. He mistook his audience. One kick 
from the captain sent the barrel over, and others as quickly produced 
a rope which indicated its use. He begged mercy and left. This asso- 
ciation enforced its laws by etiective methods. Claim-jumpers recog- 
nized no law but that of force, and it was applied to them in a manner 
which, if it did not cure their wickedness, satisfied justice and restored 
rights. Moral suasion was first employed, but if the intruder was ob- 
durate some convincing proof of the power and settled intent of the 
community was given. Ducking was discovered to be useful from a 




''^^/^Z^J f.U^i^ 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 655 

temporal standpoint. Tying to a tree blindfolded and administering 
a Hogging by others also blindfolded, saved afterclaps in courts of law 
and had a practical etfect on the man at the tree. But such extreme 
resorts were rare. 

Later emigrants of prominence may be mentioned in biographical 
sketches in the following pages. Having named so many of tlie pio- 
neers, it will relieve the narrative and illustrate the times to present 
here a few 

INCIDENTS. 

Taverns were rather plenty on the Chicago and Dixon road, near 
Paw Paw Grove, but one of tliem coidd not accommodate many guests. 
Jacob Wirick kept tavern in this vicinity in early times. An old 
codger stopped here two days, and in making up his bed the women 
folks noticed a buckskin sack or purse filled with money, wliich, of 
course, was not disturbed, but taken from tliere by the guest on leav- 
ing. He was afterward committed to prison for horse-stealing. Being 
sick, he sent for his wife, and told her he liad buried a sack of gold 
near Paw Paw Grove, beside a fence, and marked the spot by a notched 
stake. His wife searciied but did not find it. The facts somehow 
getting out caused the women at the liotel to recall what they saw, and 
to look for the hidden treasure, but in vain. By accident, afterward, 
Harris Bi'eese noticed a notched stake near a fence and broke it off; 
meeting Mr. Hampton, a neighbor, he said : " I have found where that 
money was buried, go and help me dig it up"; but he did not believe 
there was any there. The two went to the spot, and, still incredulous, 
put in their spades and at once turned up about $900 in gold doub- 
loons. It was equally divided, and it is said tiiat Hampton invested 
his so opportunely in the purchase of land, tiien especially cheap, that 
it was the means of making iiim wealthy. 

In one part of the grove lived a man who was so favored by cir- 
cumstances and situation tliat his neighbors said if he had only been 
honest lie would have been rich. He did own much land, and had 
great chances for trade. But his peculiar dealing had caused him to be 
nicknamed " Bogus." He affirmed afterward that he had never made 
or passed counterfeit money, but some of the "stuff" was found near 
his residence. In iiis vicinity there was played the " box" game. Sup- 
posing money conld be bought at a liberal discount, an applicant would 
come for it; a sample box of the "stuff"," which was simply good coin 
in layers of sand, would be shown, with the remark that the negotia- 
tion could be arranged and price paid, but delivery of the base coin 
would onl}^ be made by its being at the foot of a certain tree at ten 
o'clock at night; but when the buyer came to the rendezvous in the 
39 



-#■ 



656 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

darkness, confederates of the otlier party would cry out : " Here he is; 
HOW we'll fix him!" and discharges of firearms and other alarms would 
cause the one who came to fiee in terror, without getting what he bar- 
gained for. It was unfortunate for the good name of "Bogus" that 
two horse-thieves, with property in possession, had taken shelter on his 
premises when caught. 

In the early days 'Squire David A. Town sent a prisoner to Syca- 
more in the custody of Charles Morgan, Dick Allen, and William 
Jenkins. One of these trio relates the incident. Recent rains ren- 
dered traveling slow and tedious, and draughts on the whisky jug 
frequent and heavy. Coming to an impassable slough they found it 
necessary to encamp for the night; but to their dismay they found 
the jug already emptied. A new supply could only be obtained by 
making a circuitous trip around the slough. The}' felt they could not 
pass the night without it, and as the guards were all unwilling to go, 
they threatened the prisoner with severe treatment if he should fail to 
come back, and sent him alone for the liquor. He returned before 
morning, havino: traveled the tedious ten miles. 

Mrs. Roxanna Town, now eigiity-two years of age, says : " I have 
carded the wool, spun, wove and made all kinds of cloth, linen, cotton 
and wool. These old hands have done a great amount of hard work." 
Oxen were often the onh- team, and "it was nothing unusual to go five 
or six miles to church with an ox team, or to get up. in the night, hitch 
the oxen, and pull the stage out of a slough." For want of a wagon, 
James Goble tells us that he placed an inverted table on a pair of 
wheels, packed in his family, and treated them to a ride after a team 
of oxen. Hosea Town, July 4, soun after he came, drove over to his 
father's with a sled and \r\\r of steers, giving his wife the pleasure of 
riding in such a rig. David Smith boasts that his brother had a pair 
of fast steers that were trotted to a blacksmith's, twenty miles away, 
for a plow to be sharpened, and then trotted back the same day. Of 
the small returns received for labor a few instances may be given. 
Says Hon. O. W. Bryant: "We hauled corn eighty miles to market 
in earl}' days, and then sold it for 14 cents a bushel; while for oats we 
received 10 cents, and for wheat 40 cents a bushel. We could not 
pay any hotel bills out of that money. Provision for man and team 
was carried from home, and poor shelter gratefully accepted." Said 
another farmer: " One year I raised 500 bushels of wheat, doing all 
the work, except exchanging labor for a reaper, with the help of my 
wife. She had been tenderly reared in a Massachusetts home, but went 
into the field and bound the grain. When the crop was sold we had 
left, clear of expenses, only $10 to pay for our toil." It was hard, in 
such cases, to make the payments to the government when the land 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 657 

came into market, but it was usually done; and to the children was 
thus secured this " goodly heritage." 

Deer were formerly numerous here, thoiigh they have long since 
disappeared. Prairie wolves are still found. A grand hunt was made 
for the latter February 9, 18i8. A circuit of about twenty-five miles 
was enclosed by the sportsmen, but it is reported that only one wolf 
was killed, and that by Chief Shabbona. But it is said there were 
frequent occasions, for a year or two, a little earlier than this time, 
when honest settlers turned out to hunt worse pests, with good success, 
and that was when they pursued horse-thieves. Raids by the latter 
caused good people to become minute-men for such emergencies. 
In small parties, or even singly, they followed the stolen animal so 
soon as the loss was known. The chase was exciting, sometimes 
dangerous, whether long or short. The result depended on the courage, 
promptness and sagacity of the hunters. At Four-Mile Grove, a farmer, 
rising early one morning, found a door had been broken through, and 
a basket taken containing corn. Calling his son, he said: "It was a 
horse-thief who did this, else he would have asked for what he knew 
would have been given in welcome, and have waited to feed." The 
two men instantly started in pursuit, before the track could be oblit- 
erated, and overhauled the rogue at Princeton. He was held in con- 
finement, though the only charge that could be sustained was the 
taking of the basket. But soon proofs came of his real occupation, 
and showed that he was just what his captors had suspected. 

The "August flood," familiar to all old settlers, began on August 
19, 1851. Says John Buchanan : "It rained incessantly three days and 
nights, and the sky was in a perfect blaze ; many thought the last day 
at hand. We did not leave the shanty during the time. Families 
could not get provisions. John Brittain's invitation to all was, 'Come 
to my potato patch and help yourselves.' New-comers had to subsist 
entirely on this article of food." The destruction to grain was im- 
mense ; not half a dozen stacks but were a total loss. D. M. Harris 
swam his horse three times in reaching Harding, where he found the 
creek a quarter of a mile wide. 

There are four public bnria]-])laces in the township. Willard Hast- 
ings gave the ground for the first, which is situated near James Fonda's. 
Near Lester Harding's is one; another, called the Baptist, where a 
church of that denomination once stood, is situated at South Paw Paw, 
and there is tlie Cottage Hill cemetery, owned by the Presbyterians. 
Fully a tenth of the grave-stones in these encampments of the dead are 
down, and a large percentage of those standing are in a crazy attitude. 
If prostrate humanity is the better typified by fallen marble, then bad 
workmanship and careless neglect should for once have credit. 



658 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

PATRIOTISM. 

Wyoming freely gave its best blood to figlit the battles of the 
country in tlie war of the rebellion. Some of the citizens advanced 
money to pay bounties, and to reimburse them. In 1865 the township 
authorized a special ta.\ of $5,566 to be levied for that purpose. Since 
it was so generous, spontaneous, the people have every reason to be 
proud of their loyalty. 

COMPANY K, 75TH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS. 

The only full command recruited in this township during the re- 
bellion was Co. K, 75th reg. 111. Vols.; but many of the members were 
from neighboring townships. Dr. George Ryon began raising the corn- 
pan}', but the enrollment was principally done by James H. Thompson 
and Berkley G. Barratt in the months of July and August 1862. The 
company went into camp at Dixon, where the regiment was organized, 
and was mustered into the United States service September 2. Dr. 
Ryon was tiie first captain, but being elected colonel of the 75th ho 
was succeeded by David M. Roberts. William H. Thompson was lirst 
lieutenant and Isaac L. Hunt second. Following is the roll of enlisted 
men : 

Berkley G. Barratt, William Nettleton, Walter V. Simons, John 
A. Slioud}-, Jonathan N. Hyde, James IT. Thompson, Joshua C.Wills, 
Merritt Miller, Orlando B. Jones, William M. Atherton, J. De Witt 
Abrams, Oscar M. Town, Frederick P. Mason, Joseph W. Agler, John 
E. Taylor, Ira W. Baker, George II. Baisley, George Beemer, Charles 
Carmer, William A. Conant, John M.Ditts, Frederick Dormoy, Lewis 
M. Faircliilds, Edward E. Ilallenbeck, James C. Ilowlett, Joseph N. 
Keen, Benjamin Kidney, James Miller, William Miller, J. William 
Miller, Sidney B. Radley, John S. Ryon, Lucas B. Schuyler, Orrin 
Sijco, James E. Taylor, Jacob Turk, John W. Unger, John Woodman, 
Zora Atherton (killed in battle at Perryville), George A. Brittain 
(ditto), Sidney Merriman (killed at Stone River), Francis Mills (killed 
in battle), William D. Baisley, William G. Dean, George Dormoy, 
Jacob D. Fuller, Benjamin S. Kipp, Joseph Miller, Silas Pringle, 
Fletcher Vickery, Menzo Coffin, James Hall, Franklin Ilarkins, J. 
Pondexter, Frank Atherton, John A. Hunt, Edward J. Rice, Stephen 
A. Farr, Eben Backus, Lawson Bell, John L. Baisley, Charles Blakcs- 
ley, William H. Christie, Francis M. (jase, Hiram E. Fuller, Orin J. 
Fiiday, Hiram Henry, Nathan liallock, Moses Hannon, Chauncey 
Miller, Simon K. McErn, Henry Merwine, Edward Prentice, Benja- 
min Radley, Charles Sutton, Theodore Spencer, Jacob Smuck, John 
Agler, John A. Barratt, Andrew E. Fuller, Samuel T. Foresman, 
Charles H. Golding, Jacob Gruse, George W. Hall, Philip Hackett, 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 659 

Christophei- C. Hodges, Cliarles II. Kelly, "William Mclntyre, Harvey 
A. Morris, Edgar A. Madison, Avery Merriman, Daniel Reams, Ed- 
ward A. Steele, Thomas P. Steele, Seymour Warren. 

In this list all from William D. Baisley to Fletcher Yickery, 
inclusive, died in the service. From Frank Atherton to Jacob Sninck, 
all were discharged. From John Agler to Seymour Warren, all were 
transferred on the muster-out of the regiment, most of them being 
recruits whose terms had not expired. The first reunion of these vet- 
erans was held at South Paw Paw, September 27, 1881, and a perma- 
nent organization x^as formed having for its objects the renewal of 
acquaintances, by having an annual banquet and social gathering, and 
the cherishing of fraternal respect by attending in a body the funeral 
of any member. In a notice of this gathering the Paw Paw " Herald " 
said : This gallant company of volunteers was mustered into the 
service and left Paw Paw with eighty-six men, joining the 75th regi- 
ment at Dixon. Their first engagement, in which they were placed 
foremost in the ranks, was the dreadful battle of Perryville. Here 
thirty-three of their number were killed, wounded and made prisoners. 
This conflict annihilated fifty per cent of their number, and cut them 
fearfully. Their last battle was at Nashville, after which only twenty- 
seven of the brave eighty-six answered to roll-call and were honorably 
discharged. They took active part in a great many of the leading 
battles of the bloody rebellion, doing valiant honor in the cause. We 
would like to give a full account of their long and wearisome " tramp " 
through the wilderness, supporting the tattered flag which they yet 
preserve in memory of the blood sacrificed and their dead comrades 
wiiose graves are by the wayside, but space forbids. 

TRAGEDIES. 

On March 12, 1879, William E. Rosette, living at East Paw Paw, 
being incited by jealousy, made a murderous assault upon his wife. For 
several years he cherished purely imaginary suspicions against her 
fidelity, until this black distrust developed in his bosom a viper that 
poisoned his whole life. He no doubt became a monomaniac; his 
conduct toward his wife was for a long time violent, and indicated his 
disposition, as he had declared it to be his intention, to murder her. 
They had ceased to share the .same couch, and her fears had become so 
marked that on retiring at night she never failed to bolt her door and 
stand the axe at her bedside. At the time described he attacked her 
with a potato-fork, striking her upon the head and inflicting bloody 
wounds. Her screams brought the daughter, who interfered and pre- 
vented further blows. His victim's sinking to the floor impressed him 



660 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

with the belief that he had accomplished his work, and dashing out of 
doors, across a field to a well, he ended his own life by drowning. 

In 1863 the city marshal of Mendota, accompanied by Daniel 
Mizenbaugli, William Mizenbaugli, and another man, called upon 
John Brittaiii in the night, and asked for assistance from him and his 
two sons, John and William, to arrest two horse-thieves named Horton 
and Raymond, who were making for Paw Paw in a bugg}' with three 
stolen horses tied behind. The Brittains joined the pursuing party 
with some reluctance, but having consented, and started upon the 
track, they did good service from that moment in trying to bring the 
• rascals to justice. These passed Brittain's place driving rapidly, and 
were followed by the ofiicer and his posse, who passed them near 
Hosea Town's. The marshal, Mizenbaugli, and the senior Brittain 
jumped from their carriage and faced the fugitives, and the officer 
commanded them to halt. At that instant llorton drew a weapon 
and shot at Brittain, the ball passing through his hat. Several shots 
were e.xchanged in quick succession, and the firing continued until 
Fonda's place was reached, w-hen the outlaws passed and their route 
was lost at the four corners. Surmising that they had gone in the di- 
rection of Paw Paw, the road leading to the town was taken and the 
team was overhauled at the bridge near the creamery, where it had run 
astride a sapling. llorton was found in a dying condition. Raymond 
had fled and has never more been seen in these parts. Horton was heard 
to cry out at the beginning of the encounter, and it is supposed that 
it was at that time he received the fatal missile in his body. The elder 
Brittain and his son William delivered themselves up to the law, re- 
ceived an examination before 'Scjuire Connell, of Paw Paw, and were 
discharged. 

Some time after the homicide a woman named Haines, from Wis- 
consin, appeared and claimed the horses. In the fall the father pre- 
sented himself to the grand jury at Dixon, with complaint against 
himself, but no bill was found. He was taken ill at the house of a 
friend and died suddenly. 

In the autumn of 1866 an affray, attended with fatal result, 
occurred on the Renssalaer Baker farm between William A. Conant 
and his father, Elihu C. Conant, on one side, and William Barber 
and his wife, principals, assisted by Christopher Srygley and Roderick 
Kavanaugh, on the other. Barber and his wife were from Canada, 
and about the time of harvest had come into the neighborhood. E. C. 
Conant had purchased the Barker farm the spring before, and sold the 
south half to his son William, and rented him the other, on which the 
buildings were located. Not long before the occurrence which we are 
about to relate took place, the senior Conant rented the house to the 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 661 

widow Kavanaiigh without the consent and against the remonstrance 
of his son, who had sole rigiit to the premises. The father was a 
quick-tempered, excitable man, and had fallen into a passion wiien 
William mentioned the subject ; and to keep peace with him the lat- 
ter made no further protest, except to the widow, who was too anxious 
to occupy the premises to give heed to his objections when supported 
bj' his father's pretentions. Barber wanted to rent the eighty to which 
the buildings belonged, and the old man Conant promised the land to 
him in case he should not sell it. Meanwhile Barber and his wife 
obtained board with Mi-s. Kavanangh, and William Conant, as had 
been some time contemplated, bought the premises. But Barber, who 
was a self-willed, violent, desperate fellow, formed a resolution to 
occupy and retain the farm, though he had not completed a bargain and 
could not get lawful possession. It should be said that terras liad 
been agreed on, and E. C. Conant went to 'Squire O. W. Bryant to 
have the lease drawn according to arrangement with Barber, but the 
latter failed to meet him there, and then the farm was sold. Barber, 
without a shadow of right, began fall plowing, and William Conant 
having now bargained for the land, sought to forbid his continuing the 
work; but Barber seemed to avoid him, and before much was done the 
plowing was interrupted. Conant put two teams to work, and Barber 
came to the field and ordered him to take them awaj', which was not 
heeded, and then the Conants went to Paw Paw and the conveyance 
was executed. This was on the 13tli of November. Next day old 
man Conant served a notice on the widow to vacate, and the following 
day his son gave a similar notice. Barber and his wife were not there, 
and so on the morning of the 19th he called with the same paper, tak- 
ing along his hired man, Gordon Sanford, for a witness. Barber was 
away at work, but his wife was at the house, and she improved the 
occasion to let fall upon Conant a shower of hot words with threats of 
violence. By previous agreement he and his father were to go together 
to the woods that day, and as the lacter had not yet come along he 
thought to use the time while waitng in removing collections from 
around the stable to make ready for tearing it down. While thus em- 
ployed Mrs. Barber came and ordered him off, and after some angry 
conversation made an effort to take the pitchfork from him ; but failing 
in this pushed him several times, then stood in his way as often as he 
changed places, and at last kicked him. Unable to accomplish any- 
thing, she started oft" threatening to bring those who could drive him 
away, and went directly for her husband. Convinced by report and 
observation that he was a reckless, lawlcssjnan, and believing that if 
he came he would be armed and would attempt to frighten him from 
the premises, Conant thought that if he himself were not found at a 



662 HISTORY OF I^E COUNTY. 

disadvantage, but remained firm and collected, that the matter would 
end by his holding his ground ; so lie went across the road to his house 
and got his revolver, one wiiicii he liad carried in the army, still not 
expecting that Barber would come. His two men, Gordon Sanford 
and Fiank Adams, were plowing not far from the stable, and he 
directed them to leave their teams and join him, in case anybody- 
should come, to hear all that might be said, but not to take part in a 
fracas if there should be one. He discharged the revolver once to be 
sure it was in good order and lit for use providing it should be neces- 
sary to employ it in self-defense. 

In a little while Mrs. Barber and Srygley came in siglit, and Conant 
then sent his men to their work, saying that Barber was not with 
them and there would be no trouble. Srygley was having dealings 
with Barber, and had accommodated him with a team to do plowing 
both on the Baker place and a piece of ground lie had rented from old 
man Conant on the old homestead. The elder Conant now arrived, 
and the son sent liiui across to his house with the double purpose of 
waiting till he should haul oft the lumber which he had taken from 
the stable, and to get him away from the scene of the excitement. 
William Conant drove into the j-ard where the lumber was piled, and 
at that moment Barber, and Roderick Kavanaugh, the widow's son, 
came, running their horses. The latter dismounted and hitched, but 
Barber commenced an onslaught of vile and insulting languasc, order- 
ingConant's hands, who were now on the spot, to depart tlie premises, 
and at the same time attempted to ride over Conant. The latter seized 
the horse b}' the bridle, and displayed his revolver. The senior 
Conant, Mrs. Barber, and Srygle}', all made their appearance on the 
scene at this juncture. The former was ver}' much excited and de- 
manded profanely to know what they were all doing there, and telling 
them that they had no business on tlic place. The woman had a club 
in her hands which she brandislied at old man Conant, declaring herself 
"enough for him." They bandied abuse a moment, when she struck 
him on the head and arms with the cudgel, crying she would kill him. 
He shouted to the men to take her off, as he did not want to receive or 
return blows. Srygley dragged her away a few steps, and Barber 
ordered her to go to the house. The old man following them and 
talking excitedly, was turned upon by Barber, who grasped him by the 
collar, pressed his head against a wagon wheel and drew back his right 
hand to strike, when the son instantly cocked his revolver and com- 
manded Barber to let his father go, and he did so. Barber now directed 
his attention to the latter, and a talk and quarrel of some length ensued, 
when Mrs. Barber stole up and struck his hand, hoping to knock the 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 663 

revolver from it, and almost succeeded in that'design. With the agilitj' 
and ferocit_y of a tiger Barber at the same instant sprang upon his back, 
reached forward and grasped his wrists, hissing with demoniacal rage 
that now be would riddle liim. The struggle was now for life and was 
fought with the desperation of despair. Barber cried out to Kavanaugh, 
" I've got him, Rod ; you get the pistol ! " The latter, greatly excited, 
shouted, " Kill him ! kill him ! " Conant held onto the weapon with both 
hands, and bending forward with the intention of raising Barber clear 
of the ground, whirl and throw him, was that instant jumped upon by 
Sryglej', who threw himself on the struggling man's head and shoulders, 
and reached for the revolver. This was kept out of the way of both 
assailants. The old man cried out to William to give it to him. 
Srygley said, "Give it to me or the old man ; give it to me and I'll 
see you aint hurt." Tiie old man tried to get it. Kavanaugh got 
hold of it, pulled, and tired. The hammer had not been let down 
since Conant raised it and ordered Barber to release his father. Upon 
the discharge Kavanaugh, frightened, exclaimed with an oath, " Kill 
the cuss ! " Barber returned, " Stick to him. Rod ; get the pistol and 
shoot the devil ! " Conant having made the mistake of bringing it on 
the ground even with the intention only of being on equal terms with 
Barber, whom he supposed would be armed if he should come, had no 
recourse now in the anger and excitement of the moment but to keep 
it ift all cost in his own hands. In the unequal contest his strength 
was giving out, and he called to Gordon Sanford for assistance, but the 
latter only stood and looked on. Then the old man Conant called him 
several times, but he did not respond witli help. Believing that the 
critical issue was at hand the father exclaimed, "Shoot them. Bill ; if 
you don't they'll kill you. If you are afraid to do it give me the pistol 
and I'll do it." At this point the defendant was thrown upon his hands 
and knees, and then for the first time he freed his wrists from Barber's 
vice-like grip. His father tried again to get the revolver, but was 
puslied away by Kavanaugh, who also repeated the same attempt. 
Conant managed to get up with both Barber and Srygley on him. 
The three men now increased their exertions and all l>egan tugging at 
the revolver. In pulling his hands apart they cocked it; Conant saw 
what was done, and knowing it was only a question of time when he 
should be overpowered and murdered on the spot, the instincts of 
self-preservation asserted themselves for the first time at this stage in 
his secret thought, and he decided to save his own life. Just then the 
woman struck at his head with a club, but dodging, the blow was 
received on his own and Srygley's shoulders. The old man began 
pulling at the latter who held on to the defendant, and when at last 



664" HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

his hold was broken William's arms iiivoliiiitarilj went with sudden 
force to the left; tlie muzzle struck Barber in the side and Conant 
fired. The poor man clasped his sides, exclaiming, " Oh God ! I'm 
shot I '' Sr^-gley and Kavanaugh rusiied at Conant, but were kept at 
bay with the cocked weapon ; the infuriated woman, bitter and venge- 
ful to the last, finished the melancholy affair wiiich she had begun by 
hurling first her club and then a pole at the old man. Srygley assisted 
Barber into the house, Kavanaugh went for a doctor, and Conant 
and his men loaded up the lumber. Then tiie Conants went to Paw 
Paw and stated the facts to John M. Derr, justice of the peace. Ex- 
citement ran high and they were advised to waive examination, which 
they did. Barber lingered nine days and died. They obtained a 
ciiange of venue to Whitesides countj' and were tried at Morrison at 
the October term 18()7. The father was sentenced to six years' impris- 
onment and the son to eight. Judgment was obtained for $5,000 to 
be paid to his widow ; a womati was brought from Canada who proved 
to be his widow, and she released the judgment. William Conant 
served two years and nine months and was pardoned, and his father 
four \'ears and four moutiis, when he also was released through execu- 
tive clemency. 

SCHOOLS. 

Among the early immigrants the schoolmaster came, and his call- 
ing made him welcome. At first, school was taught in a log house on 
the north side of Paw Paw Grove, on Dixon road, probably. A peda- 
gogue who wielded the birch for several seasons liere, and wiiose 
checkered life is still the topic of talk in many family circles, as occa- 
sion recalls it to memory, deserves a brief notice. Born in Ireland, 
after living for a time in an eastern state, he left his family, and soon 
after his arrival here was engaged as the teacher. In many respects it 
seemed fortunate for the settlement. He was not only a man of con- 
siderable learning, well-read in literature, but he had also some poetical 
genius, and was so well versed in law that he could plead successfully 
a desperate case and win it before a backwoods jury. If in anything 
he was perfect, he would sa}' sometimes, it was his ability to impart a 
"correct knowledge of the English language." He could quote Byron, 
Burns and Shakespeare by the hour, aTid made it his boast that no one 
could name a purely English word that he could not define. His stu- 
dents invariably mention his remarkable gift for teaching. Unfortu- 
nately he had a consuming appetite for whisky. If not intoxicated in 
school hours, he often was at other times. At length a neighbor, who 
had been his boon companion in many a carousal, mysteriously disap- 
peared, and a terrible suspicion rested upon the school-teacher. If he 



"WYOMINU TOWNSHIP. 665 

had stained his hands with crime it was done in a drunken craze. 
Tears afterward a body was found, believed to be the missing man, 
under circumstances which strengthened tlie suspicion ; but it was too 
late to call the perpetrator to account. The old schoolmaster's bad 
habits had wrought retribution. Grown old, without friends here, and 
sad, he appealed to relatives in the cast. His daughters had become 
wealthy by marriage, and they bade the messenger bring back this an- 
swer: "Father shall have a good home with us if he will come; the 
best of clothe?, plenty of money, and nothing to do, if he please ; lov- 
ing hands will minister to him in sickness; — but there is one condition 
— he cannot come to disgrace us by getting drunk." When told this 
the old pedagogue wept. He reflected. Finally he said : "I cannot 
give up the drink." 

The first school was started as early as 1836 in a "little pole school- 
house" not more than 12 X 12, built expressly for the purpose in the woods 
on the Meade farm. Emily Giles, from Fox River, taught for $1 a week 
and boarded around. All the early schools were supported by sub- 
scription. For several years vacated cabins and private houses were 
used on the Chicago road and at South Paw Paw ; we hear of one at 
Fonda's corner, another near Wheeler's creamery, and very likely there 
were still others. Of the early teachers we can name but few : Adams, 
Robert Walker, Willard Hastings, Deacon Boardman, Walter Hyde, 
Basswood, Mary Harding, Mrs. Amasa Harrington, Eiisha A. Stanton, 
and Mrs. Andrew Breese before marriage. The latter taught in the 
"little pole cabin," and also the "section-line school." Walker, who 
came here with May and Breese in 1841, taught in the Comstock 
brothers' blacksmith-shop, and kept up his school with more or less 
regularity until about 1816, but probably not all the time in the same 
place. He is spoken of as a capital teacher, but large acquirements 
and excellent capabilities are often yoked to crying vices, and the pity 
is that this was true in his case. But Uncle Bobby's grape-vine swing, 
the whippings caught for the sly swings in school-hours, and the quaint, 
doggerel verses he composed on these themes are fresh and withal 
pleasing recollections to citizens who were then his pupils. The first 
frame school-building in the township was built as early as 1846, near 
the location of the creamery, in Paw Paw. About 1848 the country 
hereabouts was divided into districts, and about 1860 the school in dis- 
trict No. 1, South Paw Paw, was graded, but the one in No. 5 (Paw Paw) 
is now the only one with a graded course of study. The township 
contains ten districts, with ordinary school-houses, around which shade- 
trees, and upon which window-blinds, are generally conspicuous for their 
absence. The number of children of school age are 434, of whom 354 



666 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

are enrolled. The principal of the township fund is $1,730; value of 
school property, $6,550; and the tax levy for 1880 was $2,34:2.79. 
John Colvill is present treasurer. 

PIONEER PREACHERS. 

With the earliest settlers came the open Bible. As early as the 
winter of 1834-5, or the spring of 1835, the venerable Benoni Harris 
would preach occasionally in his son's cabin, where he lived, and the 
word would be listened to with an appreciation hardly known in these 
later days. In 1839 came also the aged Father Morris, whose voice 
would be heard in the cabins of the settlers. Circuit preachers began 
to come about this time, among the first of whom were ciders White, 
Luinery, Alouzo Carter, Peter Cartwright, and B:itchelder, all of 
whom were Methodists. As the circuits were very large the appoint- 
ments would be some three mouths apart. The early Baptist preach- 
ers were elders Carpenter, Charles Harding, and Norman Warriner. 

POST-OFFICE. 

It is said that a star mail route was established here in 1837, and 
that William Rogers was the first postmaster. Before an ofBco was 
obtained for this point the nearest was at Somonauk, fifteen miles east. 
Isaac Robinson was postmaster as early as 1838 or 1839; in 1841 Wil- 
lard Hastings, who was kee])ing store and tavern, carried the mail 
between Paw Paw and Princeton, going by way of Four-Mile Grove. 
Hiram Wood was the incumbent of the office from 1845 to 1849, when 
William H. Robinson took it till 1853, and then Wood again. He 
WEB next succeeded, in 1857, by James Simons, and he, in 1861, by 
John Colvill, who has held it continuously since. The latter became 
deputy under Robinson in 1850, and, with the exce])tiou of two years, 
was connected with the oflSce until his appointment. J. D. Rogers 
was an early post carrier. At one time being set upon by fourteen 
drunken men, who insisted on examining the mail, he made some 
remarks to them which brought a return of bricks and billets, but the 
smart animal which he rode bore him out of bad company without loss 
of anything but temper. 

We condense a few rambling facts of curious interest. In the early 
settlement "The Big Field," as it was called, was established by com- 
mon agreement for the protection of crops, no one being allowed to 
turn stock upon the area until a specified tiuie. It extended on the 
north to the road running along the south side of Smith's and Allen's 
groves, east to the county line, south to the Chicago road, and west to 
Jacob Epla's. We have no knowledge how long it was maintained. 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 667 

The three cottonwoods on the Ritchie place, measuring nearly four 
feet in diameter, were planted by the hand of Rhoda Rogers in 1838. 
The one at Grummond's corner was set out bv George Town in 1840, 

I/O ' 

and those in front of Amos Siglin's by A. J. Harrington a few years 
later. The half mile row of maples standing Lester Harding planted 
in 1847. The same year he brought a lot of cottonwoods from Viola 
township, a distance of six miles, on his back, and set them out on 
land which he sold the next year to Lord Jones, who has since built a 
barn from them, and still has a large grove left. The large and beau- 
tiful grove on the Earlville road, owned by Deacon Israel Hallock, 
was planted by him at two different dates, the hard maples about 
1850, and the soft maples some twelve years afterward. It is partly 
inclosed with a border of stately cedars and tamaracks. The first 
hedge raised in Wyoming township, if not in Lee county, stands on 
the west line of Sec. 21, on the Morton Girton farm, and was grown 
by Ira Baker. He found 13,000 osage plants, where some discouraged 
peddler, no doubt, had thrown them away, and put them to grow in 
that place. 

ORGANIZATION AND STATISTICS. 

The township was organized in 1850, under the name of Paw Paw. 
The first meeting ot citizens to elect officers was at school-house No. 
5, April 2. The whole number of votes cast was one hundred and 
thirteen. David A. Town was chosen supervisor and John Colville 
town clerk. The name of the town, as before mentioned, was soon 
after changed to Wyoming. The honor of the highest township office 
has been conferred upon only eight difierent persons in the long 
period of thirt}' years. 

The population of Wyoming in 1870 was 1,280, and h^ the last 
census 1,453. Not a colored man resided in the township at either 
date. The assessed valuation in 1880 was as follows: Real estate, 
§550,893; personal property, §114,079. The township contains 1G5 
farms, some of them of large size. The latest and best agricultural 
machinery is in use. The soil is a rich, deep, black loam ; the sub- 
stratum usually gravel, but sometimes clay. The rainfall seems more 
abundant and frequent, even in years of drouth, than elsewhere, and 
springs are numerous; hence crops are usually sure. Tiie highest 
ground in Wyoming marks the divide between the Illinois and the 
Rock rivers. The surface is diversified by ridges, and at almost every 
point drainage is easy, often witliout artificial aid. Ague and malaria 
seem not to have been known, or at least not enough to be noticed. 
Good health and long life and general comfort and prosperity are more 
generally enjoyed here than in most other parts of the west. 



668 



HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



The following is a list of township officers since the county 
adopted township organization : 



TEAS 


TOTB 


SUPERTISOB 


TOWN CLERK 


ASSSesOB 


COLLECTOR 


1850 


113 


David A. Town. 


John Colvill... 


Willard Hastings.... 


Geo. S. Walton 


1851 


62 


tt 


" .... 


" 


Edwin Ellsworth 


1852 


73 


Geo. Ryan 


Jas. Simons. . . 


Elisha A. Stanton. . . 


Miles S. Simons 


1853 


83 


Lester Harding . 


Miles D.Cass.. 


Elihu Rogers 


Harvey Bills 


1854 !140 


14 


3. Mclntyre... 


n 


*' 


185-> 93 


** 


" .... 


Harvey Bills 


Hiram Wood 


1856 150 


Hiram Terry. . . . 


Jno. Colviil . . . 


Willard Hastings 


Zera Town 


1857 185 


Jno. Colvill 


D'dW. Madden 


" 


Hiram Wood 


1858 !235 


0. W. Bryant... 


J. M. Derr.... 


" 


S. N. Bunker 


1859 1188 


Jno. Colvill 


L. H. Flagg... 


" 


" 


1800 197 


0. W. Bryant... 


'* .... 


" 


John A. Hunt 


18G1 185 


.Jno. KiUvards. . . 


" .... 


" 


*' 


186-J 1214 


Geo. Ryan 


" .... 


Wm. McMaban 


Stephen N. Bunker 


1863 1-203 Obed W. Bryant 


" .... 


Jas. E. Woodbridge . 




18G4 ;i73 


Geo. Rvan . . 


** .... 


•* 


Stephen A. Tarr 


1865 ^105 


" 


" . . . . 


Wm. McMahan 


L. i. Flagg 


1866 ,210 


" 


" .... 


John Colvill 


•' 


1867 1201 


Lester Harding. 


" .... 


Wm. McMahan 


B. J. Wheeler 


1868 


18-' 


• * 


Ino Harding'. . 


W C Ru«ivan 


.Facob Kola 


1869 


212 


Wm. McMalian. 




Isaac E. Hunt 


Isaac Morris 


1870 


164 


O.W.Bryant... 


" 


Wni McMiihan 


iTacob Kpla 


1871 


151 


•• 




John Harding 


1872 


201 


(1 


" .... 


*' 


Rem'ton Warriner 


1873 


160 


Jno. Edwards. . . 


Jno. Agler 


Remington Warriner 


rhos. W. Marble 


1874 


213 


" 


L. H. Flagg. . . 


.1 


" 


1875 


197 


" 


" .... 


" 


Clark Agler 


1876 


240 


" 


*■ .... 


" 


'* 


1877 


246 


• ■ 


" 


Wm. McMahan 


John Allen 


1878 


301 


Wm. McMahan. 


Henry Potter. . 


John Harding 


tt 


1879 J240 




.... 


" 


Ira Baker , 


1880 


253 




'■ . . . . 


•' 


Jas. H. Thompson 


1881 


283 


" 


A. C. Radley.. 


(1 


W. H. Smith 



PAW PAW. 

The tlirit't and snperiorit}' of tiiis town exceed any conceptions that 
might be formed of it from its size. Tiie greatest worth takes the 
least room. It contains most of the business and over one-third 
of the population of Wyoming, and liaving no corporate existence is 
one of the most orderly, as it is one of the most pleasant, villages in 
tiie state. The larger part of it is upon a tract of twenty-five acres, 
purchased by Peter May from George Town in ISil. 

Mrs. Vincent Breese, daughter of Peter May, narrates that on ar- 
rival of her fathers family, just as the journey's end was reached, their 
team got stalled in the mire near the spot where the depot now stands, 
and that they put up that night at the nearest house, which was George 
Town's. This was on May 5, and the smouldering ruins of Hastings' 
house and store were still smoking. Town's hewn log house, built in 
1837, was the first on the site of the village after the historic cabin 
built by Edward Butterfield in 1835. May's cabin stood close to the 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 669 

present Suttor ^oiise, west of Siglin & Potter's brick store, and his 
smithy, started in 1842, was on tlie south side of the road, nearly oppo- 
site the store. 

The Hastings house, formerly on the site of the Koberts dwelling, 
was built in May 1841, and was the tirst frame house both in the vil- 
lage and township. About this time diaries Pelclier burned brick at 
the east end of the grove, and Hastings was one of his first and heavi- 
est patrons, having. erected right away a house which is now clapboarded 
and standing at Fonda's corner, tlie first brick structure in Wj^oming. 
The brickyard was soon moved to the west end of the grove, and this 
circumstance, trifling as it was, seems to have exerted a remote influence 
on the future growth of the struggling hamlet. The Pelclier land is 
now the Wheeler farm ; on it, near the " big spring," was built a frame 
house in 1844. Jacob Epla rented this farm and lived on it in 1845. 
The perennial fountain may have suggested the need of the "fount of 
knowledge," as near bj' was now built the first frame school-house in 
the township. 

Amasa Harrington arrived in 1844, bringing his two sons, A. J. 
Harrington and H. H. Harrington (the two last of whom reside in the 
village to-day), and in 1846 bought the Maj' property, receiving the 
deed direct from George Town. In the same year that Harrington 
came, Adolphus or Rudolphus Plolly built on the south side of the 
Cliicago road (identical with Main street), opposite George Town's, a 
part of the house now owned by Abram Thomas. The next year 
Amos Sawyer put up a cabin on the site of the Detamore house. In 
1846 George Town moved out of his log cabin into the present Grum- 
mond house, which he had just erected. John Colvill and Jacob 
Rogers (nicknamed " Praii'ie " Rogers, for being so eccentric as to 
locate ont on the prairie in an early day) were in partnership in the 
manufacture of shingles by horse-power. 

Tims as late as the spring of 1847, when twelve years had elapsed 
in the history of this little settlement, it contained but half a dozen 
families, and its business was all comprised in tlie one little smith}' and 
the shingle mill. After the little grocery burned in 1841 no one had 
ventured again in trade. In the absence of stores peddlers had profited, 
among whom was William H. Field, who had plied his vocation in 
these parts since 1843. On the northeast and south sides of the grove- 
were settlements fully as pretentious and competitive, unconscious 
rivals for the immigration and trade of a world. 

But now came an influx of population and improvements cheering 
to this community. Jcdediah Foster and his son Dwight located on 
the Ira Baker coi'ner in 1847. Dr. J. C. Heath, from Somonauk, set- 
tled here between 1846 and 1849, and was the earliest located pliysi- 



670 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

cian in the place. In the latter year he was selling drugs, and not long 
after erected two buildings on the north side of Main street. He re- 
mained a i'ew years, and is now in Texas. 

Field & Robinson began merchandising in a building put up by 
them on the east side of Peru street in the autumn of 1848, the one 
now standing next north of Squire Harding's residence. They dissolved 
in a year or two and Field erected the Mayor building, now a harness 
shop. 

Charles Pelcher erected four brick houses in the next two or three 
years : one was on the Heudershot corner (torn away in 1880) ; an- 
other was the Field house, begun in 1849 for Willard Hastings ; and 
two for himself — one on the Wheeler place, still in use, and the other 
the old Detamore house, in 1851. 

Meanwhile various industries had been established. Mechanics 
moved in. Blacksmiths had been tiie first to put up shops; they did a 
flourishing business. The Walton brothers lived just south of the cor- 
ner of Main and Peru streets, on the west side, and Sylvester Smith, 
shoemaker, next below. On the opposite side William Field, in 1849, 
built the main part of 'Squire Harding's house, the first floor of which 
Eri Butler afterward used for a wagon siiop. 

In 1849 Isaac Morris came to the place and began shoemaking. He 
has worked at his trade until now. Harris D. Merwine arrived the 
same time, and the next year set up in the wagon-making business in 
the western part of the village. 

Erastus Gates, school-teacher, at this time owned lots on the west 
corner of Peru and Main streets. John Allen, carpenter, afterward 
owned property tiiere which his family occupied many years. He sold 
the last of this ground in 1880 and moved his house to East avenue. 

Not far from 1850 a blacksmith shop was built by Alonzo Osborn, 
and another by James S^'monds, both on the south side of Main street. 
Symonds did a large business manufacturing wagons and plows, keep- 
ing as many as five forges at work. William Cole, Thomas Webster, 
Bunkei-, Leonard Bell and Maj. Morse are some of the smiths who 
Iiave waked the echoes of the anvil here in times past. But probably 
the most distinguished was 'Squire L. H. Flagg, an early settler, who 
wa§ engaged at his trade several years, connected with different travel- 
ing troupes, and by the partiality of his fellow citizens was contin- 
uously in township office, holding various positions. He was a man of 
remarkable frame, weighed over 300 pounds; was a rare vocalist, and 
as such established a flattering reputation. He was called the "lion 
bass," and his voice is said to have rivaled the depth of distant thunder 
and the pureness of the J^olian harp. 

Returning to the first merchants we find that John Colvill was 





Oi^A^ 





'tiy^^c- 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 673 

the leading tradesman after 1850. In 1SG2 lie l)uilt tlie Flagg & Baker 
clotliing store, and in the winter of 1872-3 tlie Colviil or post-office 
building. Westcott Field sold out to I. K. Miller, wiio was succeeded 
in 1854 by Sears & Howlett. This firm was in trade till about 1856, 
when the senior member ran away, leaving Howlett to pay the debts, 
amounting to $8,000. Stephens & Lawton followed them a short time, 
and in the fall of 185G sold their stock to Cone ik Madden, who oc- 
cnpied the drug building. Madden bought out Cone and then sold to 
Hiram Fuller. Mark Avcrill sold goods in tlie place prior to most of 
those named. A chronicler tells also when the tirst saloon was here, 
but it little iriatters. 

Andrew Breese opened a dry-goods store in 1852, and the next 
year Wilcox & Beck a cooperative establishment. Tliese were in busi- 
ness a tew yeai's. In 1858 Jacob Hcndershot began in the grocery 
business in the West building and continued in it till 1873; he then 
erected on the south side the first brick business house ever in Paw 
Paw, and added a stock of dry goods. His building consists of two 
stories and a basement. In 1880 he erected an elegant brick residence 
on the southeast corner of Main and Peru streets, where he had lived 
twenty years. 

In 1860 William Hazel started the first liarness shop. In 1865 
William Mayor engaged in the same business on the south side; two 
years after his son, J. W. Mayoi", took charge of it for him, and in 1869 
succeeded as proprietor. John Harding commenced trading in 1865, 
in partnership with John Colviil, and since 1872 has been alone in 
business. William Merrill began selling goods in 1875 in the firm of 
William Merrill & Co., and the next year built the Centennial brick 
building, which he still occupies. 

On July 7, 1872, Lester Potter, just commencing in business here, 
received the first shi]iment of coal and lumber ever brought to Paw 
Paw by rail transportation. He was a partner in the erection, in 1880, 
of the Siglin & Potter double brick building, which occupies nearly 
the identical spot on which Peter May raised his rude cabin. The 
Wheeler brick store was erected by George W. Lindsey in 1877. 
Keuben Hall built his large double brick building in 1880, and H. M. 
Wilson also erected a two-story brick structure on the southwest corner 
of Main and Peru streets. A man named Skoyles built the flouring- 
mill about 1876. 

The Oak Grove creamery and cheese factory, 30x40, with an 
addition 20x50, owned by B. J. Wheeler, was erected by him in 1880, 
and the manufacture of dairy products was begun the present season. 
On the first floor are four rooms ; one contains an engine of twelve- 
horse power; one is the creamery; another is used for making and 
40 



674 IIISTOKY OK LEE COUNTY. 

pressing, and tlie last contains the springs. These send up water six 
feet above the surface in such quantity that a pump throwing sixty 
gallons per minute does not e.xhaust the supply. The second floor is 
disMded into apartments for storing. The factory has a capacity for 
15,000 pounds of milk per day, and the quality of the butter and cheese 
proijuced here compares most favorably' with the products of older 
estal)lishments. 

Paw Paw contains two hotels for the accommodation of the public. 
The Detamore house has an interesting history and a well established 
reputation. The old brick, 16x22, was built in 1851, and two years 
later an addition 28x36 was made. In 1874 the first part was torn 
away and replaced by another, 20x30, giving the edifice a home-like 
appearance and an air of repose and comfort. Before it was remodeled. 
Union Hall, in which Corinthian Lodge held meetings many years, was 
in the second story. This house has an ancient reputation for having 
been run on temperance principles. 

The Paw Paw house, sometimes called the West house, was built 
by Barber, Bull & Hendershot in 1857. It is a two-story frame, and 
stands next east of the Detamore house. Anchor Lodge met in Wash- 
ington Hall in this house for several years. 

The principal business men in the town, not before mentioned, are 
H. 11. Harrington, J. H. Thompson, Alexander Field, W. A. Pratt, S. 
C. Mitchell, W. II. Barringer, Guffin, A. U. Harp, S. A. Abbott, 
Marshal Beams, Henry Lewis, and John Rosenberger, station agent. 
Others have been in business here from time to time; but this topic is 
already too much extended. 

For twenty-five years prior to 1873 Paw Paw could support but 
two stores, and each had but a small trade. The farmers would go 
whore the railroad was, and to keep their patronage at home a railroad 
must needs come here. Those who feared that the cost of the road 
would be a burden are agreeably disappointed. It was harder for 
farmers to haul 100 bushels of corn to Earlville in ante-railroad times 
than now to deliver 250 at Paw Paw. Besides, when they went to 
Earlville to carry products and procure supplies a day's time was con- 
sumed. Now the maiket is so near every man's door that he can do 
his trading in the evening. But the rapid development of Paw Paw 
is most conclusive evidence in this matter. In 1871 the lots and build- 
ings together, in this village, were assessed at only $3,809. Now they 
pay taxes on a valuation of over $60,000. Ten years ago the two 
stores of much importance carried, the one a stock valued at $550 and 
the other $250. Now there are at least a dozen prosperous concerns 
in trade here, and a single firm carries a stock worth over $5,000, which 
it must frequently replenish to meet its brisk trade. New buildings 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. ^675 

are yearly erected, some of them fine business blocks. Hotels have 
increased. Two good newspapers are established. Of course the tax 
for the railroad is more than met by the increase of wealth. 

In recent years an extensive trade in butter has been established, 
and so excellent a reputation has been made for the ])roduct shipped 
from Paw Paw that the brand of the dealers here is much sought after 
by dealers abroad. To the excellent pasturage in the vicinity, and the 
intelligent and painstaking care in the different stages of making, 
keeping and shipping, is due the superior quality of tiie butter sent 
from here. In 1873 tlie number of packages invoiced at this station 
was 875, and in ISSO it had increased to 4,550, aggregating about 
227,000 pounds. A single firm handled in one year over $23,000 worth. 

The Paw Paw Grove post-office was made a money order office 
July 1, 1875. For tiie quarter ended September 30 of that year the 
number of orders issued was 111, amounting to $1,802.31. For the 
quarter ended September 30, 1881, tiiere were 357 orders, the cash 
amount of which was $4,805.14. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The first number of tlie Paw Paw "Herald" appeared November 
23, 1877. R. H. Ruggles, of Mendota, owned the office and was first ed- 
itor. In January, 1878, E. G. Cass and J. B. Gardner took control of the 
paper as publishers, and on February 22 were succeeded by tiie present 
proprietor, W. M. Geddes, who shortly after bought the property from 
Ruggles. Mr. Geddes' ownership has extended from its early infancy, 
wiien its patrons numbered fewer than a iiundred. He came to Paw Paw 
at the age of twent^'-one, an entire stranger ; but brought with him the 
elements of success acquired in a diligent apprenticeship to his trade. As 
a result of his industry and good business and editorial management 
the " Herald '' has attained a circulation by which it is self-sustaining 
and remunerative; and thei-e goes out from tiie office every week, in 
addition to its own issue, the Amboy "News." In the past the 
Sliabbona " Record " and the East Paw Paw " Clarion," the latter in 
the interest of the seminary at that place, have been published by Mr. 
Geddes. The "Herald" supports republican political principles. 

On March 21, 1878, the first number of the "Lee County Times," 
a democratic paper, was issued by E. G. Cass and J. B. Gardner, at 
Paw Paw. They started also about tlie same time the Compton 
"Record," and in May the Lee "Monitor." In August Mr. Gardner 
retired from the partnership, and since tiiat date Mr. Cass has con- 
tinned the business with growing success and popularit}'. In April, 
1880, lie began tlie publication of a paper at Earlville called the 
" Leader." Mr. Cass spent seven 3'ear8 at the case in the office of the 



676 HISTORY OF LEE COITNTY. 

"Sun and Journal'" at Dixon, and located in this village in the pub- 
lishing business when but njneteen years old. He has made the 
"Times" a live paper and attracted to his support a paying subscrip- 
tion. Both these offices have well-furnished job departments. 

CHURCHES. 

To Deacon Israel F. Ilalloek and wife we are indebted for the very 
full history of the Paw Paw Baptist church. It was organized at the 
house of Deacon Orlando Boardman at South Paw Paw, in February 
1841. There were present Elder Burton Carpenter, delegate from 
the Dixon charge ; Elder Iladle}^ from the Lamoille ; and Elder 
Thos. Powell, from the Vermilion. Elder Carpenter preached the 
organization sermon, and Elder Powell the second sermon, the text 
of the latter being these appropriate words: " By whom shall Jacob 
arise ? for he is small."' Of the thirteen members that composed that 
organization five arc still living, but all have moved away save Mrs. 
Deacon Hallock. Elder Carpenter, being one of the constituent mem- 
bers, preached to the charge about two months, and was succeeded by 
Elder Charles Harding, who was the first regular installed pastor. lie 
resided at Indian Creek, and his stations were Ottawa, Dayton precinct, 
Paw Paw Grove, and Indian Creek. While on this work, in 1843, he 
was suddenly stricken down and died, in his thirty-second year. The 
" Northwestern Baptist," in an obituary notice, says: " Ilis style and 
manner of address were after the model of Baxter, . . . by his decease 
a great chasm is made." The Rev. Norman Warriner was the second 
pastor, his labors continuing twent}- years. In the next decade the 
charge was served by the Revs. J. D. Pullis, G. W. Scott, G. B. 
Perrit, and Win. Sturgeon. Tiie present pastor, the Rev. H. R. 
Hicks, came in 1874. During his ministry one-third of the present 
membership were baptized. Early in Elder Warriner's pastorate a 
house of worsiiip, 24x36, was erected at South Paw Paw, Deacon 
Orlatido Boardman contributing the greater part, and living to con- 
tribute liberally to a second one, erected just at the close of Warriner's 
pastorate. Size of latter about 36x60. This was dedicated in 1864 
and moved to Paw Paw in 1873, where remodeled. It is truly a 
pleasant place of worship. Membership per report of 1880, 12t». 

About 1870 the Presbyterians of Paw Paw began holding meetings 
in the school-house, the Rev. Alexander S. Peck, of the Wyoming 
church at Cottage Hill, preaching for them regularly every two weeks. 
A committee consisting of the Revs. John Eustic, Alexander S. Peck, 
and Robert Hays, appointed by the Ottawa Presbytery to organize a 
church at Paw Paw, were called to meet for that purpose on the 26th 
of May, 1873. Only the first two were present. Those who took part 



■WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 677 

in the organization and were the first members were Miss Sarah A. 
Wilson, Andrew J. Fuller, Susan C. Fuller, Jane Nettleton, Jane 
Balentine, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Cole, Henry Cole, and Jane Howell. 
Andrew C. Radley and Andrew J. Fuller were elected elders, and 
Jacob Hendershot, A. C. Radley and A. J. Fuller trustees. The 
Rev. Alexander S. Peck was the first preacher. In 1875 this society 
built their present beautiful little church on East avenue, at a cost of 
$1,900. The funds were raised by subscription, and when the house 
was completed in the autunm no specter of debt hung over it to trouble 
the free course of the truth and the thoughts of the worshipers. The 
Rev. Dr. Gibson, of Chicago, delivered the dedicatory sermon. The 
Rev. Peck supplied the pulpit until the close of the year 1876, and the 
Rev. McFarland and others from that date to April 1878. The Rev. 
George D. McCulloch was then ordained, and installed pastor of this 
church, and remained in charge until July 1881. Whole number of 
members since the organization, 57; number received by letter, 11 ; 
deceased, 3 ; present membership, 44. 

In the year 1869 Elder Lazenby, of Paw Paw circuit, preached at 
the school-house. About 1870 a class of five members was formed ; 
these were James Fonda, Jane E. Fonda, Sarah E. Swarthout, Edward 
Patrick, Harriet Patrick. That winter many more joined. In 1875, 
under the labors of Rev. Pomeroy, the Methodist Episcopal church 
was erected. Paw Paw, as a separate charge in the Rock River con- 
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church, was organized in October 
1879. Previous to that time it had stood in connection with Paw 
Paw circuit, with preaching once in two weeks. When organized into 
a charge there remained an indebtedness on the church of $440. With- 
in the last two years that amount has been paid, together with a float- 
ing debt of .$250 ; besides a good parsonage has been bought and paid 
for in full. The church has eighty members, and is in a good, healthy 
working state. Rev. B. Close, the only pastor since this became a 
station, is now entering upon his third year. His generous labors in 
belialf of this church will long be a theme of pleasing retrospection. 

In 1857, under the efforts of John Fleming, a missionary pastor 
from Earlville, was organized the Wyoming (now Cottage Hill) Pres- 
byterian Society, with the following eight members : Barton Bisbee, 
Joseph Blee, William Winter, Sally G. Bisbee, Euphreraia Blee, Mrs. 
Wm. Winter, Mrs. Wm. Sproul, James Sproul. Mr. Fleming con- 
tinued to preach here once in two weeks. Meetings were held in the 
school-house now known as the Cottage Hill school-house. In 1858 
or 1859 a building was erected, about 20x40, costing some $200, 
which was paid by subscription. Rev. Mr. Fleming and Rev. John 
Eustic were present. In 1863, this being too small it was sold to 



678 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Joseph Blee, and is now owned by his son, James Blee, and used for 
a granary, and a larger church was built a little north of where the 
other one stood. This is about 36x60, with a steeple probably eighty 
feet high ; cost, $2,200. This was remodeled in ISSl. Preaching 
was by different ones, but no one settled as pastor till about 1870, 
when Alexander Peck was duly installed. He served seven years. 
Rev. McFarland succeeded for one year. In 1878 Rev. George D. 
McCulloch, pastor at Paw Paw Grove, became the supply at Cottage 
Hill, and continued three years. James McDowell and Wm. McCard 
are elders. As showing the simplicity of these times, Mrs. Barton 
Bisbee tells that when she and her husband came in 1856 they were 
right from fashionable New England, just married, and of course on 
Sunday she came out dressed in her best. "What was her surprise and 
chagrin to see the pastor enter dressed in blue jeans, and bare-footed. 
She says, "How I longed to get out of sight." That white dress did 
not appear again till it had been dyed, and all her finery was treated as 
superfluous. Probably that preacher's dress was fully as effective as 
his address. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

The first Sunday-scliool at the Grove was instituted by the Rev. 
Benoni Harris in the little Mead school-house, the second one at the 
Robert Walker school-house, and the third in the new frame school- 
house near the " big spring." About this time was held the first 
Sunday-school picnic at the Grove; two schools represented. Paw Paw 
and Four-mile Grove; James Goble, marshal of the day, and Elder O. W. 
Bryant, orator. After the erection of the present school building at 
Paw Paw a Sunday-school was organized in the upper room, with 
Reuben B. Johnson, now of Aurora, as superintendent ; Jacob Hen- 
dershot, secretary, and H. H. Hamilton, librarian. This had a large 
attendance for many years. It was a union school, kept up only in 
the summer season. "When the different churches in the village were 
built and they organized their own separate schools, this one, of course, 
was discontinued. The Baptist society, being the first here, drew off 
its members; then followed the Presbyterians, taking away some, and 
lastly the Methodists. So the several churches now have schools 
maintained the year round. 

FRATERNAL ORGAN I7,.\TI0NS. 
In a comiiuinity where the rude rabble and "cup convivial" are 
unknown, it is but natural that there should be fervently fostered those 
higher types of civilization, those beautiful groupings in the panorama 
of life, where kindred hearts are banded together to aid the needy, 
comfort the distressed, strengthen bonds of friendship, and promote 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 679 

general good. In Wyomini; societies tinivo, but saloons die; farmers, 
mechanics and merchants prosper, while the lawyer, justice and sheriff 
lind little to do, and the calaboose is unknown. 

Corinthian Lodge, No. 205, A.F. and A.M., was instituted at West 
Paw Paw, August 14, 1856, under a dispensation granted by the grand 
master, W. B. Herriek. Elias Mott was named as W.M. ; J. C. Heath, 
S.W. ; D. W. Madden, J.W. ; Henry Rosencrans was appointed Secre- 
tary; Jedediah Foster, Treasurer; C. M. Cheeney, S.D. ; George 
Wiriek, J.D., and J. O. Crooker, Tyler. The charter was granted 
October 7, 1856, and the above-named persons, J. O. Crooker excepted, 
were the charter members. The present membership is sixty-one, and 
the officers are T. D. Palmer, M.D., W.M. ; George Kelly, S.W. ; 
Jacob Hendershot, J.W. ; T. H. Stetler, M.D., Secretary ; S. C. Mitch- 
ell, Treasurer; W. L. Nicholson, S.D.; W. S. Tingling, J.D. ; Kev. O. 
W. Bryant, Chaplain ; E. G. Cass, S.S. ; Robert Ritchie, J.S. ; Will- 
iam Ma3'or, Tiler. The lodge is in a very flourishing condition. Its 
work can hardly be excelled. It meets rcgularl}' on the first Thursday 
evening on or before the full moon of each montli. Jedediah Foster, 
the founder of this lodge, was at the date of his death the oldest Mason 
in the state, having been a member of the order sixty-seven years. He 
was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, August 5, 1780, and died De- 
cember 21, 1869. Corinthian Lodge has erected a handsome monument 
to his memory. 

Veeder Conclave, No. 11, Rights of the Red Cross of Rome and 
Constantine, was instituted March 20, 1877, by Inspector General 
Dr. J. J. French, with the following charter members : T. D. Palmer, 
M.D., J. W. Swisher, Evan Thomas, B. G. Barratt, George Kelly, S. 
C. Mitehel, W. L. Nicholson, T. Doty, William McMahan, Asahel 
Prentice, Adam Miller. The first officers were Sir Knights T. D. 
Palmer, M.D., Sovereign ; J. W. Swisher, Viceroy ; Evan Thomas, 
Recorder; B. G. Barratt, Senior General ; George Kelly, Junior Gen- 
eral ■; S. C. Mitehel, High Prelate ; W. L. Nicholson, Prefect, and 
Thomas Doty, Herald. The present officers are Sir Knights T. D. 
Palmer, M.D., Sovereign ; George Kelly, Viceroy ; Theodore Doty, 
Senior General ; J. H. Blee, Junior General ; Asahel Prentice, High 
Prelate; D. B. Pratt, Treasurer; S. C. Mitehel, Recorder; W. L. 
Nicholson, Prefect; W. C. Holden, Herald; William McMahan, 
Standard Bearer; John K. Mannon, Sentinel. Regular meetings on 
the first evening before full moon, and two weeks thereafter in each 
month. 

Anchor Lodge, No. 510, I.O.O.F., was instituted April 16, 1873, 
by Anderson C. Radley, Aoting Grand Master. The charter members 
were John Patrick, G. W. Lindsey, jr., Alexander Field, B. J. 



680 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Wheeler, and Jacob Epla. First offieeis: Alexander Field, Noble 
Grand ; B. J. "Wlieeler, Vice Grand ; G. W. Lindsey, jr.. Recording 
Secretary; J. Patrick, Treasurer; Jacob Epla, Permanent Secretary. 
This lodge meets res;ularlvon "Wednesday of each week. It has a mem- 
bership of sixty-five, and one of the best furnished hails in the county. 
Its present officers are Henry Potter, Noble Grand ; William Siglin, 
Vice Grand ; J. Rosenberger, Secretary ; R. S. Near, Permanent Sec- 
retary ; W. A. Pratt, Treasurer; J. Wood, Grand Warden ; R. M. Val- 
entine, Grand Scribe; J. Ketchum, Grand Treasnrcr; C. Perry, Grand 
Master; Joseph Radley, Grand Chaplain ; J. W. Mayor, representative 
to Grand Lodge. 

Paw Paw Encampment, No. 52, I.O.O.F. This advanced branch 
of the order was originally at Earlville, and instituted there Jul}' 22, 
1863, under the name of Earl Encampment, by E. Y. Griggs, of 
Ottawa, Deputy Grand Patriarch. The following were the charter 
members : D. M. Vosburgh, C. P. Moore, John Patrick, T. M. Rob- 
inson, John B. Luce, Cornelius Ragan, and David Lewis. The lirst 
officers were H. P. Moore, Chief Patriarch ; John Patrick, High 
Priest; T. M. Robinson, Senior Warden ; Willard Robinson, Junior 
Warden; John B. Luce, Scribe. Its history comprises the loss of 
records and other property by a disastrous fire, and subsequent remov- 
als to East Paw Paw and Paw Paw. Its first meeting in Paw Paw 
was March 10, 1879. Its present membership numbers forty-two, and 
its officers are J. W. Mayor, Chief Patriarch ; W. M. Geddes, High 
Priest; J. H. Sprague, Senior Warden ; James A.Warren, Junior 
Warden; D. R. McLaughlin, Scribe; William Siglin, Treasurer ; M. 
W. Goble, representative to Grand Encampment. Regular meetings 
Monday evening on or before full moon, and two weeks thereafter. 

The social habits of a eommnnity are of the first importance, for on 
these all else of value depends. In no single fact of the history of 
Wyoming is there so much of gratifying significance as that for twenty 
years no person has been licensed to sell ardent spirits, and for ten 
years strong beer has been prohibited. Pauper expenses are only 
about 8100 a year. Public order and decenc}' have not to be main- 
tained by standing efibrt ; they are voluntary results. As such they 
point to what is above shoddy pretense, the really high character of 
the inhabitants. Organization and snm])tuary labors have aided in 
the growth of the temperance sentiment. Societies arc formed ; they 
flourish and decay, but the eternal good they represent, and in some 
measure work out, never dies. 

Three lodges of the I.O.G.T. have been established in Paw Paw. 
Empire Lodge was organized in the spring of 1S60, but in the summer 
of the following year was moved to south Paw Paw. In October, 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 681 

1865, Anelior Lodge was instituted, but the next summer it suspended. 
Advance Lodge, No. 104, dates from April 5, 1877. The charter mem- 
bers numbered about 35 persons, ineludiug some of tlie most useful 
and prominent in the place, among whom were Rev. J. Hartman and 
wife, H. H. Harrington and wife, G. IL Gates and wife, Louisa and 
Addie Fields, Cornelia Good^-ear, S. J. Pearsol and wife, and D. B. 
Mason. Meetings were held in Harrington's Hall until suspended 
July 26, 1879. In all these lodges Mr. Harrington was deputy. Be- 
sides himself, Mr. and Mrs. Fields, their daughter Addie, and Mrs. 
Sarah Swarthout, were earnest workers. 

The "Dare to Do Right" blue-ribbon club was organized in Feb- 
ruary 1878. A public meeting was held in the Methodist church 
Sunday evening, the 3d, when 88 persons tied on the red and white 
ribbon. A week later the organization was effected, and Josiah Mor- 
ris was elected president. Teal Swarthout secretary, Mrs. Dr. Palmer 
treasurer, and S. A. Abbott, J. Fonda, and S. C. Agler, executive com- 
mittee. 

The Wyoming Horse-Thief Protective Association was organized 
in the summer of 1862, having for its object the security of its mem- 
bers against horse-stealing, and it has so well answered its purpose 
that not one has since lost an animal by theft. The twenty-three 
original members w'ere some of the foremost citizens of this and Wil- 
low Creek townships. The first officers were Ira Baker, president ; 
J. M. Blee, vice-president; Hiram Terry, secretary; John Edwards, 
treasurer, and J. C. Heath, agent. Present officers: S. H. Uline, 
president ; Jacob Epla, vice-president ; F. E. Rogers, secretary and 
marshal, and B. J. Wheeler, treasurer. 

Wyoming Grange, No. 360, of the order of Patrons of Husbandry, 
was organized April 10, 1873. Many of the solid men of the surround- 
ing country were members, and during its existence of one year the 
average enrollment was about twentv-live. 

PHYSICIANS. 

While J. C. Heath, as we have stated elsewhere, was the first at 
Paw Paw, the pioneer resident practitioner of Wyoming was Geo. S. 
Hunt. His professional services in this region began in the spring of 
18-14. His residence was at South Paw Paw and his pi'actice extended 
to every settlement within reach. 

Henry Hudson and Jas. Goble Boardman were successors at South 
Paw Paw. The latter is now making an enviable reputation at Brad- 
ford. 

At an early day came A. S. Mclntyre, whose services are remem- 
bered. Dr. George Ryan deserves more than a passing notice. He 



682 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

located in practice at Paw Paw in 1850, was admitted to tlie bar to 
practice as an attorney in 1858; in 1860 was elected by the republicans 
of the county to represent them in the general assembly; recruited 
part of Co. K, 75th 111. Vols., in 18C2, and was first colonel of that 
regiment; iu 1866 was again sent to the legislature by the republicans 
of his connty; in 1869 removed to Amboy, where he still resides. 
W. T. Sherwood, Thos. Fisii and M. H. Everett are remembered by 
their many friends. Dr. Everett is now at Troy Grove, and is said to 
be something of a naturalist. Practicing with Dr. Fisii at East Paw 
Paw in 1871 was a young man fresh from college, J. Oliver Stanton. 
Born and brought up in Paw Paw, the only son of Elisha and Sarah 
Stanton, a patriot soldier, a graduate at Rush Medical College in the 
class of 1871, this young man of promise was cut down just as his am- 
bitious anticipations were beginning to open up as realities. He lo- 
cated at Dennisou, Iowa, and died in October 1874:, at Laramie City, 
Wyoming Territory, where he had gone hoping for benefit from the 
mountain air. James H. Brafi'et, Tiiomas D. Palmer and Thomas 
Stetler are now the resident practitioners. So efficient are their ser- 
vices that anyone from abroad is seldom, if ever, seen in this region. 
Dr. Braftet has practiced here and in the immediate vicinity since 
1856. Dr. Palmer located here in 1867, and Dr. Stetler in 1876. Both 
of the latter were in the drug business in Paw Paw for several years. 

Jacob Wheeler, who came and settled here in 1848, bought from 
George Town the tract of ground on which a part of the village is laid 
out. In 1864 the remainder of the Town property was sold to the 
Grummonds, and on this purchase the two Grummond additions were 
platted. 

The original survey of Paw Paw was defective and never recorded, 
and the result was serious uncertainties and embarassments in the mat- 
ter of partition lines. Some years ago, before the construction of the 
railroad, all persons having bronglit forward their deeds and consented 
to abide by his work, William McMahan re-surveyed the plat and 
established the rights of each. 

By the tenth census the village had a population of 504. The 
subjoined statements from two of the most sagacious business men of 
Paw Paw form a fitting conclusion to this topic. 

"The railroads coming here in 1872 was the prime cause of the 
town's start to grow. The prices ]iaid for butter and other products 
of the farm have added materially to the growth of the town. Many 
old settlers who have become a little forehanded have sold or rented 
and moved here on account of the school and churches. We have a 
very good school, which is presided over by three teachers; also three 
churches in good condition, out of debt, and with strong membership. 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 683 

Another reason which I give for the prosperity of tlie town is tliat we 
are not cnrsed witli many hard drinkers, having never, during tiie ten 
years last past, allowed intoxicating drinks of any kind to be sold 
witliin onr borders, having learned that where saloons go up church 
steeples must come down. The town has been self-sustaining, never 
having been incorporated. We govern ourselves accordingl}', without 
selling fire-water to pay expenses incurred in running the town. These 
are sufficient reasons why the town has met with such success." 

"I would attribute the thrift and prosperity of this place to the ex- 
cellent firming country by which it is surrounded, and more particu- 
larly to the class of inhabitants, they being almost exclusively eastern 
people." 

AN AMERICAN ELEPHANT. 

The following account of this animal, believed to be an American 
elephant, is taken from the "Paw Paw Herald" of August 22, 1880: 

"Mr. L. W. Bidwell, in the employ of George Lindscy, was exca- 
vating a slough near Lindsey's residence, with the intention of making 
an ice-pond to be overflowed in winter, when, at a depth of four feet, he 
struck a peculiar soil, which it is supposed at one time constituted a 
bed of quicksand. In removing this his shovel struck some hard sub- 
stance, at the time considered a log of wood ; what was his surprise 
when, as he pried, a large piece of hip-bone, thirteen inches across, was 
first removed. This excited his curiosity, and another equally as large 
a specimen was removed. With these he proceeded to interview Dr. 
BraiFet on the importance of the ' find,' and what precaution to observe 
in its removal. It was evidently a carcass of some mastodon, and the 
doctor and Mr. Bidwell proceeded next morning to investigate. Mean- 
time the news spread, and the inquisitive multitude began to flock to 
the resurrection, and a dozen anxious hands were soon busily at work 
removing the earth. The first portion removed was the upper joint of 
the hind leg or hip-bone, which measured four feet four inches in 
length and was found to be twenty-one inches in circumference at the 
knee-pan, from there to the ankle-joint three feet two inches. The 
foot was in such a state of decomposition that it could not be removed, 
but was observed to be about ten or twelve inches high, resembling a 
bear's foot, and twenty inches long. This would make the hind leg 
eight to nine feet long. One of the legs was preserved by 
splintering, and can be seen by calling on Mr. Bidwell. The back- 
bone and ribs were uncovered and found to be of an enormous size, 
some of the ribs measuring six inches in circumference. The head, 
which was thrown in such a position as to show that the animal had 
died in a struggle, was found to be nearly three feet in length; the 
lower jaw figured up twent3'-six inches. In this were two huge 



684 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

teeth, one measuring twenty-one inches in circumference, and weighed 
nine pounds, the other two inclies smaller. The larger one is now in 
Mr. Lindsey's possession. No upper teeth nor tusks were found. Then 
came the upper part of the head with an eye-socket as large as a tea- 
cup, and brains enough fill a bushel basket. The balance of tlie mon- 
ster only formed an outline for measurement, being so badly decom- 
posed as to make it impossible to retain in good shape anything but 
the fore legs, which were found to be a trifle longer than those before 
described. Upon actual measurement, we are told its length is twenty- 
two and a half feet, and in height would stand between fifteen and six- 
teen feet, and was undoubtedly covered with a thin coat of hair, as 
upon the skeleton were found streaks and mossy fibers. It is a matter 
of conjecture to what species of the mastodon this prehistoric specimen 
belongs, but it would have ofiiered a valuable addition to the work of 
scientists and zoologists if it could have been preserved as found." 

These are the remains of an American elephant, and are more rare 
than those of the mastodon. The monstrous animal, when living, had 
evidently been mired in the quicksand bed of the slough. A better 
idea of his immense size mav be formed by comparison with large 
animals of the present day. Elephants in Asia or Africa, where only 
they are found now in native state, are about ten feet high, fifteen or 
sixteen feet long, and weigh from three to five tons each, when full 
grown. But the elephant whose bones were here exhumed, when he 
roamed over these prairies, long ages ago, was twenty-two feet long, 
and sixteen feet high, according to the estimates of Dr. M. II. Everett, 
of Troy Grove, and his brother, who made a long and careful investi- 
gation. The animal's foot was twenty inches long, and as large as a 
kerosene barrel. When alive it probably fed chieflv' on grass. 

EAST PAW PAW. 

William Rogers was the first settler and built the first house, which 
was used for a hotel. The date of his arrival is not definitely known, 
but it was not latei', probably, than 1836. He was endowed with 
great bodily strength, and had a fondness for gambling, which he grati- 
fied without restraint. He obtained a large part of the Ogee reserva- 
tion and sold it out piecemeal. From here he went to Dixon, was 
proprietor of the Western Hotel some time, and finally drifted to Cali- 
fornia. He was everywhere known, particularly on the river between 
here and New Orleans, being a man of much cnergj' and practical 
experience. His reappearance in these parts recently is mentioned. 
In 1877 John Wentworth and other old residents of Chicago got up a 
banquet for Rogers. Ho died a year or two ago. 

Charles Morgan, from Virginia, settled just west of here, on land 



WYOMHSTft TOWNSHIP. 685 

now owned by Mrs. Cn'swell, as early as 1836. His notable character- 
istic was his great piiysical strength, he being accounted the most 
powerful man in all this country. He lived here till about 1850. 
One Mead, whose given name is lost, came in 1838, located in tlie 
grove south of this village, and took a claim reaching to the county 
line on the east, and to the Chicago rcjad on the north, on which the 
site of the town partly is. Job Aleott, who came in 1836, had his im- 
provement adjoining Moi-gan on the east ; in a few years he sold to a 
man named Mussulman, who built the Hollow House. 

Bailey Breese emigrated from Morristown, New Jersey, in the fall 
of 1840, bought a quartei -section next the county line, and north of the 
Chicago road, from William Rogers, and the following summer, being 
joined by his family, began to improve it. A part of the village was 
afterward platted on his land, and his house, built where Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Bosette lives, was the second on the site of East Paw Paw. At 
a subsequent time, having $400 in ready cash, a tender of forty acres of 
land lying on Lake street, in Chicago, near the "Bull's Head" tavern, 
where all the drovers put up in that da^', was made him for this sum 
of money. lie got two weeks' refusal and came home. Rogers, want- 
ing to sell, persuaded Breese to buy more land from him, and the 
money was invested at East Paw Paw; showing how this dull little 
village of to-day — at one time, by the way, a stirring, thriving place 
— was once, and not many years ago, to be preferred to a city in many 
respects now tlie most marvelous in the history of the world. Mr. 
Breese was a cousin to Sidney Breese, once senator from this state, 
and afterward member of the supremo bench. With a robust consti- 
tution, not a gray hair, not a tooth missing, and eyesight unimpaired, 
he was a type of health. He was an active business man all his life, 
and his public-spirited usefulness raised his character and memory high 
in popular judgment. He died in 1859 at the ripe age of seventy- 
seven. 

Jacob Wiriek came about 1842 or 1843 and bought out William 
Rogers; a tavern was on the place and he was landlord there awhile. 
Later we find him living over the county line in the present southeast 
quarter of the village. Wiriek was converted to Mormonism in Ohio ; 
removed to Nauvoo, Illinois, and thence with his brethren of the faith 
to Missouri, where, after successive removals and hardships, he became 
dispossessed of most of his property, of which he had a competency. 
To escape the wandering condition of his sect, and the persecutions 
which chased it like avenging fate, he sought his individual fortune, as 
many of the "saints" did, by dispersing themselves in all directions, 
and came to this place, where he became well off again, and died just 
before the war. 



686 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Wirani Gates arrived in 1845, bouglit out Meade, and lived where 
Charles Pierce, who came the same year, now does. He was a cele- 
brated character, familiarly called "Bogus" Gates, from a kind of 
money unknown to the law elsewhere than in its penal provisions. 
Gates denied ever having handled counterfeit coin, but in the face of 
people's observations his denial «vas a travesty on truth. He had been 
a circus proprietor, and in such capacit}' became educated in the crook- 
edness of the world. There is no doubt that lie entertained and assisted 
the numerous horse-thieves who regularly pursued their occupation. 
Gates owned a good deal of property, at one time about GOO acres of 
land, and people said if he had been honest he would have become 
wealth}'; but while setting traps for others, by a piece of sarcastic 
justice he was liimself trapped. Gates built finely, even lavishly, for 
the time and place; he had so manj' costly buildings that his home 
was unsalable except at great sacrifice; suddenly his fine Gothic 
residence, erected at a cost of $3,000, burned down ; but he failed to 
collect the insurance. He was also a tradesman in East Paw Paw, and 
one of his notable operations was the bringing from Xcw York of a 
stock of goods selected and bought on credit for $12,000 b\- his son, 
with the evident intention of defrauding the creditors. The plan did 
not succeed. Before the arrival of the goods an agent waited on him 
and required him, and another son who had means, to indorse for the 
purchasing son. Failing to meet the obligation at maturity, his stock 
was seized, he was broken uj), and the career of "Bogus" Gates was 
practically at an end in this part of the country. 

Jacob Wiriek and Bailey Breese sold the first village lots, the former 
owning east and the latter west of the county line. The first store, a 
little west of here, was opened by Charles Howard in 1S17; possibly 
his brother George had an interest with him. At this period the nearest 
trading points abroad were Dixon, Ottawa and La Salle. The Howard 
stock of goods was afterward moved to " East Corners" (East Paw 
Paw) and sold to Sherborn Gates. In 1849 S. B. Warren bought this 
store and associated James Little with him as partner. Near the same 
time Wirara Gates, and a tradesman named Davenport, also began 
selling goods. A post-oflice was established in 1850, with Andrew 
Breese as postmaster. The present incumbent is Henry Van Riper. 
About 1855 the Teachers' Listitute and Classical Seminary was erected 
with funds subscribed for the purpose. A union church has existed in 
the place since ISGS. The original pastors were the Rev. Layenbec, 
Methodist, and the Rev. Breed, Congrcgationalist. Rev. Stover, of 
the Methodist church, is ministering to the congregation at this time. 
He preached in this section of country over thirty years ago. A man 
of fine talent. 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 687 

Once this was a point wliere a large trade was carried on ; but the 
signs of activity, abundant j'ears ago, have departed, and the town 
gracefully accepts the fate with which the railroads have darkened its 
experience. The school is an institution of acknowledged merit, whose 
reputation is sufficient to maintain its thrift and usefulness. 

Eleazer Darby Le Moyne, now living in the village, and for many 
years formerly a traveling temperance lecturer, settled here prior to 1845. 

Spartan Lodge, No. 272, I.O.O.F., was organized at East Paw Paw 
March 31, 1859, b}' the deputy grand master, Lee, and worked under 
dispensation until chartered, October 9. The charter members and 
first elective officers were H. P. Moore, N.G. ; B. B. Griffith, V.G. ; 
James Lansing, R.S. ; John Clark, T., and E. D. Wilcox. At the 
date of organization Lanson Hnbbell and William Rosette were ad- 
mitted by card, and D. R. Fuller, John Patrick and John Mickly 
were initiated. For a number of years the lodge was located on the 
other side of the county' line, but consent having been obtained it was 
moved into Lee county. Its histoiy, like that of most fraternal organ- 
izations, is checkered with trials ; but it has done a beneficent work, 
and is the veteran parent of five other lodges, namely: Shabbona, of 
Earlville; Anchor, of Paw Paw ; Fidelia, of Steward; Fertile, of 
Shabbona, and Triumph, of Malugin's Grove. The first three are alive 
and prosperously at work. Spartan lodge is in a flourishing condition, 
with a membership of forty-one. The present elective officers are 
George Firkins, N.G.; Elmer Day, V.G. ; Nelson Morris, R.S. ; James 
Ketchum, P.S. ; Oren Marble, T., and Benjamin Frantz, C. 

SOUTH PAW PAW. 

This hamlet is pleasantly situated on the county line at the south 
side of Paw Paw Grove and lies partly in both counties. It contains 
a school-house, Methodist church, 'creamery, cemetery, and about a 
dozen private houses. The first settler here was John Ploss, in the 
spring of 1835. Eber St. John bought his claim and then sold it to 
Deacon Orlando Boardman, who arrived in 1840. Deacon Israel Hal- 
lock came the same year, and has lived on his present homestead since 
that time. The former, now dead, was prominent in organizing the 
Baptist society, and in erecting the church which once stood here, and 
was ai'terward removed to Paw Paw. Ralph Atherton, originally from 
Massachusetts, but later from Pennsylvania, came to this place in 1844, 
and is still living here. He was a fancy craftsman of the awl and last, 
and gladl}' received by the misses and others whose aspirations began 
to demand something more tasteful than "cowhides." Dr. George 
S. Hunt, the first regular physician at the grove and in Wyoming 
township, located here in practice in the spring of 1844. Deacon 



^^^i hisiv>ry of lkk c\>rsTT. 

Diankj Pine, now in his nin«_v-tourth re*r, caiine in IS-kv and settled 
<M die Bacon tutu. l>ivid R. Town, nstive t^' Waierburv. V 
noved with his tat her, Russell Town, to Ohio at the aire ot' 
in ISSa, when twj veiars old, cuue to Paw Paw Grove. He went from 
b«w across the plains in the ^^^remmeJlt s<^rvitv in the sprinir ot" 1S4S. 
Timothv GoWe eauie here is 1:>4S frwn the Wyouiiiii: vallev. in Penn- 
srlrania, where the rest of the familv of that name had lived, and 
looMed OB the Moti GoMe resides. For s«.mie yoars 

he l«s heea at ;-...- . ...... ... .SiT the j>arents. Etekiel and Marsr»ret, 

moved tn>nj the east, and have since died. Years agv> a irnided 
sxhool wxs hei«, at which luanv of the people now residing aT>.~>nnd 

wr— '■ -" ■ - •■ - ■ -h thej speak in ir -• - ' • — r temis. 

E . _ i nil settler of W _ ^ .and his 

wife. Poiiv, are buried in the eemeterr at this place. The Rev, Xor- 
man Warriner. pkv ^^ - ■ - - ■ ^>J here. 

As nesar as car. . r l>o< when the 

Rev. C^k'b Morris, Nanev, Caleb and Isachar Robinson, Betsey and 
L ' ~ _ " " - -- " V, and name- Taw 

P. - - - , , . icader and > .-iad 

acted in these caividiieis till 1S»$. when he moved away and was suc- 
ceeded by > _ . number of paying uicin- 

bers !<«■ Si ...;; ,: .:^ : vet it has had resr»lar 

preaching once in two weeks, and since ISTS evwy Sabbath. The 
dwnch edifice was . : the ye*r IS^T. It is sV sur^ 

laoonted by an ei^... - ..^ . spire, and is a neat and cv-. ^-.... ... ..viase 

of worship. 

The Sonth Paw Paw Union S*blvath.sehool was organixed in the 
sdiooi-honse at that place ■• "- ~ with C M. Piokirson as ^ • - •- 
tiNident. When the Bapds: »-as moved to Paw Paw t. . 

was tr«ns£Hi«d from that house to tiie Methodist. 

Friendship ^ _ ^" "- " - _ sed s: S T.'iw Paw. 

whent it conti. - _- \_;>rii 1ST. 1. charter 

members were J. W. Clark, F. B. Uallccfc, G. Wirick, W. Campbrfl, 
D. C. Hw. ' " ' -^.J. W> ' a»apman,J. 

G. Jones. • .!nj>ton, ^ . rfidd, J, K. 

Ke:v-lium. and W. AtLcfton. Robert Hamptcn and D. C Hoag were 
the nrsi master and secretary ni^spectively. Presmt member^ip, 
twenty-five^ 

Sasnyside Lodse of G<kkI Templars was insdtnted at Soaih Paw 
Paw ~ ~ T. Pnoiraineot members were Oriando Boardmaa 

and « .... sa Hunt. D. C. Hoag. Solomon BntterMd, Edward 

Batterfiel.. > Keichnm, and Harry Warren. AogvstBS Rid»r 

was lodge depiitT. Meeting have not been bdd the present rear. 



'\ 



i 



^1% "% 



f 




^ 




"WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 691 

On the petition of thirty-four legal voters and tax-payers of Wyo- 
ming, John Harding, clerk of the township, issued a call for a special 
town meeting, to be held September 22, 1869, to vote on the question 
of the township's subscribing $50,000 to the capital stock of the Chi- 
cago & Rock River Railroad Company. The conditions were that the 
bonds, if authorized, should not be issued or draw interest or be deliv- 
ered until the road should be completed through the township, and 
cars running over it; that the road should be constructed within 100 
rods of the main street of Paw Paw, and a depot located within the 
same distance of the village, and that on the delivery of the bonds to 
the company the township should receive in exchange a like amount 
of stock. At the election 142 votes were cast in favor of the proposi- 
tion to 62 against it. 

The proposed termini were Calumet and Rock Falls, and the ad- 
vantage to be secured was an independent line to connect with the 
eastern trunk roads without entering Chicago to pay the arbitrary tolls 
and exactions of the warehouse system. The road was not built ac- 
cording to the representations made to the people ; instead of extend- 
ing it to Calumet it was diverted to Shabbona, where a junction was 
formed with the Chicago & Iowa railroad. The deflection in the 
course was made at Paw Paw, to which point the line was finished 
from the west on Wednesday, June 19, 1872. on which occasion the 
citizens banqueted the contractor, Isaac Edwards, and his men in 
hearty fashion. The route was at once leased to the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad Company, and it now forms a part of their 
extensive system. 

The township ofBcers at first hesitated to issue the bonds, but as it 
was apparent that the conditions which the township had made had 
been fully complied with, as attested by the record, they at length exe- 
cuted the obligation. Fifty bonds of $1,000 each, to run ten years 
from July 1, 1871, drawing interest at ten per cent, with the first cou- 
pon detached, were delivered. The people were restive under tlie 
injustice of which they were victims, and appealed to the courts to re- 
strain collections on this outstanding debt, but without success. In 
ISSO judgment for two years' unpaid interest on $40,000 iield in Cin- 
cinnati, amounting to $8,400, was obtained against Wyoming. Upon 
maturity of the old bonds the present year new ones to the amount of 
$59,000, bearing six per cent interest, were sold to pay them ofl". In 
placing this issue $510 above their face value was realized, being the 
accrued interest and nearly one-half of one per cent premium. A plan 
of gradual payment was provided for, and the principal and interest 
fall due in the amounts and years following: 1882 — principal $500, 
amount $4,040 ; 1883— principal $2,000, amount $5,510 ; 1884— prin- 
41 



692 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

cipal $3,000, amount $5,390 ; 1885— principal 82,000, amount $5,270 ; 
1886— principal $2,000, amount $5,150; 1887— principal $2,000, 
amount $5,o30 ; 1888— principal $2,500, amount $5,41U; 1S89— 
principal $2,500, amount $5,260; 1890— principal $3,000, amount 
$5,610; 1891— principal $3,000, amount $5,430; 1892— principal 
$3,000, amount $5,250; 1893— principal $3,500, amount $5,570; 
1894— principal $3,500, amount $5,360; 1895— principal $3,500, 
amount $5,150; 1896— principal $4,000, amount $5,440; 1S97 — 
principal $4,000, amount $5,200; 1898 — principal $4,U0U, amount 
$4,960; 1899— principal $4,5U0, amount $5,220; 1900— principal 
$4,500, amount $4,950; 1901— principal $3,000, amount $3,180. 
A^ffrcKate amount $102,380. 

The Joliet, Rockford & Northern railroad, to be built by the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, is under contract and 
located between Paw Paw and Sheridan, intersecting tlie branch of 
the latter road at the former place, and is to be extended from Paw 
Paw both ways to Joliet and Rockford. Grading, just begun (Octo- 
ber 1881) at Paw Paw, is to be rapidly completed between the 
present termini. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John Colvill, postmaster, Paw Paw Grove, is a native of Camp- 
bellton, Argyleshire, Scotland. His father and brothers were iron 
or iiardware dealers, and at the age of twelve our subject showed such 
ability for mathematics and accounts that he was placed in the count- 
ing-room. A little before majority he emigrated with his brother-in- 
law, John Smith, to this country, and for some years made his home 
with that family. He made a claim of what is now the Smitli Piilver 
farm, on the north side of the grove, but without improving it sold to 
Matthew Atchinson. For several years he and Jacob Rogers were 
making shingles together, and when William H. Robinson started in 
business for himself on Peru street Mr. Colvill became liis clerk. 
About this time, 1850, he took charge of the post-office, and continued 
as deputy until the accession of President Lincoln, in 1801, when he 
was appointed postmaster. When Mr. Robinson removed his store to 
Earlville Mr. Colvill went with him to that place, and excepting his 
two years' residence there he has been the incumbent of the post-office 
of Paw Paw Grove since his first appointment. On his return he went 
into trade in the old Robinson stand, and in 1875 sold out his business 
to William Merrill it Co., but retained tlie post-office. In 1863 he 
erected the Flagg & Baker clothing store, and in 1872 the Colvill 
building. As a business man he has been among the most useful and 
best respected in town. For many years he 'was almost the sole con- 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 693 

veyancer on whom the people relied to draft their papers when trans- 
ferring property. At one time he was elected justice of the peace, 
but being jiostmaster was ineligible. He has filled the office of town- 
clerk, and at different dates that of supervisor, and since 1863 that of 
township treasurer ; and all his trusts have been discharged with fidelity 
and satisfaction to the public. Mr. Colvill was accidentally deprived 
of one eye while in the cradle, and the other has alwa3's been affected 
with near-sightedness ; Init notwithstanding his defective sight he has 
been a prudent and extensive reader, and has stored his mind well 
from the best current literature. On his table may be found the daily 
newspaper, the serai-weekly New York " Tribune," two county papers^ 
and nearly half a dozen of the leading English magazines, "Blackwood's" 
receiving his preference. At the date of his return from Earlville, 
1854, he contracted marriage with the relict of William Thompson, to 
whom she was united in wedlock November 2, 1840. Her husband 
died in 1848, and James Thompson is the only surviving child. Her 
maiden name was Nancy Harding, and she was born in Exeter, Lu- 
zerne county, Pennsylvania. Her brothers, Lester and Isaac, are lead- 
ing men of Wyoming county, in that state, and the Hon. Garrard 
Harding is president judge of Luzerne county. Mrs. Thompson set- 
tled in Paw Paw in 1852, and taught school in this vicinity until her 
second marriage. She was greatly respected for her success in this 
]>rofession, but not more than for her exalted virtues as a woman. The 
ceremony of marriage between her and Mr. Colvill took place Septem- 
ber 26, 1854. Like her husband she was a great lover of reading, and 
in her he had a congenial and estimable companion, whose departure- 
to rest April 18, 1881, was a loss to kindred and friends which can 
never more be supplied. Mr. Colvill's memory is a repositor}' of early 
history, upon which, with his kind permission, we have drawn with a 
free hand. 

William McMahan is the county surveyor and the supervisor of 
Wyoming, and resides on his farm. Sec. 27. He was born January 17, 
1829, in Montour county, Pennsylvania. His father's name was Ben- 
jamin, and his mother's Esther J. (Brearley). His grandfather was 
with the brave Gen. Wayne in the armj' of the American revolution,. 
and served through the whole of that war. William was educated at 
Danville Academy, in his native county, and learned surveying. At 
the early age of seventeen he taught school in winter, did satisfactory 
work as a surveyor through the summer, and helped his father in farm- 
ing the rest of the year. This course he followed till 1854, when he 
came west and taught school at Franklin Grove. The next sj^ring he 
went to Minnesota, where for five years he was employed in surveying- 
for the government, by contract. Returning thence he married Sarahi 



694 HLSTOKY OF LEE COC.VTY. 

A., flanghter of John Clark, of Trumbull county, Ohio, and the follow- 
ing spring thej emigrated to their present home in Wyoming. The 
compass wag laid away, and he gave his attention to farming, hoping 
he would thus be allowed to enjoy life in the companionship of his 
family. Bnt competent surveyors were needed ; and when such men 
could not \)e secured, in some cases, unskillful persons ran the lines 
wrong and caused trouble. But it was found that when Mr. McMahan 
could be induced to set the boundaries they were accurate and sure. 
So much confidence came to be reposed in his ability that the owners 
of different lands at Paw Paw Tirove and the village united in select- 
ing him to make anew the lines that had hteen doubtful, agreeing to 
abide by his decision. The result was what they anticipated. Besides 
Paw Paw, he laid out Compton, Camahan, Brooklj-n, Shaw, Walton, 
and Ilammon. Finally, in 1867, he was appointed the county sur- 
veyor, and has been continued in that service ever since. During his 
term as supervisor in 1809, at his suggestion, the county procured a 
copy of the government Held notes, which contain the original surveys 
of the whole county. This is kept at Dixon ; but Mr. McMahan has 
made a duplicate copy of the work, and added to it the accumulated 
surveys of Mr. Crawford and himself, so that this body of valuable 
records are now conveniently accessible at his office. Five times he 
has been elected supervisor, and seven times assess^jr. He has three 
children living: Ilattie E., John C. and William B. Ills J Sec. of 
land is furnished with excellent buildings. One item of his crops in 
1879 was 176 bushels of clover seed. 

Dkacos Iskael F. Ham.'hjk, farmer. La Clair, with his excellent 
wife, are among the few who survive of those who settled in Wyoming 
prior to 1841. Mr. Hallock is of the eighth generation from England, 
the son of Joseph Ilallock, an Orange county farmer, and was born 
June 16, 1818. Leaving the Empire State in his seventeenth year, he 
spent four years in Pennsylvania. Married Persia P. M. Boardman, 
daughter of Deacon Orlando Boardman, in 1830. In 1840 emigrated 
to Illinois, and that fail bought the claim where David Thomas now 
lives, on the south side of Paw Paw Grove. Next year he sold this 
and took up a prairie claim one mile south of the grove, on the town- 
ship line, where t<>-day, on the Earlville road, may be seen as fine a 
grove as eye ever beheld. This grove is of hard and soft rnaple, partly 
fringed with tamarack and cedar. Mr. Hallock set the hard maples 
about 18.50, and the s^^ft about 1862. On this "Maple Grove Farm " 
Mr. and Mm. Ilallock lived thirty-seven years. In 1879 he sfjld to his 
(M'jn-in-law, Steven A. Tarr, and moved to the Boardman farm at 
*' South Side," where they now reside. Mrs. Ilallock is one of the 
thirteen who organized the Paw Paw Baptist church, in 1841. Mr. 



"WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 695 

Hallock was the second member received ; he united in 1842, and was 
appointed deacon about 1S50. They liave two children, Mrs. Jane 
E. Tarr, on '> Maple Grove Farm," and William II., on a farm of his 
father's in Stark county. When Mr. and Mrs. Hallock came as pio- 
neers, the}' were six weeks and live days on the road, and besides the 
few things brought in their one-horse wagon they had three dollars 
left after buying a cow. Now, when forty-one years have elapsed, they 
appear to be young in social joys and virtues, and blessed with an 
abundance of whatever enters in to complete a successful life. 

.ToiiN KosicNRKKCKK, Station agent of the Eock Falls branch of the 
Chicago, ]'>urlington it Quincy railroad, was born at Ilattield, Mont- 
gomery county, Pennsylvania, September IS, ISiO. His parents' 
names were David and Elizabeth. His mother died when he was 
quite young. His early education was limited to attendance at a com- 
mon school six months in the year, but he made good use of that. At 
the ago of fourteen he became a clerk in a produce store in Philadel- 
phia. Besides bis service here, he assisted his father on his farm at 
intervals, and before he was twenty-one had also learned cigar-making. 
For several years afterward he worked at his trade in Michigan. Ohio 
and Illinois. While residing at Aurora he improved his evenings to 
learn telegraphing, and found this knowledge of great use afterward. 
He then mastered the details of railroad accounts and management, so 
far as he had opportunity, and was employed in railroad work in several 
offices, gaining much valuable experience. January 13, 1S73, he was 
appointed to take charge of this station. In December of that year he 
married Miss C. J. Vaidiorn, of Paw Paw, formerly of Northumber- 
land county, Pennsylvania. They have two children. Fay Wilson and 
Geoi-gie Floy. 

AuNKU ii. Ci-Ari', farmer, lives east of Four-Mile Grove. He was 
born at Northampton, Massachusetts, April 13, 1825. His father 
was a farmer, and his grandfather, Simeon Clapp, was a soldier in the 
revolutionary war. He was not fond of books, and regrets that he did 
not study more when a boy. But he was early inured to hard work and 
loved it. After he was twenty-one, having no capital, he labored live 
seasons in a brick-yard in the warm weather, and in winter worked in 
the timber; believes he earned a dollar with the axe easier than in any 
other way, for he was strong and tough. In 1850 he married Miss 
Aleimena Hastings, of Wcsthampton. They emigrated to Wyoming 
in the spring of 1854-, and bought the eighty acres on which they now 
reside. If they had had the money then $800 would have paid for 
the farm ; but obliged to run in debt and pay ten per cent interest, 
the original cost was increased by interest to !?2,400 before they could 
call it their own. The hard work which these two persons did in the 



696 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

first years they were liere would seem incredible, were it not that the 
facts cannot be doubted. Working for others in the day-time, and then 
in his own field till midnight, in harvest season, and assisted b}- his 
wife, who was a true helpmeet, if the country had not been more 
healthful than many other places they must have broken down. But 
when the crops were taken to market prices received only paid the cost 
of living while raising them and a few dollars over. Corn, shelled 
and hauled to Mendota, eleven miles distant, brought 12 and 14 cents 
a bushel. At length, discouraged, Mr. Clapp started for Pike's Peak, 
hoping to obtain money enough to repay the loans from friends, and 
his wife returned east to work awhile at her trade as a dress-maker. 
Mr. Clapp drove 1,100 miles with an ox team, and then met numbers 
returning who said there was no chance for a living westward. He 
would have persevered, but his companions induced him to return. 
He had thus traveled 2,200 miles. His wife met him at their Wyo- 
ming home, and the two took up the battle of life with new courage. 
He had seen so many worse otf than they were that he would not 
complain. Pluck and industry won, and prosperous times came. Thej' 
have one son, Lewis A. 

Hon. Obed W. Bryant has a farm of nearly 600 acres at Four 
Mile Grove, near Paw Paw, in W3'oming township. Here he has re- 
sided for nearly forty years, famous, as a farmer, for his industry and 
successful management; tenderly- beloved by an ever widening circle 
of friends; esteemed by his neighbors far and near for strict integrity, 
straightforward dealing, warm-hearted kindness, courage, prompt ac- 
tion, and public spirit. He is of Scotch descent on his father's side, a 
third cousin of the late William Cullen Bryant, the distinguished poet 
and editor of New York, and inherits much of the good common-sense 
grit and blunt ways of his sturdy ancestors. With few early advan- 
tages from the common schools of sixty years ago, he is mainly a self- 
educated man, and has creditably filled many varied positions of honor 
and responsibility in the town and counts', has been a frequent dele- 
gate to conventions and often called to preside, and has represented 
his district in the legislature. Obed Wilson Bryant was the son of 
Micah and Polly (Twichell) Bryant, and was born at New Vineyard, 
Maine, March 9, 1815. His great-grandfather, Moses Twichell, was 
killed at the battle of Bunker Hill ; his grandfather of the same. name 
was also in that battle, and served through the revolutionary war, as 
did likewise his grandfather Bryant. His parents could not give Obed 
much time to go to school, and very little money to start in life, but 
we may be sure they taught him excellent habits; and when, in 1S37, 
he emigrated from Maine to Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, he at 
once found employment and kind friends. One fann'lj there, whose 



"WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 697 

acquaintance he then made, befriended liim in many ways, and encour- 
aged liim to commence a course of study and reading which was faith- 
fully followed in after years, and qualified him for the many places he 
has been called to fill. It is worth while for boys to notice the reason 
which induced this Princeton family to take such a kindly interest in 
the young man who had come to them an entire stranger: it was 
because they found that they " never had any work they wished him to 
do but that he was ready to do it and did it as well as he knew how." 
In 1839 and 184(1 depression of business caused Mr. Bryant to engage on 
the public works. It was the hardest kind of labor, but he had great 
strength and a tough constitution. Within a week he was placed in 
charge of a gang of men in a quarry in the Peru Bluffs, and soon after 
was promoted to a more responsible position. Here he was required 
to keep a record in his books in cubic j'ards, and knew nothing of the 
method ; but after the day's labor was over he set himself to learn, 
and before he slept woi'ked out the problem, unaided. Mr. Bryant, 
was married in 184i), to Lucy Lindsey, and in 18-1:2 moved onto a farm 
he had purchased, on which George Yenerick now lives, at Four-Mile 
Grove. In 1843 his wife died, and to escape his sorrow he sold his 
farm, and with another party engaged in buying flat-boats with car- 
goes at points near the Red river, on the Mississippi, and selling them 
at New Orleans. Keturning the next spring Mr. Bryant bought a 
farm near his present 2'esidence, but just over the line southward in 
La Salle countj', where he lived for several years. In 1844 he mar- 
ried Sarah, sister of his former wife. At a later period he sold the 
land he had bouglit at government price for §15 an acre, and in 1854 
purchased the farm where he now lives. Mr. Bryant has taken an 
active interest in public affairs. Besides serving in oflice in other 
places, he has been elected county supervispr here six terms, often a 
magistrate, and in 1865 was member of the legislature. Yet he pre- 
fers to be known simply as a farmer, never seeking anj' other position. 
"If you wish me to serve you and are satisfied with my etiorts, I shall 
submit," he has often said when nominated for oflice, " but if you 
would please me, leave me on my farm." He has done a good deal of 
quiet christian work, preaching acceptablj' in churches and school- 
houses and outlying neighborhoods, and giving largely in proportion 
to his means to aid in building churches and endowing educational in- 
stitutions, and has helped young men to enjoy at college the advan- 
tages that were denied to him. Several of the students whom he has 
helped have become ministers, one is a physician. While he will 
protest against this brief tribute, which is made up chiefly from the 
public records and the statements of fellow-citizens, less could not be 
said in justice, and other facts of interest concerning liim may be pre- 



698 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

sented in another connection in this work, as otliers had to do with 
them. Mr. Bryant has seven children : Wilson C, Mrs. D. L. West, 
Wm. Howard, Frank B., Emma M. (Blee), Eva C. (Lewis) and Chas. H. 
Deacon Daniel Pine, South Paw Paw (La Clair the post-office), 
in the ninetj'-fourtli year of his age and the thirty-sixth of his resi- 
dence in the township of Wyoming, is a man of really remarkable his- 
tory. He was born in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, Deceniber 
21, 1787. His grandfather was an Italian and died in Italy. Subse- 
quently due and legal notice was received by Daniel's fother, Joseph 
Pine, that a very valuable island was represented to belong to the 
estate of the grandfather in Italy, with the request to prove up a claim 
inside of ten years, else it would revert to the government. Dr. Alviii 
Bristol, of Rochester, New York, the only heir with means sufficient 
and competent for the work, went to Massachusetts, found the records 
all straight and adequate, and was about to proceed when he sickened 
, and died. This put an end to the whole matter. Daniel's father was 
a clothier. His generosity in becoming surety for others kept the family' 
poor. Of thirteen children Daniel is siipposed to be the only survivor. 
In 1803 the family moved to York state, and while passing through 
the town of Arlington, Bennington county, Yermont, Daniel, a sprightly 
and attractive boy six years old, attracted the attention of the landlord 
of the tavern, named Baker. Baker says to Daniel's parents, " I like 
the looks of this boy ; would -like to have you leave him with me." 
The parents being poor and having a number of children, could spare 
this one, and left Daniel with Baker on trial for a few months. His 
father returning and finding Daniel contented, he indentured him to 
Baker till majority. Unfortunately the clause relating to the boy's 
schooling was simply that he be taught " to read, write, and cipher," 
which proved altogether indefinite. Daniel's father fully intended the 
boy should have at least three months' schooling for years, and took 
Baker's word for it, and therefore did not submit it to writing. So in 
the tavern, always wanted, summer and winter, the boy grew up, 
devoid of even a rudimentary education. Baker promising well each 
year for the next, but "next year" never came. At Daniel's majority 
he came one hundred miles north to the town of Williston, where one 
Horace Allen was teaching school. Daniel went to school to him, saw 
his destitution ; his pride did not allow him to take the proper place 
to obtain the needed i)rimary instruction. In 1813 Daniel married 
this Allen's sister, Lucy Allen, who, being an educated girl, became 
to Daniel his spelling-book. Being quick of observation, as she told 
him letters he memorized the orthography, until in a few years he was 
able to do business quite well. So we tind liiin saying to his printer 
in 1878, " The diction is correct, but the spelling, I know, is not, and 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 699 

I am unable to corieet it ; please do this for me." In the war of 1812 
the subject of this sketch did service at the battle of Plattsbnrg, and 
received a land warrant, the net avails of which was $300, and sixty- 
six years later, in 1878, he commenced drawing a pension of $96 a 
j'ear by virtue of the recent act of congress. In 1815 he moved to 
St. Lawrence count}', New York, where he resided till 183i, when he 
moved again to Ohio, county of Madison ; thence, in 1845, came to Illi- 
nois and settled at South Paw Paw on what is known as the "Bacon 
Farm." In 1866 he sold there and moved to his present residence at 
South Paw Paw. Mr. Pine has been a member of the Congregational 
church over sixty years, and thirty-six years of that time a deacon in 
that chuj-ch, and in all this period his manner of life has been above 
reproach. He was a whig at first, and about 184-6 identified himself 
strongly with the abolitionist party, then with the republican party, 
.and for years has advocated strongly the legal prohibition ticket as the 
only remedy for drunkenness. He has everywhere been active in the 
cause of temperance, and his life has ever conformed to his teaching as 
an advocate of temperance and righteousness and true holiness of heart 
and life. Mr. Pine's natural constitution has been remarkable ; his 
general health now is as good as ever. Last year he planted and 
tended a half acre of corn, hoeing it three times, and he says, " Oh, yes ; 
what a fine crop I had ! " Samples of that corn and those potatoes 
have gone to numerous friends in other states. His strength has ever 
been beyond his weight. His height is about five feet eleven inches, 
and he never weighed over one hundred and sixty-five. He was an 
adept at wrestling. One incident may be worthy of record : When 
about eighteen he went into a ring of wrestlers on training day and 
floored thirteen, every one of whom were older and heavier than him- 
self, and was not thrown at all. When twenty-two, at Willist<5n, at a 
similar game, he floored the champion wrestler of the state on each of 
the three holds. His faithful wife walked with him over sixty years. 
They had eleven children, eight still living, each and all of whom are 
active in diflerent churches. They are Mrs. Perry Stowe, Mrs. Syl- 
vester Carter, Mrs. David K. Town, Mrs. E. K. Whitemore, Julia, 
Horace, Daniel, and Nathan A. At the ninetieth anniversary of Mr. 
Pine's birthday his five daughters all came and gladdened their father's 
heart by a munificent gift, which he fully appreciates. Deacon Pine 
is to this daj- a remarkably fine penman. His correspondence is very 
large. His diction is easy and expressive. In 1858, at the solicitation 
of friends, he wrote the history of his religious life, which was pub- 
lished in Utica, New York, and in 1878 he wrote and published a 
small pamphlet of a religious character. 

John Edwards resides at East Paw Paw. For six terms he was 



700 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

elected supervisor of Wyoming, and has served nineteen j-ears as com- 
missioner of highways here. He was born in tlie parish of Loclierly, 
county of Hanipsiiire, England, November 21, 1821. His parents' 
names were William and Pliebe. They were poor, and labored upon 
a farm. His school ]>i'ivileges were quite limited. In 1837 he sailed 
for the island of Earbadoes, in the West Indies, where he was two N-ears 
in the service of the British government, in the navy yard, and taking 
care of naval stores. Thence he went to Canada, where he was still 
employed by the government, at Montreal and Quebec. A year and a 
half later he came to Syracuse, New York, worked in the county, and in 
the spring of 1846 enlisted in the United States army, 5th Inf. His 
regiment joined Gen. Worth's division, under Gen. Scott, at Vgra Cruz, 
in the Mexican war, and was in all the engagements that followed to 
the capture of the city of Mexico. A ball from a sharpshooter took 
off his forefinger here. Each man wounded in entering the ca])ital 
was presented by Gen. Scott with Slo from his own purse. Mr. 
Edwards received his discharge February 22, 1848, with a pension cer- 
tificate for .s96 a year, and a land warrant. The latter he soon after 
located in Wyoming, on Sec 6. In September, 1843, he married Eliza 
Ann, daughter of Henry Merwine, of East Paw Paw. They have three 
children. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Methodist Episcopal chm-ch, 
and a worker in the Sunday-school. 

Aliierson Potter, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, was born October 5, 
1847, in Wa^-ne count}', Pennsylvania. Wiien he was nine years old 
he came with his parents, Lester and Miranda (Andrews) Potter, to 
Paw Paw Grove. At the age of twenty-three he began farming near 
Twin Groves, and on January 27, 1870, married Miss Mary E. Bisp- 
ham, daughter of William Bispham, of Wyoming township. In the 
antumfi of 1872 he moved to his father's farm, in Sec. 8 of the same 
township, where he still remains. They have five children : William 
Lester, Henry Floyd, Jerusha, Clara, and Effie. 

EusnA A. Stanton (deceased) was born in Exeter, Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, May 28, 1821, brought up a farmer's boy, given good 
advantages at Harford Academy, and became a successful teacher. 
February 21, 1845, he was married to Sarah Oliver, of the same place, 
and on the following May-daj' set out on their wedding tour, it being 
no less than a thirty-day jo\irney with their own conveyance to Illinois. 
Stopping a few days at Harding, they arrived at Paw Paw Grove June 
16. Mr. Stanton entered land located about a mile west of Paw Paw, 
and in due time received the deed from the government. This land 
never changed ownership till 1875. Mr. Stanton died in 1855. Their 
onl}' son, J. Oliver Stanton, was in the war of the rebellion, under the 
last call, graduated at Push Medical College in the class of 1871, 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. ■ 701 

was with Dr. Fish some six months at East Paw Paw in the practice 
of medicine, and then located at Dennison, Crawford county, Iowa; 
but liis health giving way, he went to the mountains in July 1874, and 
died at Laramie City, Wyoming Territory, the following October. His 
two orphan cliildren are with his mother, also his sister Hattie, the 
onl3' surviving child of the subject of tliis sketch, their residence being 
in the village of Paw Paw. 

Jesse Beemek, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, son of Heiny and Mary 
(Spandinberg) Beemer, was born in Sussex count}', Isew York, in 
Marcli 181-i. In the spring of 1820, a date which Mr. Beemer re- 
members witii great distinctness owing to the surprising number of 
rattlesnakes he saw, removed and settled in Luzerne county, Pennsyl- 
vania. In the backwoods schools of that period the privileges for 
education were of the slimmest character, but such as they were, Mr. 
Beemer improved tliem. He bought and improved a 100-acre farm. 
October 14, 1838, he was married to Hannah, daughter of John W. 
Vanauken. She was born in New Jersey, Jime 8, 1821. Mr. Beemer 
emigrated to Illinois in the fall of 1847, and the next spring purchased 
his present farm, on Sec. 6, in this township. The land he bought 
was raw prairie, and the whole country was very wild, and on his way 
from Peru b^' way of Four-Mile Grove, to his purchase, he was fol- 
lowed most of the time b}' wolves. Mr. Beemer is an earnest repub- 
lican, and during the late war had three sons in the Union army. 
George was a volunteer in Co. K, 75th 111. reg., and was severely 
wounded in the battle of Perryville. Tiie other sons entered the 
service in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Beemer have been the parents of twelve 
children, nine of whom are living. Of these seven are married. Two 
live in Iowa, two in I^ebraska, and all the others in Lee county. 

Fbancis M. Case, farmer and stock raiser, Earlville, Illinois, was a 
native of Pennsjdvania, born in Wyoming county February 15, 1839. 
His father was Chauncy Case, and his mother's maiden name Mary E. 
Poberts. In 1845 the}' emigrated to Lee county, Illinois, and next 
3'ear took up the claim now owned and occupied by the subject of this 
sketch. This is the S.E. J Sec. 35. It will be observed by the reader that 
a prairie claim two miles away from any timber at that early day was a 
thing almost unheard of, and indicates quite clearly that the claimant 
was one who did his own thinking, regardless of the common opinion, 
and when we come to consider the value he placed u]ion an education, 
as seen in the advantages and attainments of his children, this view of 
him as an independent thinker will be confirmed. Francis attended 
school successively at South Paw Paw, East Paw Paw, Lee Centre, and 
Clark's Seminary at Aurora. He then taught several seasons, and was 
offered the position of principal of the Batavia Academy, which ill 



702 HISTORY OF LEE COTTNTT. 

health compelled liim to decline. A sister, Hattie, is one of the finest 
scholars in the state, having a state certificate ; a brother graduated at 
Normal, also at Ann Arbor, and is now a probate jndge in Kansas. 
As patriotism and intelligence are| closely allied, we are not surprised 
to find the subject of our sketch responding to his country's call. In 
1862 he enlisted in Co. K, 75th reg. 111. Inf. ; was wounded in the ter- 
rible encounter at Perry ville, and on account of this wound was 
discharged in 1863. In 1867 he bought the home farm, built his fine 
two-stor}' house, and was married October 10 of that year to C^'nthia 
J. Clark, daughter of John Clark, of Ogle county. Three children 
bless their union : Stella, Harry and Charlie. On his excellent farm are 
superior buildings, with orchards, hedges and shade-trees to corre- 
spond. Mr. Case has always voted for the successful candidate for 
president. He and his wife are both members of the Paw Paw Bap- 
tist church. 

WiLLLVji M. Stradek, a portrait of whom is given in this work, 
and a leading farmer of "Wyoming township, was born in Sussex 
county, New Jersey, August 18, 182-4. His parents, Henry and Rachel 
(Moore) Strader, were in good circumstances, and when he was five 
years old they removed to the present county of Wyoming, in Penn- 
sylvania, where they continued their occupation of tilling the soil. He 
made the most of the advantages for education afiorded by the district 
schools near his home ; and after, a residence of twenty years in that 
place he emigrated to this township in May 1848, and entered the N. 
"W. ^ Sec. 6. He completed an unfinished log house, broke and 
fenced his land, and purchased 120 acres more on Sec. 31, in Willow 
Creek. His marriage to Miss Sarah A. Post, daughter of J. D. Post, 
of Lee Centre, and sister to Elder William H. Post, was celebrated 
February 22, 1852. Acconipanied by his bride he immediately after 
started to cross the plains to California. The company, of whom Will- 
iam Hopkins, of Temperance Hill, was the captain, had seven wagons 
drawn by oxen, and a few saddle-horses. Seven women and about 
twenty-one men composed the party. After waiting three weeks at 
Iowa Cit}' for the grass to start the}' set out on their long and toilsome 
journey of six months. At this time there was a stretch of seventy -five 
miles between Iowa City and Council Blulfs unbroken by sign of 
human habitation. Shasta, California, was the terminus of the stage 
route, and that place was reached September 26. Mr. Strader located 
on Trinity river, in Trinity county, where he had a ranch on which 
he built a good house and barn, and at which point he operated a ferry, 
always known by his own name. His house was the polling-place for 
that section of countr}', which was named " Strader's Precinct." In the 
fall of 1853 he disposed of his property, and in the latter part of Jan- 



WYOJITNG TOWNSHIP. 703 

uary took the stage for Marysville, en route for " the States." At that 
place, on the 27th, he took passage for Sacramento on the steamer 
Pearl, carrying 122 persons, including the crew. At this time there 
was great rivalry for business and the fare had fallen from $5 to 50 
cents. Between this and another boat which left at the same time 
tiiere was a race the whole way. When Hearing the wharf at Sacra- 
mento cit}', and not more than twenty rods from the landing, the Pearl 
exploded her boilers, injuring all on board except eight. Mr. Strader, 
wife and child happening to be at that moment in the wash-room, 
escaped scalding, and were rescued before that end of the boat went 
down. The passage from San Francisco to Panama lasted fifteen days. 
This city, thongh having one of the finest roadsteads in the world, had 
no wharf, and the boats which came out three miles to the steamer at 
a signal from a gun, to land the passengers, could not, owing to the 
tide being out, reach the shore with their prows, and stranded. The 
passengers had paid $2 apiece to be put ashore, but were now required 
to "come down " with a dollar more to be carried out on men's backs. 
Mr. Strader was not a light weight, as he found when his transporter 
fell headlong with him in the water and left him to aret out at his own 
pleasure. Crossing the isthmus, a distance of forty-eight miles, over 
the Panama railroad, a crooked, rickety concern, they reached Aspin- 
wall, after six hours' travel, but on arrival were detained on the cars 
the greater part of a day, waiting for the specie boat, which was de- 
layed outside the harbor by the ebbing tide. From New York they 
proceeded to Philadelphia, thence to Chicago, and reached Paw Paw 
Grove Mai'ch 25. Mr. Strader bought his homestead from Russell 
Town the same season. Mrs. Strader had a second narrow escape from 
disaster at the fall of the Dixon bridge. May 4, 1873, having just 
crossed before the fatal accident. These parents have had six children: 
George C, born in California, died at the age of nineteen ; John, who 
died in his ninth year; Mary A., who died in her eighteenth year; 
Willis, Edward J. and Harry G. Mr. and Mrs. Strader are both 
members of the Paw Paw Baptist cliurch, to which they have belonged 
the last seventeen years. Their deceased daughter was a young lady 
of unusual personal beauty, bright intellectual promise, and great ex- 
cellence of soul. Of her the Rev. H. R. Hicks, her pastor, said : " She 
had added to her natural charms, that pearl of great price that most 
gracefully adorned her remaining life." Mr. Strader is a man of cheer- 
ful and charitable disposition, well known and thoroughly respected. 
Under his roof are found hospitality and goodly comfort, due not more 
to his large-heartedness than to the smile, and skill, and tender care of 
his estimable wife. Mr. Strader recently lost a favorite nephew, who 
once lived with him, by a distressing accident on the Marietta & 



704 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Northern Georgia railroad, on wliicli he was an engineer. The Ma- 
rietta "Journal," in the course of an article extolling his character and 
heroic conduct, thus speaks of the manner in which he bravely met 
his death : " We say bravely, but we might say heroically, for we have 
been told that he said that he saw danger caused by a broken cross-tie, 
and could have jumped oti' and saved himself, but he knew the pas- 
sengers would be killed, so he stood to his post, reversed his engine, 
and went down the embankment and was immersed in scalding water. 
Walking up to the crowd, he asked ' Is any one killed ?' he was told 
'No.' 'Thank God !' he exclaimed. Then with perfect coolness he 
said, 'I am scalded from head to foot!' although not a quiver of the 
lip was exhibited and not an expression of pain, yet strips of skin had 
peeled off of his hands, arms, legs and back. Such nerve is seldom 
met with. And thus he met death heroically, and lost his own life to 
save others. He was a young man of fine physique, splendid mental 
endowments, a skillful machinist, honorable and just in all his dealings, 
punctual in keeping his promises, and gentleman!}' in his deportment. 
Ho was past grand of Cherokee Lodge, a Mason, and a wortliy citizen. 
Although he came to our city a perfect stranger, he made many true, 
warm-hearted friends, and was esteemed by our entire people. His 
sudden and shocking death is deeply regretted." 

JoHx Bak?:k, farmer, stock raiser and dairyman. Paw Paw Grove, 
was born in Jersey county, Illinois, October 14, 1846. At an early 
age Iiis parents, Ira and Sarah Baker, brought him to Wyoming town- 
ship, where they settled and have since made their residence. This 
subject obtained a fair education in the district schools, and on Feb- 
ruary 7, 1872, married Miss Hannah E. Hunt, only child of Dr. George 
S. Hunt, tlie first regular practitioner in the township. In the fall he 
went to Xeosho Falls, Kansas, with a view of purchasing there, i>ut 
returned the following spring. Next autumn he moved to the Hunt 
farm, where he now resides. Purchases by him have enlarged the 
homestead to 360 acres. His barn, nearly new, 30x80, was built in 
1879; his other buildings, including a good granary, are large and 
commodious. Plis farm is well stocked with implements, neatly culti- 
vated, and in his herd are about 110 head of cattle and horses. Louis 
Ward and Arthur James are their only children. Mr. Baker is a 
member of the Corinthian Lodge, No. 205, A.F. and A.M. 

Fr.^ncis E. Rogeks, farmer and dairyman. Paw Paw Grove, was 
born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1840. Pie was the 
youngest son of Elihu and Bersheba (Styles) Rogers. The lineage of 
this family is traced dircctlv back to that grand martyr to principle, 
John Rogers, who was bound at the stake. Jacob D. Rogers, who 
came to this town in 1837, was a brother to Elihu. The subject of this 



WYOJIING TOWNSHIP. 705 

sketch has a fair eJucation and lias taught four years in this township. 
On March 4, ISfio, he enlisted foroneyear in Co. G, 15th 111. Inf., and 
marched from Raleigh to Richmond. On the three-hundred-mile march 
from Leavenworth to Fort Kearney and back he drove a team of six lit- 
tle yellow Spanish mules, that were just like wild eats. They had to 
be choked down and ehaitied before it w-as possible to harness them. 
An officer looking on remarked, " Rogers, you are the only man who 
can handle mules without swearing." To hitch the tugs he was 
cotnpellcd to lie tiat down and let their heels fly over his head. These 
were wild mustang mules, lassoed, choked down, and hitched up. 
Plis experiences with them were decidedly rich. On April 27, 1866, 
he married Nancy Barratt, daughter of John A. and Rachel E. (Clark) 
Barratt. To gratify his father's wish he remained on the home-place, 
where the latter died in 1873. Their three children, Belle, Frank, and 
Mary E., are all minors. The large cottonwood in the rear of the 
house is ten and a half feet in circumference. It was the only living 
shrub on the place when his father came, and was left by the cradler 
the season before, it being just above the grain. Mr. Rogers is a stal- 
wart republican in politics, and past grand of Anchor Lodge, No. 
510, I.O.O. F., and secretary of the Wyoming Horse-Thief Protective 
Association. 

AvEEY Mereiman, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, was born in Geauga 
county, Ohio, February 2, 1846. His father, born in Pennsylvania in 
1812, came to Illinois in 1846, and settled first at Shabbona Grove, and 
two years later at Paw Paw. A carpenter by trade, he followed the 
same till he went to Nebraska, in 1875, where he died in 1878. His 
fiither was married in 1839, to Mary French; liis mother, who died in 
1863, leaving five children. When the family moved from Shabbona 
Grove Avery was but three years old, and remembers seeing Indians 
who lived about forty rods from his father's place. In 1864 he en- 
listed in Co. K, 75th 111. Inf., and served till the close of the war. 
This command was first in action at Perryville, and next at Stone 
River; it fought at Chickamauga, served during the Atlanta campaign, 
resisted Hood's invasion of Tennessee, and bore a part in the battle of 
Nashville and tiie pursuit of his denioralized forces into Alabama. An 
elder brother of the subject of our sketch was killed at Stone River. 
On December 23, 1868, Mr. Merriman was married to Josephine Pot- 
ter, daughter of Lester and Miranda Potter, and came to his present 
farm in the spring of 1869. They have a happy family of five children : 
Albert, Levancha, Josie Ellis, Alice Pearl, and Charlie. Mr. Merri- 
man is liberal in politics, and a genial and intelligent man. 

Andrew May, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, is a son of Peter and 
Catharine May, who came to Paw Paw, as elsewhere stated, in 1841. 



706 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Little did his father think at that early day, when he owned the claim 
for the site of nearly all of the present Paw Paw, that the day would 
come in his son's time when a single lot of that land would bring 
nearly a thousand dollars. Andrew was born in Sussex county, New 
York, May 28, 1834, and when seven years of age came to Paw Paw 
with his parents, and in 1846 went with tiiein to their new farm at 
Malugin's Grove. At twenty-three years of age, in March 1857, An- 
drew started for himself, without a cent of capital, in Viola township, 
by buying eighty acres raw prairie, all on credit, being allowed six years' 
time with interest at ten per cent; went on it the following spring 
and improved and worked it until June 1865, when he sold it for 
thirty-five dollars an acre. In March, 1869, he bought 152 acres in 
Wyoming township, Sees. Band 7, and by hard work and patient indus- 
try has acquired a clear title to this farm and also improved it to some 
extent. It is now worth s7,500. He has also on hand a good stock of 
cattle, horses, and sheep. So much for industry. He has live children : 
Thomas, Margaret, John, Edward, and Theodore, all at home. His 
youngest brotiier, Martin H., was born in Paw Paw and died in 
Andersonville prison in 1862. 

LowEEN Sprague, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Barn- 
ston. Lower Canada, August 21, 1828. His parents, Josiaii and 
Fanny (Stowell) Sprague, with seven children, came to Paw Paw 
Grove in the spring of 1841. They rented land of William H. Rob- 
inson, now of Earl, and took nj) the claim adjoining it on the west, 
now owned and occupied by their son Lowren. Josiali Sprague was 
a veteran of 1812, a hard-working, straiglitforward, upright man. 
lie lived to be eighty-two and had thirteen children. As Lowren was 
in his thirteenth year when the family came to Paw Paw Grove, his 
school experience is too interesting to orait. Of course he only went 
winters. His first teacher was one Adams, who wielded the birch 
and rule in a log cabin some twenty rods east of David A. Town's. 
His second school was taught b}' Robert Walker in the same cabin ; 
his third by Willard Hastings in liis own house .at Fonda's corner; 
his fourth by one Passwood, in a log cabin where the old Wheeler 
house now stands; his fifth at Deacon O. Boardman's, in a frame 
school-house, 18x20, built where William Mayor's house now stands 
at South Side. In the spring of 1852 the subject of our sketch was one 
of eight or ten who went with Jacob Wheeler to California, Wheeler 
furnishing the team, — consisting of oxen and cows, — the rice and 
hard-trtck, and charging each passenger slOO. Sprague was there 
about tiine years. After his return he was married to Evaline Bowen, 
daughter of Daniel Bowen, December 10, 1866. He has a good farm 
yielding the best of crops. They have six children, two boys and 
four girls. 



WYOJIING TOWNSHIP. 709 

Deacon Isaac E. Hunt, farmer and stock raisur, Paw Paw Grove, 
was a native of Indiana, liorn in Union count}-, November 11, 1819; 
a son of William H. and Elizabeth (Esteb) Hunt. His parents being 
in moderate circumstances, and with a quarter-section in the woods to 
clear and till, the boy's schooling was natural!}' limited, at an earlv age, 
to the winter seasons. About 1836 his father bought a tract of wild 
prairie in La Porte county. Thither the family moved, built a log 
house, and here Isaac worked till he was twenty-three, when he pur- 
chased a farm for himself in the same county. On Febrnar\' 20, 1844, 
he was married to Miss Eliza A. Patterson, of La Porte, Indiana. In 
the fall of 1852 he moved to Illinois, and bought the farm that he 
still owns and occupies, about one mile south of Paw Paw Grove. 
His wife died March 31, 1858, leaving three sons: George, William, 
and James. March 10, 1859, he was again married, to Ann Eliza 
McBride, daughter of Frederick McBride, of Wyoming township. Tlie 
children by his second wife are four: Martha E., Fred E.., Mar\' E. 
and Milton K. In April, 1864, George fell from a stack and was 
paralyzed. He lingered along till August 1, when he passed away ; 
Mary died June 3, 187S; William is a farmer in Nebraska; the 
other children are all at home. Deacon Hunt united with tlie Bap- 
tist church in liis twentieth year, and was appointed deacon .of Paw 
Paw Baptist church in 1859. He was a Henry Clay whig, is now a 
republican, and believes in home manufactures. He has served as 
commissioner of highwaj'S, and several years as trustee of schools, and 
has always been ready to bear his part in the support of educational 
and religious institutions. 

De. James H. Beaffet, pln-sician and surgeon, born in Florida, 
Orange county. New York, October 16, 1834, eldest of three children 
of James and Mellissa A. (Firman) BrafFet, now residing in Compton, 
Illinois. He attended school at Chester Academy under Deacon Bros., 
late of the Chicago " Tribune," and his successor, Rev. Phineas Robin- 
son, as principals, completing a scientific course as also one in civil 
engineering. He studied there with a view to a course at AVest Point, 
passed the required examination and received the requisite creden- 
tials ; but at this point he concluded to pursue the study of medicine, 
which he began in 1853. In 1855 he came to Illinois and located at 
East Paw Paw. Here he followed surveying a year, then went into 
the practice of medicine, which he pursued until the session of 1860 and 
1861, when he entered the Rush Medical College, Chicago. After this 
he was constantly in practice till the session of 1868 and 1869, when 
he entered the Bellevne Hospital Medical College, New York city, 
where he completed his college course. In 1868 he became a member 
of the Medico-Pathological Society, in 1878 a member of the North 
42 



710 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Central Medical Association of Illinois, in 1879 of the Illinois State 
Medical Society, in 1880 of tlic American Medical Association. In the 
fall of 1860 he was married to Ellen S. Billings, of Shabbona, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, and daughter of Jas. M. Billings, now residing at 
Downsville, Dunn county, Wisconsin. Before leaving the east he was 
for live years a member of the Caliopean Literary Society, and for sev- 
eral years has been an honorary member of the Athen:puni Literary 
Society, connected with the Classical Seminar}' of East Paw Paw. He 
has seven children: Nellie N., Jolin J., Charles C, Mark M., James 
H.,jr., Willie, and Essie. 

Thomas D. Palmek, physician and surgeon, Paw Paw Grove, was 
born August 15, 1846, and the only son of George and Catharine 
(Stetler) Palmer, of Di.xon, Leo county, Illinois. He was educated at 
the Mt. Carroll and Dixon seminaries. During his seminary course 
he employed his vacations in the office of Drs. Hewitt and Spigler, at 
Franklin Grove, and in January, 1864, entered this office permanently 
as a regular student. At the session of 1865 and 1866 lie entered the 
Chicago Medical College, and, graduating at the following session, re- 
ceived his diploma in the spring of 1807. In June of that year he 
came to Paw Paw, where he engaged in the practice of medicine. 
January 6, 1869, he was married to Mary E. Detamore, a true lady 
and daughter of Mrs. Susan P. Detamore, of that place. In the fall of 
18T2, at the completion of the railroad, in company with T. H. Stetler, 
he opened the first drug store of the village; Dr. Palmer continued 
in it about eight niontlis and then sold to W. C. Rnnyan, the firm then 
being Stetler and Runyan. In the spring of 1877 he, in company 
with Dr. Stetler, opened the Palace Drug Store, now owned by Pierce 
and Barringer. He is now in his eighth year as W^orshipful Master of 
Corinthian Lodge, No. 205, A.F. and A.M. He is also charter member 
of Rochelle Chapter, No. 158, was exalted to the degree of Royal Arch 
Mason, August 15, 1873, created a Sir Knight of Bethany Command- 
ery. No. 2S, March 6, 1874, received the thirty-second degree at the 
Chicago Consistory, October 15, 1875, and at the Grand Conclave of 
the Knights of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine, convened in 
Chicago October 24, 1881, was elected Grand Junior General. With 
like enthusiasm in his profession Dr. Palmer is now taking a course 
of lectures at the Jefierson Medical College in Philadelpiiia. 

Andrew H. Rosenkrans, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, son of Abiani 
and Lydia (Henry) Rosenkrans, was born in New York, March 10, 
1835. His grandfather Rosenkrans was a soldier of 1812. Before he 
was able to remember his parents removed to New Jersey, where his 
mother died when he was foui- or five years old. He was raised on a 
farm until eighteen or nineteen years of age, when he began learning 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 711 

the carpenter's trade, and worked at it as a business up to 1859. The 
residence of the family in New Jersey was of short duration. They 
went from tliere to Pennsylvania and lived about a dozen years, when 
he came west to Wyoming township, and was followed a little more 
than a year afterward by the others. Mr. Kosenkrans' arrival here 
was in 1853. In 1859 he started with ^a party, driving ox teams, for 
Pike's Peak; but meeting many returning from there who gave dis- 
couraging accounts of the prospects in that new place, and being too 
strong willed to turn back for ordinary discouragements, they all agreed 
to proceed to California, and did not stop till thc}^ reached the Pacific 
slope, the journey consuming five months. Mr. Posenkrans had a 
brother who went to Pike's Peak just before he started", and died there 
the same summer. He remained in California a year and a half, and 
returned home by water. He was married October 15, 1863, to Miss 
Lydia A. Mittan, who was born October 29, 1839. Her parents were 
Jeptha P. and Jane (Beemer) Mittan, who settled in Willow Creek 
township about 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Eosenkrans have two sons : Anson 
P., born July 31, 1869 ; and Byron M., November 22, 1871. He is a 
republican, and a member of Anchor Lodge, No. 510, I.O.O.F. He 
owns a pleasantly situated farm of 240 acres, three miles northwest of 
Paw Paw, valued at |12,000. 

Henet L. Roheets, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, son of Hendrick H. 
and Elizabeth (Scott) Roberts, was born in New Jersey in 1845. He 
was the third child in a family of ten. Four were sons, three of whom 
are living. The other, Crawford, was a member of the 1st Wis. Cav. 
in the late war, and died at Cape Gii'ardeau, Wisconsin. Mr. Roberts 
came to Pavilion, Kendall county, in the spring of 1856, and in 1868 
removed with his parents to Paw Paw, where they still reside. He is 
a republican in politics, and belongs to the Sons of Temperance and to 
the Good Templars. January 1, 1873, he was married to Miss Eva- 
leen Cornell, daughter of Harvey and Lura Cornell. She was born in 
1856. Their three children are Crawford Leroy, born August 8, 
1875; Etta May, October 11, 1877; and Lura, in August 1878. 

William P. Hampton, farmer. East Paw Paw, third child of James 
and Clarissa (McCarty) Hampton, was born in Canada, May 6, 1823. 
Three Hamptons came from England in the colonial period ; one 
brother settled in Nova Scotia, one in New Jersey, and the other in 
South Carolina, from the latter of whom the talented and aristocratic 
family of that name in the Palmetto State has sprung. Mr. Hamp- 
ton's grandfather McCarty was a militia captain and served in the 
second war for independence ; he was taken prisoner by the British 
but escaped from Canada. His father was born in Pennsylvania and 
his mother in Saratoga, New York. The latter is still living. They 



712 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

went to Canada in early life, were married there and had live sons 
and one daughter. His father moved with his family to Quincy, Illi- 
nois, in 1838, and on the breaking out of the Mexican war he enlisted 
in the military service and was sent to Saiita Fc, where he died. 
Early in 1S48 Mr. Hampton came to Lee county, and in the fall the 
rest of the family followed him. That season he cropped bis present 
farm, but did not buy it. Xext year he purchased 80 acres and after- 
ward 40 more northeast of Paw Paw. In 1852 he crossed the plains 
to California, where he was married Ma}' 16, 1853, to Miss Amanda 
J. Weddell. She was born in Pennsylvania, June 24, 1823. Her 
grandfather Weddell emigrated from Wales before the revolution, and 
obtained a lar^e tract of land between the Alleghany and Monongahela 
rivers. Her parents, Jesse and Nancy (Davis) Weddell, had five sons 
and four daughters. The mother is yet living. Both father and 
mother were born close to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The former 
was a soldier in the last war with England, served in Ohio, and fought 
in the Massinaway battles under Captain Jacob Walsh. In 1831 he 
settled in Indiana, and died there in 1S3S. He was born in 1780. 
In 1853 Mrs. Hampton, in company with her brother, P. M. Weddell, 
and Henry Zinn, left Goshen, Elkhart county, Indiana, where she had 
been reared, and went by steamship to California, sailing from New 
York on board the Northern Light; Tinklepaw, cajitain. The}- en- 
countered a severe storm on the way to Greytown, and up the Nica- 
ragua river ; and after taking passage for San Francisco on board the 
Independence, met with a terrible disaster at sea. This steamer was 
burned off the island of St. Marguerite, and over 400 passengers were 
lost. Mrs. Hampton was bereft other brother and their friend Zinn, 
and she herself was washed ashore, insensible, a distance of over a mile. 
Later, the steamer was driven onto the beach. Three days elapsed 
and the whaling vessel Omega, Captain Jetirey, from Bedford, Maine, 
took the survivors oft" the island and conveyed them to their destina- 
tion. The captain of the Independence was imprisoned 21 years for 
not beaching his boat and saving the passengers. Mr. Hampton re- 
turned with his wife and child to Illinois in the spring of 1855, and 
resumed the occupation of farming at his former home in Paw Paw 
township, De Kalb county. In 1860 he sold his farm there and re- 
moved to the place where he is now living, one mile north of East 
Paw Paw. This contains 117 acres, worth §6,000. In 1871 he went 
south and traveled a few months in Florida, on a sight-seeing tour. 
Both himself and wife are members of the Congregational church. 
He is a republican and a Mason ; and belongs to Spartan Lodge, No. 
272, I.O.O.F., and has filled all the chairs. 

BuriTAiN J. Aglek, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, was born in Lycoming 



WrOMING TOWNSHIP. 713 

county, Pennsylvania, in 1S48, and was the youngest of five sons 
and four daughters by Jerome and Sarah (Brittain) Agler. His father 
came west in the spring of 1849 and located his family on the south 
side of Paw Paw Grove. Farming has always been Mr. Agler's occu- 
pation, and his home was never elsewhere than in Lee county, excepting 
a residence of three years at Mendota. He was married September 
21, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Pulver, daughter of James F. and Sarah C. 
Pulver, of Paw Paw. Her birth was on April 18, 1852. Two chil- 
dren have been born to them, James J., April 13, 1874, and Fred W., 
September 7, 1879. Mrs. Agler is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church at South Paw Paw. He is a republican, and owns 178 
acres of land in Sec. 2, W3'oming township, valued at $8,000. Mr. 
Agler's brotliers Josepli and John were volunteers in Co. K, 75th 111. 
Vol. luf, served their full term of three years, and bore a part in 
several memorable engagements. 

Abijah Florence, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in the town 
of Reading, Steuben county, New York, in 1823, and was the son of 
Peter and Elizabeth (Campbell) Florence. He was reared a farmer, 
and carried on lumbering in connection with that business several 
years. He was married in New York to Miss Mandane Smith, daughter 
of John and Clarissa (Fitch) Smith. She was born in 1832. In 1854 
they moved to Paw Paw, and Mr. Florence bought his present home, 
which is the E. i of S.E. ^ Sec. 3, one mile north of the village. 
Thi^ homestead is worth $4,000. They resided in Paw Paw until 
1871, Mr. Florence farming his land meanwhile, but in that year 
I'emoved to the farm. He is a republican, and has belonged to 
Anchor Lodge, No. 510, 1.O.O.F., eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Florence 
have an only child, Clara. 

CoKNELius QuACKENBusH, deceased, was born in Bergen county, 
New Jersey, November 18, 1825. His parents were Corinis and Jane 
(Post) Quackenbnsh. He was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade and 
followed it until he came west. His father followed agriculture, was 
a man of great business tact and industry, and accumulated a large for- 
tune. On November 18, 1846, Mr. and Mrs. Quackenbnsh were united 
in marriage. The latter, daughter of David and Rachel (Westervelt) 
Christie, was born July 29, 1830. Her grandfather, David Christie, 
was a Scotchman by birth, and settled in New Jersey before the revo- 
lution. In the spring of 1851 her parents emigrated to this township 
and bought the place where James Fonda lives. In tlie spring of 1858 
Mr. Quackenbush brought his family here, and the next year purchased 
the farm on which his widow resides, adjacent to Paw Paw on the 
north. He carried on tliis farm as long as he lived. From 1866 to 
1869 he carried tlie mails between Earlville and Twin Groves: he then 



714 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

moved his family to Shabbona Grove, and was mail carrier between 
there and Leland until 1S73. lie had iour children : Jennie M.. born 
November 26, 1850, married Dallas C. Ereese October 29, 1867; 
David H., June 27, 1852, died September 14, 1874; Corinis, July 15, 
1854, died August 24, 1855; and Renea, March 10, 1801, died October 
13, 1864. Mrs. Quackenbush's father was born December 27, 1790, 
and for some years prior to his death was afflicted with physical in- 
firmities, which affected his mind and caused temporary mental de- 
rangement. In one of these moods he ended his life by hanging, in 
July 1867. Her mother, who was born September 15, 1793, is still 
living, in tolerable health, in Mendota. These venerable parents had a 
famil}- of eleven children. The eldest was David, who lives on a part 
of the old homestead. John was a surve\'or and school teacher, at one 
time was book-keeper and paymaster on the Illinois and Michigan 
canal, and died of consumption not long after the family emigrated to 
this state. Ralph lives at Mendota, unmarried. James, who married 
the youngest daughter of Joshua Swarthout, lives in Missouri. One 
died in infancy. The daughters were Betsy, Rachel, Anna, Irene, 
Jane, and Ann Maria. 

Thomas W. Marble, farmer. East Paw Paw, was born in Ontario 
county. New York, July 11, 1826, and was the fourth in a family of 
seven children by Thomas and Katie (Wintield) Marble. His brothers 
and sisters were Levi, Lucinda, Phebe, Asenath, Serephna, and Eph- 
raim. When he was ten years old his father died, and his mother 
married Thomas Burgess. By this second marriage four more children 
were born, namely: Julia, John, Benjamin, and Rhoda. In 1831 the 
family moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and it was there that Mr. 
Marble's father died, in April 1836. They settled on the Cleveland 
and Pittsburgh turnpike, on 160 acres located in a dense forest. This 
land is now all cleared and has been parceled out to tlie heirs, who have 
sold their inheritance. His mother is living on her portion of the old 
homestead, at the advanced age of eightj'-one. Mr. Marble went to 
work at carpentering at sixteen, and followed his trade until his re- 
moval to Illinois in 1856. He settled in Paw Paw township, Do Kalb 
county, resided there five years, then moved to his present home in 
East Paw Paw. He was engaged in farming the first seven years of 
his residence in Illinois; the rest of the time he has been engaged in 
carpentry. He has been constable since his settlement in this county 
twenty years ago ; was deputy sheriff four years under Jonathan Hills ; 
and has twice been collector. Politically he is a republican. He has 
been a Mason twentj'-three years, and is a member of Corinthian 
Lodge, No. 205, A.F. and A.M. His marriage with Miss Susannah 
B. Le Moin, daughter of Eleazer D. and Rebecca Le Moin, took place 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 715 

October 11, 1845. She was born in 1824. Their four sons are Emery 
H., Butler, Henr}', and Lewis. The first enlisted in December 
1862, in Co. I, 4rth 111. Cav., and served his full term of three years 
without accident or injury. He campaigned in the southwest, and in 
the spring of 1863 went on Grierson's famous raid, one of the most 
brilliant and successful made during the whole war. He married Miss 
Mary Beckwith, of Texas, and has two children. Henry married Miss 
Emma Shufelt, and they have one bright little girl, Mirtie May. 

Oren Maeble, blacksmith. East Paw Paw, was born in New York 
in 1814, and was the son of Lucius and Mary (Olds) Marble. His 
father died when he was eight years old, and at the age of fourteen he 
went to live with a man who was a blacksmith by trade. After being 
with him one year, and partly learning to be a craftsman, he went to 
doing for himself, and until he was twenty-five found employment at 
various avocations. In 1832 he settled in Ohio, and the same year 
was married to Miss Lois Marble, whose natal year was the same as his 
own. In Ohio he finished bis apprenticeship and worked most of the 
time at the blacksmith business; in 1845 he removed to Lake county, 
this state, and in 18G7, to his present home at East Paw Paw. Mr. 
and Mrs. Marble have been the parents of seven children, as follows: 
Lavina, William, Martha (dead), James (dead), Franklin (dead), An- 
geline (dead), and W^-man. Mrs. Marble is a communicant in the 
Methodist church. Mr. Marble has held the offices of town clerk, road 
commissioner, constable, and justice of the peace, and is a member of 
Spartan Lodge, No. 272, I.O.O.F. His son Wyman belongs to tlie 
same lodge. In 1853 Mr. Marble went overland to California, helped 
to drive 122 head of cattle across the plains, remained two years on the 
Pacific coast, and returned by way of Panama and New York. He 
was originally a whig, but since that party went out of existence has 
been a republican. 

Harris D. Merwdie, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania May 3, 
1821, of German ancestry. His father was a tiller of the soil, and 
be, at the proper age, began to learn the millwright's trade, which he 
followed near Mauch Chunk until the summer of 1849. On June 19 
of that year he was married to Miss Thurza Morris, of Tunkhannock, 
Wyoming count}', Pennsylvania. Her father was Isaac Morris. Im- 
mediately after this marriage Mr. und Mrs. Merwine and her father's 
family started west and stopped at Paw Paw, or "Mormon Corners." 
They erected a house together in what is now the west part of the 
town, on land purchased from Jacob Rogers, and the next vear Mr. 
Merwine built a wagon shop, in which he labored until his health failed 
in 1856. He was then elected constable and collector for Wyoming, 
but did not long hold these offices, being removed by death April 20, 



716 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

1857. He was a republican and an Odd-Fellow. He was a useful and 
respected citizen, whose character was in every way above reproach, 
and whose memory is spoken of to this day in excellent terms. On the 
death' of Mr. Merwine, Mrs. Merwine's parents came to live with her. 
The mother died in 1874. Mrs. Merwine was left a widow with three 
children: Irene married A. R. Haskell and lives in Michigan; Albert 
is station agent at Amboy, and Anna died in 1S70. 

Alva R. Harp, restaurateur, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Miami 
county, Indiana, in 1839. His father, Samuel, and his mother, Jane 
(Butler), were among the earliest settlers in that county. The father 
still resides there, and the mother was a second cousin to the late 
President James A. Garfield. In 1850 Mr. Harp came to Willow 
Creek township. After spending one summer here, and returning to 
Indiana for a short visit, he went to Missouri and remained eighteen 
months. One-third of this time was occupied in teaching school, and 
the remainder saw him station agent at Miller's Landing, on the Pacific 
railroad. He now returned to Indiana for a brief sojourn, tlien to 
Willow Ci'eek, where he was married in February 1859, to Miss 
Amanda E., daughter of Jesse Koons. At the end of two or three years' 
residence in that township he moved to Minnesota, where he and his 
wife, whose good courage and endurance were tested and served them 
well, encountered as great hardships as have fallen to the lot of few 
pioneers. In a year the Indian war broke out and Mrs. Harp returned 
to Illinois, but her husband tarried behind a few months. He was 
employed six months at Fort Snelling, first as teamster and then as 
cook. On his return to Willow Creek he made his home there with 
his family again two or three years; after which he moved to Iowa, 
and spent some three years in that state. He once more found his way 
back to Willow Creek, and subsequently settled in West Paw Paw. 
This was in 1872, and was his last removal. During his changes from 
place to place he had been most of the time employed at fanning. On 
coming to this village he at once set up in the dry -goods trade, and soon 
took Andrew Rosenkranz as partner, to whom he sold his interest in 
a few months. He now opened a restaurant on the south side of Main 
street, which was the first business house ever erected there. He was 
once subsequently in the dry-goods trade, in which venture he failed ; 
he was in the butchering business fifteen months, and altogether has 
had six restaurants. Accompanied by his wife, in 1879 he traveled by 
wagon in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, his journey extending 
from September 22 until the following January. These parents have 
two children, Xellie, who is twenty-one years of age, and Samuel, now 
sixteen. Mr. Harp is a republican, and a member of Anchor Lodge, 
No. 510, I.O.O.F., and of Paw P.iw Encampment, No. 52. 



WTOJIING TOWNSHIP. 717 

James Little, retired, Paw Paw Grove, born in Dumfriesshire, 
Scotland, in November 1S15, is tiie only surviving son of Walter and 
Helen (Johnston) Little. When James was old enough he was kept 
at school for some years, and then began work in gardens and nurse- 
ries of fruit and forest trees. In the summer of 1833, in company' with 
an elder brother, he came to America, landed at Quebec, came up to 
Toronto, was there and elsewhere in Canada about a year and a half, 
and then came to Buffalo, New York, where they soon after met their 
parents. Two brothers, Andrew and William, followed to America, and 
settled in the same city. James worked in gardens in the summer season 
till the spring of lS3S,when the whole family, except John, the eldest son, 
moved to Illinois and took up a claim in what is now Brooklyn, in Lee 
county. His father died two months after they settled, but the family 
remained on the place. James and William worked out apart of the 
time for the first two years till they had their farm on the prairie broken 
up, and when the land came into market James and William bought 
the claim. Andrew bought his claim in Viola. In 1846 James bought 
William's interest in the farm, but shared the home with his mother and 
brother. In the fall of 1848 he sold the farm, and the following spring 
moved to East Paw Paw, where he purchased a share in the store of S. 
B. Warren. His mother died that summer, in July, and soon after lier 
death James had a tombstone set up which marks the graves of both 
father and mother, and under their names the following verse from 
Hervey's '' Meditations " : 

" Centered in Christ, who fires the soul within, 
The flesh shall know no pain, the soul no sin. 
E'en in the terrors of expiring breath 
We bless the friendly stroke, and live in death." 

He remained with Warren some two years. In closing up the 
affairs of the firm Mr. Little commenced tiie business of loaning money, 
which he has continued to the present time. In 1861 he bought the 
house and lot where he now resides, at Paw Paw. In 1871 he was 
married to Harriet Bolles, second child of Dr. Alexander H. Bolles, of 
Tunkhannock, Wyoming coiinty, Pennsylvania. 

George S. Hunt, M.D., deceased, was the first regular medical 
practitioner at Paw Paw Grove and throughout the surrounding coun- 
try. He was the son of William H. and Elizabeth (Esteb) Hunt; was 
born in southern Indiana, June 30, 1817 ; educated at La Porte, Indi- 
ana ; graduated at the medical college of that city in class of 1845, and 
married that year, in May, to Louisa Ward, of Paw Paw Grove, daugh- 
ter of Samuel Ward, formerly of Onondaga county. New York. Dr. 
Hunt commenced the practice of medicine at Paw Paw Grove in 1844. 
His ride soon became very extensive, taking in all the groves within 



718 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

reach. His estimable wife often accompanied liim. and drove the 
team, so he might sleep in the carriage. She says " there were at this 
time no roads, and often no trail or trace, and only his mind's eye to 
guide him." He wore himself out, and died in 1855 in the town of 
Poinpey, State of New York, while on a visit for recuperation. The 
beautiful residence of his widow, at South Paw Paw, still evidences 
Dr. Hunt's good taste, and ability to design and plan. Their only 
child is Hannah E., wife of John Baker, of Paw Paw. Mrs. Hunt's 
mother, Hannah Ward, now in her eighty-fifth year, is living with 
Mrs. Hunt. 

Ira Bakeu, farmer, retired. Paw Paw Grove, was horn in the 
count}' of Schoharie, New York, Januar}" 14, iSl-t, and was the eldest 
of seven children of Silas and Catharine (Bungler) Baker. His father 
was a lumberman and farmer, working at the one in winter and the 
other in summer, so that between the two there remained little chance 
of schooling for his boj's. When Ira was seventeen he bought his 
time for SloO, which lie subsequently earned bj* working out by the 
month. In the summer of 1834, in his twenty-tirst year, he came west 
to what is now Jersey county, Illinois. One Spanish dollar constituted 
his stock in trade when he commenced his western life, but his capital 
comprised also those traits of character that inevitably insure success. 
He split rails at three shillings a hundred, and could make just one 
hundred a day. From this pittance his board, and postage, at two 
shillings a letter, had to be met. April 2 of the following spring he 
was married to Sarah, daughter of John AVilkins, of that county. 
Farming in suitable weather, and turning the balance of his time to 
account in making oak shingles, thus, Ijy constant hard work and the 
most rigid economy, he was able in those days to obtain a bare liveli- 
hood. About this time he carried the mail over a route of some twenty 
miles, crossing the Mississippi. His Hat-boat experiences and adven- 
tures, as narrated to the writer, were fraught with lively interest. In 
that earl}' day a house with a window in it was a rare e.xception. 
Nothing of importance save hard work and low prices occurred till 
the spring of 1848, when he moved to Chicago to educate his children 
a term or two, and continued his shingle business there. The next 
winter he moved to Wyoming townshi]). Here for about thirty-two 
years he farmed from 120 to 240 acres. In 1877 he built his village 
residence, corner of Peru and Wheeler streets. He was commissioner 
of highways several years; also collector. As an official he was one 
who did business correctly, but he usually declined all solicitations to 
be a candidate for any office. In his dealings he has been wont to 
repose confidence in men, often loaning without even a note, and with 
no security ; yet, strange to say, $25 would more than cover all his 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 719 

losses from betrayed eoiitidence. He believes in making the most 
unprincipled man feel that he is yet a maji. He joined the Methodist 
Episcopal church forty-two years ago, in the days of Peter Cartwright. 
He liad two sons in the arm}' : Ira "W. served three years in Co. K, 
75th reg. 111. Inf., was in the terrible battles from Franklin to Atlan- 
ta, where he was wounded, but not seriously disabled ; John was in 
the service the closing year of the war. Of fifteen children twelve are 
still living, and their father saj-s of them what every parent would 
gladly be able to say, " I am proud of every one of them." 

John B. Beiggs, hair manufacturer. Paw Paw Grove, was born in 
Anson, Somerset county, Maine, March 22, 1836. He lived in his 
native town till the summer of 181:^), when he departed with his parents, 
Adin and Susan (Cottle), for the Far West, and arrived at Grand De- 
tour, Ogle county, in July. The family remained in the vicinity of 
that place and Washington Grove five years, engaged in farming. 
John's advantages for education were very limited, but while there he 
improved the winters to attend' the district school. In 1851 his father 
moved his family to Willow Ci'eek township, this county, where he 
preempted the S.E. J Sec. 14, and the following spring died. John, 
the eldest son, now sixteen, took charge of the farm, and was hence- 
forth the main dependence of the large family. When the preemption 
expired he and iiis mother paid the price of the land from the first crop 
of wheat, and received a patent from the government. At this time 
one of the brothers came into possession of half the land, and when 
the division was afterward made the remainder was evenly divided 
between the other two. John then bought his brother's share of forty 
acres. When Mr. Briggs came to Willow creek the country was 
nowliere improved, save by a meager population located around the 
groves, and it was so little transformed from its original wildness that 
in going from his home to Twin Groves he has counted at one time 
forty deer, and frequently from under his window barking wolves 
startled the night air with piercing yelps, and gave the household 
hideous serenade. In 1864 Mr. Briggs was married in Lexington, 
Somerset county, Maine, to Miss Alfreda Pierce. He returned with 
his bride and settled on the old homestead, where they lived until 
1873, when he sold his farm. During the next two }'ears he made his 
home in Chicago, being engaged in trade and carpentry. Since that 
time he has resided at Paw Paw. His wife died some j'ears ago. On 
March 31, 1877, he was married again, to Miss Eliza Town, youngest 
daughter of Russell and Roxana Town. By his first marriage he had 
three children : Obed W. survives, the others were buried in infancy. 
Since settling in Paw Paw he has been most of the time employed in 
traveling, and manuficturino- and sellino; hair goods, and is now doing 



720 HISTORY OF LEE COLXTY. 

a larger business in this line than any other person west of Chicago. 
By this means he has obtained an extensive acquaintance. He is a 
steward in the Methodist church at Paw Paw, and a republican in 
politics. 

S. A. Abbott, cooper and dealer in all kinds of cooperage. Paw 
Paw Grove; born at Londonderry, Windham county, Vermont, May 
25, 1825. He was the youngest of twelve children of Jacob and Abi- 
gail (Dutton) Abbott. His father was in tive battles in the war of 
1812, and came out of the battle of Plattsburg with seven bullet holes 
tlirough his close-fitting shirt. In his leisure hours during the war he 
made himself useful by mending shoes for officers and soldiers, and in 
this way earned and saved up one hundred silver half dollars. Having 
enlisted for five years, there still remained fourteen months of Iiis term 
when that war closed, and to escape a long, tedious march to the Rocky 
mountains and back he used his hundred half dollars to secure a sub- 
stitute. He received his land warrant and held it till i)is son was 
eighteen, but it called for land to be selected "away out in Illinois," 
or farther west, and the son regarded that as out of the civilized world, 
and would not accept as a gift the rich prairie that he has since learned 
to prize most highly. Young Abbott's school days were quite limited, 
yet he seems to have made the most of them. At thirteen commenced 
working out: was with his first employer twenty-one montiis, includ- 
ing three months' schooling. Doubtless, little did that kind-hearted 
emplo3'er then realize that in future years, when nearly a half century 
should have elapsed, the recollections of his almost paternal kindness 
to the stranger lad would be still so fresh in a grateful memory as to 
choke utterance and moisten the eyes. His sixteentii and seventeenth 
years were employed in a hotel. In the fall of 18-12 he hired out to 
drive a six-horse team from Chester, Vermont, to Boston, one hundred 
and ten miles. Six tons was an average load. In this work he took 
great delight; his liorses seemed to understand his word perfectly, and 
he used no rein. He thought he iiad found his life work; but lo, the 
iron horse changed many a fate. In the spring of his twenty-first 
year he began learning the trade of carpenter and joiner; but in that 
country of long winters he could work at his trade but seven months 
in the year, so he found employment in a hotel the remaining five, and 
this course he followed for seven years. In the spring of 1S.51- he came 
west to La Salle, Illinois, where he worked at his trade, and that fall 
made a visit to friends near Paw Paw Grove. Delighted with the 
country, he at once purchased a farm, and on New Year's day laid the 
sills for his house. In June, 1855, he was married to Hannah C. Bailey, 
daughter of Miles S. Bailey. In 1860 botii united with the Metliodist 
Episcopal church at South Paw Paw, and since then were transferred 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 721 

to tlie cliiircli at Paw Paw. A veteran Sunday-school superintendent, 
class leader for twent}' years, sharing his genial home most happily 
with his wife's parents a quarter century, surely Mr. Abbott's life has 
been no failure. He is a republican and P.G.W. in Anchor Lodge, 
I.O.O.F. 

Marshall R. Reams, merchant, Paw Paw Grove, was born in 
Ross county, Oiiio, December 15, 1850, and the only child of William 
and Ellen (Bowen) Reams. When he was three years old the family 
moved to Illinois and settled near Paw Paw, where his mother died 
the following year. His schooling was confined to the home district 
school and ended at eighteen. At twent3'-one he commenced clerking; 
was employed successively by Jacob Hendershot, John Colvill and 
W. C. Runyan ; was in partnership a year with Henr}' Potter in gen- 
eral merchandising, and in April, 1881, commenced for himself in the 
same business. He was married March 28, 1875, to Libbie Sanford, 
of this place. They have two children : Wilbur Pratt, born March 1, 
1877, and Frederick William, born October 7, 1879. 

Alexander Field, liveryman. Paw Paw Grove, proprietor of the 
well-rigged livery stable east of the Paw Paw House, is one of the old 
and respected citizens of the place. He was born at Chester, Yermont, 
October 3, 1826, and the youngest of ten children of Robert W. and 
Lydia M. Field. Having spent his youth in the usual way, between 
the school and the farm, he looked about a little through Michigan 
and Wisconsin, came to Lee county, Illinois, in his twenty-first year, 
and bought land from the government in Sees. 26 and 27. In August, 
181:9, he married Louisa Rumsey, daughter of Isaac Rumse}', of Sulli- 
van, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He made his financial start in Cali- 
fornia, whence he returned in 1851. His father, living with him at 
this time, died in 1858. He sold his farm in 1870, and in 1872 bought 
his present residence. He was for a time engaged in the heavy work 
of draymau, but his health failing in 1875, he commenced the livery 
business. For tliis he seems to be well fitted, and his business is 
thriving. He is republican in politics and a zealous Odd-Fellow, 
having filled all the offices of that order, botli of the subordinate and 
the encampment. Mr. and Mrs. Field have the reputation of being 
among the most accommodatino' and kind-hearted of citizens. Thev 
have no children living; have buried two, Addie and Zillia. 

Amos Siglln, Paw Paw Grove, is one of those industrious, enter- 
prising men who are the bone and sinew of a live town. He is a gen- 
ial Pennsylvanian, born in the township of Chestnut Hill, and county of 
Northampton. His father, Jacob Siglin, a veteran of 1812, was wounded 
at New Orleans under General Jackson, and died when Amos was but 
eleven years old. His mother's maiden name was Susannah Singer ; 



722 HISTORY OF LEE COTJNTT. 

she lived to the great age of ninety-seven years, ten months, and two 
days. Amos when a boy loved to work, but was not particularly fond 
of books, and he had to go three miles to school ; so after the death of 
the father the preference of the boy rather than his real good was too 
often regarded, and his schooling became too frequently a secondary 
matter. On the farm till he was sixteen, he then went to the trade of 
carpenter and joiner, and followed it till he came west in lSo5. That 
fall he purchased the farm he now owns in Sec. 29, Willow Creek 
township. During the winter of 1S73 he dealt quite extensively in but- 
ter, live stock, etc., at Paw Paw. Before coming west, in 18Jl, he was 
married to Catharine, daughter of William and Barbara Sutton, both of 
whom died at Paw Paw at an advanced age in 1879. The buildings 
on Mr. Siglin's farm are of his own workmanship ; he also built his 
Paw Paw residence, in 1876, and with Mr. Lester Potter, in 1880, 
erected the brick block known as the Siglin and Potter block. On the 
nigjit of July 30, 1881, a high wind stripped oft" about iialf of the iron 
roofing from this building, demolishing coping, awning, etc. The cost 
of repairs was about 8350. Mr. and Mrs. Siglin have four children : 
Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Wm. H. Smith i, Dolly (Mrs. Adolphus Fisher, 
of Ogle county), William Siglin, of the firm of Wm. Merrell <fe Co., 
and Barbara. Mr. Sigli" is in full sympathy with both Odd-Fellows 
and Masons, being a member of each order. He has always voted the 
democratic ticket. 

Samuel C. Mitchell, dealer in hardware. Paw Paw Grove, born at 
Bedford, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire. November 3, 1835, 
was the fifth of twelve children of Dwella W. and Eliza D. (^Smith) 
Mitchell. At ten years of age he had never had a day's schooling nor 
even been taught his letters. He walked two and a half miles and 
back each day for all his schooling, save six weeks at an institute at 
nineteen. Commencing with ABC, his progress was constant and 
rapid ; at the end of three months he was in the fourth reader. For 
four years he had six months annually, after that only three, and worked 
out on farms'the other nine. The night before he was twenty -one he 
delivered up to his father the last farthing of his earnings, received in 
turn a suit of clothes, and this, with reputation, brains, brave heart and 
brawny hands, constituted his sole capital with which to start for him- 
self. •' But," says be to the writer, " 'Twas the best thing that could 
have been done for me."' After working one summer on a farm, and 
teaming that winter, the spring of 1858 found him on a farm in De- 
Kalb county, Illinois, in the employ of Augustus Breese, with whom 
he remained four years, and whose daughter Emily he married in 1864. 
From 1862 to 1872 he rented and worked a farm ; then was in the 
hardware business nine months in Iowa, when seeing " as with pro- 



WTOMIXG TOWNSHIP. 723 

plietic eye," the promising opening for business at Paw Paw, he sold out, 
came to this phiee, and opened his present hardware store. He has 
tliree children, the youngest named after President Gartield. • Mr. 
Mitchell is a Mason, an official membei of the Presbyterian church, 
and a man wlio has the respect of his townsmen. His parents are still 
living, and are on the old homestead in the Old Granite State. 

JoHX Patrick, retired, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 
August 7, 1S(>8. Tlie names of his parents were Abel and Elizabeth 
(Hurlbutt), and they were natives of Connecticut. His father was a 
soldier in the revolutionary war, and his grandfather came from France. 
John was the youngest of seven children. His education was limited, 
not attending school over three months in the year. The couiiti-y was 
new, and there was plenty of hard woi'k on his father's tarm, where he 
stayed till he was twenty-five. He then engaged a short time in a 
store, afterward in a hotel, and visited the west. In October, 1836, 
he married Celinda Earl, and for two years they were connected with 
a hotel. His wife and child died, and in 1838 he returned to his old 
home in Pennsylvania. For four or five years he was in a store, and 
in ISll married Miss Mary Harris, of Columbia county, Pennsylvania. 
After being on a farm for a time, in the spring of 1845 the^' came to 
Sycamore, Illinois, and in February, 1846, settled in Wyoming. At 
that time there was not a mile of 7"ailroad in Illinois. The farm he 
purchased then was the KW. ^ of N.W. J Sec. 36, and the S.W. J 
of S.W. J Sec. 25. He lived here thirty j-ears, except for two years 
when the family resided temporarily at East Paw Paw, so that the 
children could attend school tliere. In March, 1876, his second wife 
died. In January, 1879, he niarried Miss S. A. Wilson, of Paw Paw. 
Four children were born to his second wife, two of whom are now liv- 
ing: Mrs. Harriet C. Mirick, in Kansas, who has three children, and 
Mrs. Gertrude E. Agler, of Paw Paw, who has one cliild. One who 
knows Mr. Patrick from his youth says of him : " He has seen hard 
times enough to sink most men, but through tireless energv and 
dauntless will has attained a goodly measure of success." He is an 
Odd-Fellow, and has held prominent positions in various organizations. 

AsAHEL Peentice, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, is 
another of the staunch farmers and stalwart men of whom Wvoming 
is justly proud. Mr. Prentice hails from the old Bay State, where, in 
the town of Chester, in Hampden county, he was born June 6, 1833. 
His parents were Ephraim and Susan (Bisbee) Prentice. He was 
there twenty-three years, with the usual advantages of the district 
schools of those days, and four months at Williston Seminary, at East- 
hampton. He was brought up a farmer, and came to Wyoming town- 
shi]) in the fall of 1856, and the following year, in Xovoiiiber, was 



724 HISTORY OF LEE COUIS^TY. 

married to Amanda M., daughter of Jariies C. and Eupliemia (Mar- 
shall) Spronl, of Montour count}', Pennsylvania. Xearly a quarter of 
a century has elapsed since, on the wild prairie one mile north of the 
township line, they began life together. They now have a good farm, 
well stocked and improved, a commodious new house, witii excellent 
cellar and conveniences for dairying, six children, hale, hearty and 
strong, all at home, and apparently a pleasant home, where kindred 
hearts beat in unison, and all are willing to work for the common 
good. The children are Sarah E., James C, Henry Mortimer, Joseph 
D., William M. S., and Lena May. Mr. Prentice is a republican, but 
says he honors a good, straight democrat. He is both a Mason and an 
Odd-Fellow, having his membership at West Paw Paw. From 1872 
to 1S78 he served the town as a commissioner of highways. 

George W. Miller, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, was born in Lu- 
zerne county, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1853, and was the son of 
William and Eliza K. (Vosburgh) Miller. He came west with his 
parents and settled in Viola township, having first stopped a sliort 
time in La Salle county. When lie was sixteen years old his father 
sold his farm and bought another in Wyoming township, on Sec. 6. 
Mr. Miller remained at home until twenty -four years of age, and on 
October 5, 1878, was married to Miss Alice Mittan, daughter of J. P. 
Mittan. In the autumn of 1879 he took charge of his father's farm of 
175 acres, at the head of Willow creek. Mr. and Mrs. Miller's two 
children are Minnie E. and Carrie May. He is a republican in 
politics. 

A. C. Radlet, farmer and town clerk, Paw Paw Grove, was born 
January 14, 1827, at Florida, Montgomery county, New York. His 
father was the late John J. Radley, who died at Earlville in the sum- 
mer of 1881. Anderson, the subject of our sketch, was the eldest son, 
and his father was an invalid for man)'Tyears. For these reasons the 
son's schooling was quite limited. Not till he was twenty -four years 
of age did he surrender the care of the old homestead. After working 
a rented farm in his native state some four years, and another in 
Batavia, Illinois, for two years, in the s])ring of 1858 he came to Wyo- 
ming township, and purchased the eighty acres of wild prairie which 
he has since transformed into the Eden Home, where he still resides. 
On December li, 1862, he was married to Miss Mary B. Hayden, of 
Jackson county, Michigan ; but she was taken away October 7, 1865, 
leaving a son about two years of age. On May 9, 1866, he was mar- 
ried to Martha, daughter of Frederick and Mary McBride of this town- 
ship. Mr. Radley was one of those who organized the Paw Paw 
Presbyterian church, and has been a ruling elder and trustee from 
that time to date. An Odd-Fellow for more than a quarter of a cen- 




^y:jSfL qM JiiAJ'L^ 



WYOMIKG TOWNSHIP. 727 

tury, be instituted Auchor Lodge at Paw Paw, and has served four 
times as representative to the Grand Lodge. In 1881 he was elected 
town clerk, and in Jul}' spent one whole da}' signing the new railroad 
bonds. 

Nelson Lane, deceased, was born in Ulster county, New York, 
January 29, 1810, and in 1830 came to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. 
In 1831 he married Sally Ann Tripp, daughter of Job Tripp, from 
Providence, Rhode Island. Lumbering was his main dependence 
while in the Keystone State. In the fall of 1853 he emigrated to Illi- 
nois, arriving at Paw Paw October 14. Hard work and good man- 
agement soon began to tell. Renting a farm near Crompton, and 
purchasing another near Brooklyn, the crop from the former put a 
good house on the latter, and that 80 acres costing then $2.50 per acre 
■was sold in 1875 at $60 per acre. Mr. Lane died August 27, 1874. 
Of four children three are still living: the daughter, Julia, is now Mrs. 
Edwin R. Case, of Paw Paw. The two sons. Job T. and Nelson F., 
were both in the service of their country ; the former was a member 
of Co. I, 15th 111. Inf., and the latter of Co. C, 13th reg. Mrs. Lane 
now resides at Paw Paw. 

Fernando II. Chaffe, fiirmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, 
is a man of marked business ability, and one of Wyoming's heaviest 
capitalists. He was a son of Eber and Annie (Davis) Chaffe, and 
born in Windliam county, Vermont, November 21, 1827. In his 
twelfth year the family emigrated to Compton, Kane county, Illinois. 
In the spring of his twenty-tifth year he went to California, where in 
mining and milling for four years and six months he acquired a suffi- 
cient sum to give him a good start in business. His health being quite 
poor when he returned to Compton in the fall of 1856, he remained 
there for about two years recruiting and loaning mone}'. Meanwhile, 
on July 15, 1858, he was married to Delia Barber, daughter of Lahira 
and Annis Barber, of Compton. Some years before this he had deed- 
ed from the government a tract of 240 acres in Lee county, four miles 
south of Paw Paw ; coming onto this he began breaking the 
prairie and making himself a home. Since then he has bought 200 
acres adjoining, and sold 40. His present farm of 400 acres, with first- 
class .buildings, and other improvements to correspond, is delightfully 
located on the brow of a hill, with a fine prospect, and is reputed to 
be one of the finest farms in Wyoming township. Mr. Chaffe puts 
about 300 acres each j'ear in grains and clover. They have had eleven 
children, and buried three; Abbie F. is now Mrs. William Tabor, 
Edmund W. is a fine musician, now taking lessons under Matthews, in 
Chicago; Elmer S., Wilbur T., Ella N., Minnie A. and John F. are 
at home. An infant, " angel of the household," is not yet named. 
43 



728 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Marcia M. and Ernest died in infancy, and Carrie B. died in the fall 
of 1880. 

Lester Potter, deceased, was a man remarkable for his untiring 
energy and enterprise; oldest of six children of William and Mary 
(Pease) Potter. He was born August 5, 1824, in Middletown, Connect- 
icut, acquired as good schooling as he could till he was sixteen, then 
for sixteen years was managing a Pennsylvania farm summers, and at 
home, ship-carpentering, winters. In 1847 he was married to Miranda 
Andrews, youngest child of John and Sarah Andrews, of Salem, 
Pennsylvania. In 185G they moved to Illinois, where he purchased a 
farm two and a lialf miles west of Paw Paw. In 1864 he bought 
another near Malugin's Grove, and in 1868 a third in "Willow Creek 
township. On July 7, 1872, he received the first shipment of lumber 
and coal brought to Paw Paw by railroad. Thus commenced his ex- 
tensive business on Peru street, wiiieh he carried on for several years. 
In 1875 he also engaged in the furniture business, on Maine street, and 
the next year built a store to accommodate his growing, trade. He also 
became an owner in several mines in Colorado, and to these he gave 
personal attention during portions of 1877, and the year following. 
In 1880 he and Mr. Amos Siglin erected the Siglin and Potter Brick 
Block, into which he moved a stock of goods purchased of W. C. 
Runvan, and added general merchandising to his large list of enter- 
prises. Mr. Potter was one of the few who could keep many irons in 
the fire from early youth to three score without allowing any to burn. 
He was also one who identified himself with the growth and prosper- 
ity of the town, belonging to no religious organization, yet he 
contributed liberally to the support of all. Early in May 1881, while 
at Chicago, he was taken seriously ill, and his death occurred on the 
26th of the same month. A large concourse of friends and citizens 
followed his remains to the Ellsworth Cemetery. His four surviving 
children are all married, and all, with their very worthy mother, now 
reside in or near Paw Paw. 

John Brittain, pioneer (deceased). (By his nephew, John T. Brit- 
tain.) John Brittain was born in 1803, in Lycoming county, Penn- 
sylvania. He followed lumbering, and was an efficient deputy sheriff. 
He emigrated to Illinois and settled near Alton about 1840, and not 
long after went into the pineries, followed lumbering, and in company 
with others ran a large mill, doing a heavy business. But sickness 
compelled him to leave affairs temporarily to others, who pocketed 
large amounts and left for parts unknown, and Mr. Brittain found him- 
self and family destitute in the city of St. Louis. As soon as he 
accumulated sufficient funds again he bought two land warrants and 
located them in Wyoming township. He acted as justice of the peace 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 729 

for several years, and took quite an active interest in the union cause 
during the rebellion. A son died at Fort Donelson from over exer- 
tion. While an officer of Wyoming, about 1863, he received a dispatch 
to aid in arresting two horse-thieves; he reluctantly consented; he was 
fired upon, and one of the men was shot. Some reflections being cast 
upon him lie demanded a trial, was acquitted, no one appearing against 
him. He died very suddenly, some thought from apoplexy, caused by 
the excitement and anxiety, others thought he was poisoned. 

William J. Beittain, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born March 
22, 1845, at Delhi, Jersey county, Illinois, and is the son of John and 
Elizabeth Brittain. When about eighteen years of age he started for 
himself. He lived on the home farm with John, his elder brother and 
liis mother, and worked for her and others. On January 31, 1869, he 
married Ann Madison, of Paw Paw, a very worthy daughter of James 
and Mary Madison. Her father was killed by a fall from a builciing 
in Ohio when she was about two years old. Two children, Corda and 
Mabel, bless their union. Mr. Brittain is a staunch republican and an 
Odd-Fellow. 

William Mayor, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in the county 
of Lancashire, England, December 3, 1820. Being one of a large 
family, and put at work in early life, his schooling all told would not 
amount to a year. May 21, 184:1, he landed in New York. Brigham 
Young came on the same vessel, and as they neared the port the pilot- 
boat brought the sad intelligence of the death of President Harrison. 
Going immediately to Albany, he worked in that city two years and 
five months; thence to Columbus, where he worked two years and 
seven months for the state on the Ohio canal ; thence to Dayton, and 
worked for James Seville, a farmer, nearly three years, and married 
his daughter, Sarah Ann Seville, September 4, 1848. He worked this 
farm till 1854, when he moved to Paw Paw. Illinois, where his wife 
died in 1874. March 28, 1880, he married M r.^. Nnncv Kelly. His 
children are: James W., the harness-maker at Paw Paw ; Mary Ann, 
wife of David Thomas, living at south side ot the grove, and Sarah 
Jane, living at home. One daughter, Lucy Adelaide, died in 1879. 
The length of time Mr. Mayor has been wont to stay with his employ- 
ers indicates that he was a faithful, competent workman, and the enor- 
mous crops observed by the writer on his excellent farm show that he 
is still a good farmer. His farm is the " Elder Warriner farm," at the 
south side of the grove. 

LoED Jones, retired from business. Paw Paw Grove, was the son 
of Lewis and Sarah (Benedict) Jones, who were among the first set- 
tlers in the Wyoming Valley, and his grandfather Benedict baptized 
the first white child ever baptized in the Susquehanna. Lord was 



730 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

born in Exeter, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1805. When 
quite young he was naturally ingenious with tools; would split sticks 
and fasten together, constructing a house such as would challenge the 
skill of mature years. He never learned a trade regularly, by serving 
an apprenticeship, j'et became a good carpenter. ' He was married 
January 6, 1S30, to Piiebe, daughter of Maj. Ezekiel Goble. In 1848 
they emigrated to Paw Paw Grove. Here the Goble famil}- was a 
numerous family of grand, early pioneers, who doubtless did not a 
little in giving shape to the tastes and customs of the settlement about 
Paw Paw Grove. Two brothers and three sisters, and the parents too, 
all with families, were here gathered at Jacob Rogers' to greet the 
Jones family at the end of their thirty-three days' journey, and under 
the Cottonwood trees at the Rogers phiee forty-one kindred triends 
sat down to the first dinner. Gobies, Boardnians, Rogerses and Towns, 
including their thirty children, were present at this reunion. The 
Joneses settled on a farm in Sees. 8 and 9. Three sons of this worthy 
famil}' espoused tlie cause of their country. Their first-born, Theodore 
S., enlisted in 1861 in Co. D, 1st 111. Art. Over-exertion and expos- 
ure at tlie battle of Vicksburg, brought on fatal disease. He started 
for home, was for several weeks confined to the hospital in St. Louis, 
and died of congestive chills at Schofield's barracks. Orlando 13. 
Jones enlisted in 1802 in Co. K, 75th reg. 111. Inf , and served till tlie 
end of the war; though knocked down by a spent bail, hitting him di- 
rectly over his heart, his strap and blanket saved his life. Benjamin 
A. enlisted in January 1864. Five sons and two daughters are still 
living. Their entire family are republican in sentiment and belong'to 
the Baptist church. 

W. A. Pkatt, druggist, Paw Paw Grove, was born at Deep river, 
Connecticut, October 5, 1853. He was the sou of Henry H. and Mary 
(Comstock) Pratt. In the spring of 1856 the family moved to Illinois, 
and settled in De Kalb county, on a farm near Sandwich. Here he 
made good use of the advantages afforded by the district school, sup- 
plemented by the graded high schools, until he was eighteen. T!ie 
winter of 1870 and 1871 was saddened by the death of his mother. 
The following spring he entered the drug store of A. H. Palmer, of 
Sandwich, where he spent tliree years learning the business. In the 
spring of 1874 he came to Paw Paw, and entered the employ of W. C. 
Runyan. In the fall of 1877 he bought out the business and stock of 
goods and opened trade in his own name. In January, 1878, lie was 
married to Mary E., daughter of Isaac J. and Harriet E. Berry. His 
business increasing, in November, 1880, be moved into the new Siglin 
& Potter block, where he has one of the best arranged and most com- 
plete drug stores in Lee county. In politics Mr. Pratt is republican. 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 731 

He is an Odd-Fellow, and treasurer of Anchor Lodge, No. 510, 1.O.O.F. 
He has one child. 

Jacob Hendershot, merchant, Paw Paw Grove, is one of the well- 
known business men of Paw Paw. Born at Washingtonville, Mon- 
tour county, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1832. His father's name 
was Evan and his mother's Margaret C. (McBride). In 1840 hie 
parents moved to Limestoneville, whence Jacob soon after went to live 
with his grandmother at Whitehall, staying with her till he was four- 
teen. To the common school of these three places is he indebted for 
his schooling, but not for his education. Like many of our self-made 
men, Mr. Hendershot's student life has comprised the spare moments 
of a life-time. At the early age of fourteen he went to live with an 
uncle, a merchant and thorough business man, and was with him an 
entire decade. In 1856 he came west and, after prospecting through 
northern Illinois, located at Paw Paw, as clerk for Cone & Madden. 
Here he remained in the employ of the two succeeding owners, D. "W. 
Madden and Hiram Fuller, till the winter of 1857-8, when he went 
east and closed out a stock of goods for Robt. McCoy. Keturning, he 
began business as a grocer on the north side of Main street, in Paw 
Paw, in the fall of 1858. In the fall of 1860 he purchased bis house 
and lot, corner of Main and Peru streets, and was married to Jane M. 
Carey, of Whitehall, Pennsylvania. In 1873 he erected the first brick 
store in the place, and in it he is still carrying on business. In 1880 
he tore down his old brick house, and on the same spot erected a fine, 
spacious brick residence. Mr. Hendershot has ever given close per- 
sonal attention to business, and to this end has declined official honors 
and responsibilities. His sympathies have always been with the demo- 
cratic party, except that in county and town offices he aims to vote for 
the best men, regardless of party. He is a Mason, and was the secre- 
tary of Corinthian Lodge, No. 205, A.F. and A.M., five successive 
years, and junior warden three years. Mr. and Mrs. Hendershot liave 
one daughter. 

Samuel Bunker, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, was a 
native of Maine, born in Penobscot, February 10, 1820, son of Stephen 
and Lucy (Page) Bunker. Till twenty-two his work was farming, 
carpentering and lumbering, with a moderate allowance of schooling. 
He came first to Lamoille, in Bureau count}', Illinois, but remained 
there only about two years, meanwhile purchasing from O. W. Bryant 
a claim in Lee county on the north side of Four-Mile Grove. In the 
fall of 1841: he went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where, during a staj' 
of three or four months, he underwent three fevers, and was compelled 
to borrow mone}' to defray the expenses of his homeward passage. 
After some ten years at the carpenter and joiner trade, in the counties of 



732 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Bureau and La Salle, he left these parts for the pineries of Wisconsin. 
Being a " down-easter," he was an unusually valuable man to handle a 
team in the timber. On one occasion ten men with five yoke of oxen 
tried in vain to haul out a heavy balance-beam. Bunker took the same 
team and only one man, and in two hours accomplished the task. He 
was there some three years. It was about 185S that he came to his 
land in Lee county, where he still resides. The farm comprises 168 
acres just at the edge of the grove; two overflowing perennial springs 
render it a valuable stock farm. On December 27, 1861, he was mar- 
ried to Cordelia N. Bryant, sister of Hon. O. W. Bryant. Tiiey have 
three children : Sarah A., born August 5, 1862 ; William E., July 24, 
1866, and Lillie A., April 2, 1870. He is a republican, and never 
known to be " on the fence." He and his wife are members of the Free 
Baptist church at Four-Mile Grove. 

John M. Jacohy, farmer and stock raiser, Paw Paw Grove, born 
at Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1822, was the son of John 
and Mary (Mace) Jacoby. In his thirteenth year he was bereft of a kind 
and tender mother. At twenty-one he went to the carpenter's trade, 
and in winter evenings also taught music, thus following both till after 
his marriage, March 6, 1848, to Miss Cynthia J., daughter of Francis 
T. Neir, of Shippensburg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. In 1851 
they moved to Peoria, Illinois ; was there a 3"earj at Peru the next year, 
and at Princeton two years, then moved to their present farm at the 
northeast corner of Four-Mile Grove. Here, by hard labor well ap- 
plied, Mr. Jacoby has made a good farm. It contains 250 acres, and 
is well adapted for stock raising. The buildings are first-class, and the 
indications of well-directed husbandry appear on every hand. They 
have three children : John Edgar, a farmer on the Mendota road ; 
Francis S. and May Bell, both at home. For twenty years he has 
been a member of the Wyoming Presbyterian church at Cottage Hill. 
He is a democrat and a union man most emphatically. 

Henkt Lewis, liveryman. Paw Paw, was born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, April 17, 1828. His father, Henry, was a carpenter by 
trade, but in (juite limited circumstances, so that the subject of our 
sketch had little or no schooling. Indeed, at twenty-one he was hardly 
able to write his own name. Since then, however, he has learned to 
read quite well, and is said to be well versed in the scriptures. In 
1850 he was married to Jane Taylor. In 1851 they moved to Seneca 
county, Ohio, and next year to Miami county, where he farmed till 
1856, when they emigrated to Illinois. In the spring of 1857 he 
bought a farm of eighty acres near Twin Groves; this he still owns. 
His wife died in 1874. His second wife was Elizabeth Fisk, of Malu- 
gin's Grove. In 1878 he bought out Charles Pulver, since which time 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 733 

he has been in the livery business at Paw Paw, doing a good business. 
Since his second marriage three children have blessed their home : 
Kaymond, William Henry, and Caroline. 

George W. Lindsey, Paw Paw Grove, a practical butcher of 
remarkable experience, with an established reputation for all depart- 
ments of his business. Born at Attica, Wyoming county. New York, 
April 12, 1843, the eldest son of George W. and Khoda (Hamlin) 
Lindsey, our subject started for himself in the ineat and stock business 
at the age of twenty, in Walworth county, Wisconsin. He was mar- 
ried September 24, 1863, to Elizabeth M. Phillips. In 1865 he changed 
the base of his operations to Whitehall, Michigan, thence in 1867 to 
the plains of Texas, where, iu the cattle trade, he failed and lost every- 
thing, save his indomitable, restless spirit. On Christmas-day, 1869, 
he came to Paw Paw, and the next spring again engaged in the butcher 
business. Two years later he built the first market ever put up in this 
village. After a stay of about four years at Paw Paw he went to 
Chicago into the live stock commission business, and opened two mar- 
kets, one at the corner of Thirty-first street and Indiana avenue, the other 
at Fort^'-third and Halsted streets. Of this experience he says, " Too 
many irons in the fire lost." Not discouraged, on March 15, 1876, he 
started for the Black Hills, arriving May 4, and leaving there Septem- 
ber 20 for Paw Paw, bringing with him eighteen pounds avoirdupois 
weight of native gold. He immediately built his dwelling-house on 
maple street, and erected a brick building on Main street opposite the 
Detamore House, for a market. Selling the latter to B. J. Wheeler, 
away he goes to the San Juan valley, secures a joint interest with 
Lester Potter, of Paw Paw, in three diflerent mines; returns, buys the 
market he now occupies, and opens again in his regular business. One 
year later the western fever attacks him again, and away to Idaho and 
Montana, whence, after a six-weeks' stay, he returns again from this 
his latest and tenth trip across the plains. He says " to Alaska will 
be his next journey." Mr. Lindsey has surely heeded the advice of 
Horace Greeley — " Go West " ; but contrary to Poor Richard's say- 
ing about the rolling stone gathering no moss, his business is simply 
immense. Mr. Lindsey was married September 24, 1863, to Elizabeth 
M. Phillips. Their two children are Edwin Gallaway and Nellie 
Gertrude. He is a Mason and a democrat. 

William M. Geddes, editor and proprietor of the Paw Paw 
"Herald," inherits both linguistic taste and mechanical genius from his 
father, Robert Geddes, of Amboy, a man proficient in the use of six 
languages, and for twenty years master mechanic in the employ of the 
Illinois Central Railroad Company. With such a parentage, we are 
not surprised to find the subject of our sketch at the printer's ease at 



734 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

fourteen, and in the editorial cliair at twentv-one. William was the 
fourth c-iiild in a taniily of seven children, all of whom and both parents 
are still living. Zanesville, Ohio, was his birthplace and August •_'!, 
1850, his birthday. I'ut that same year the family moved to Amboy, 
Illinois. At eleven William entered the hif^h school, and at fourteen 
the office of the Amboy "Journal." So small of stature was he that 
he had to stand on a box a foot and a half high to reach the casf, yet 
in two months' time he was able to take the case of a regular journey- 
man printer, and in six months, instead of getting boys' pay, he re- 
ceived good printers' wages. He was in this office some four years, 
while it was owned successively by Corbus it Stimpson, William Par- 
ker, and William H. Plaskell. Close application beginning to tell on 
his health, he clerked a few months for W. B. Andrus & Son. Back 
again at the "Journal" office, he was about this time laying his plans 
for his business career, and we are not surprised that he determincil to 
invest iirst in education. As a student he was an indefatigable worker. 
After drinking from the Pierian spring as deeply as his means would 
allow, he came to Paw Paw in February 1878, and purchased the 
" Herald " office from its founder, R. H. Ruggles. April 14, ISSd, he 
married Jennie M. Parker, daughter of his former employer, William 
Parker. That Mr. Geddes found a helpmeet indeed, may be inferred 
from the fact that her ancestry on both sides for generations back were 
printers. Her father is well known as a veteran in the editorial corp^, 
and she herself is not unacquainted with the art of successfully using 
the pen and the scissors. For three years she was a teacher in the 
Mcndota High School. When Mr. (reddes assumed the management 
of the office at Paw Paw, the " Herald" was in its infancy and with 
less than one hundred subscribers, but the books now show 900 sub- 
scriljcrs, and the prospect is good for 1000 at the beginning of the 
year 1882. 

James W. Mayou, harness-maker and dealer. Paw Paw Grove, 
born at Dayton, Ohio, May 1, 1850, is the only son of William and 
Sarah (Seville) Mayor. In the spring of 1855 his parents brought him 
to Paw Paw, Illinois, where all the surviving members of the family 
still reside. His father, sensible of his own lack of early advantages, 
was an.xious his son should have a good, substantial education, and 
kept him at the Paw Paw school till he was lifteen. But James de- 
veloped a mechanical turn of mind, so at fifteen he began learning 
harness-making, continuing his studies at school in the winter seasons. 
In this way he is said to have made very commendable progress. In 
the fall of 1869 he bought out the business, and has since carried it on 
in his own name. He is doing a good business for a place of this size, 
receiving orders from those who know his work, as far away as Iowa, 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 735 

Nebraska, tuid Ciilifbrnia. October 17, 1870, ho was married to Jiili- 
ett Madison, youngest daughter of James and Mary Madison, of Paw 
Paw, Illinois. They have had four children : Jessie Viola (deceased), 
Harry Edgar, Elmer A. and (leiicvieve. Tie is an Odd-Fellow, has 
passed through all the oflices in Anchor Lodge, is now its representa- 
tive to the Grand Lodge, and is also chief patriarcli in Paw Paw En- 
campment. Politics, republican, in faith and practice. 

Wilson C. P>ryant, eldest son of Hon. Obed W. and Lucy (Lind- 
sey) Bryant, was born at Four-Mile Grove, in La Salle county, 
November 26, 1843. Was there about ten years, till his parents 
moved just across the line into Lee county, to a farm at the northeast 
corner of the same grove. He attended school in the home dis- 
trict, at Leo Center, at Mendota, and in the winter of 1864-5 at 
Wasioja, Minnesota. He also taught several terms. In 1869 he pur- 
chased the Burrill farm on Cottage Hill, in Wyoming township. On 
March 12, 1872, he was married to Terressa A. Blee. Wilson C. 
Bryant and his excellent wife are very nicely fixed on a beautiful farm 
on Cottage Hill, amid groves and hedges, and with a pleasing prospect 
around and before them. Wilson C. Bryant is the eldest son of Hon. 
Obed W. Bryant. His mother was Lucy Lindsey. He was born 
November 26, 1843, at Four-Mile Grove, near the county line, but in 
La Salle county. He was there about ten years, till his parents moved 
across the line into Lee county to a farm at the northeast corner of tlio 
same grove. His school advantages were quite good. Ho attended 
more or less at Leo Center, Mendota, and Wasit)ja, Minnesota. He 
also taught a few terms. Finally, in 1869, he purchased his present 
farm, known as the Burrill farm, and on March 12, 1872, was married 
to Terressa A. Blee, also of Cottage Hill. Joseph M. Blee, her father, 
is reputed to have been one of the best men ever in Wyoming. His 
death, on January 16, 1873, was caused by injuries received but a few 
hours before by being thrown from a wagon. Ho came to Cottage 
Hill in 1855; was a native of Pennsylvania. 

Pfkrce & B,\muN(iVM, druggists, are the gentlemardy ])i'oprietors 
of the Palace di'ug-storo. The firm is composed of Philip S. Pierce 
and William H. Barringer. Mr. Pierce is an enterprising farmer and 
stock raiser. He was born in East Paw Paw, Do Kalb county, 
October 8, 1847, and is the son of Charles, who settled near Paw Paw 
Grove in 1845. On February 20, 1869, Mr. Pierce was married to 
Miss Addie E. Barritiger, daughter of John Barringer. He remained on 
liis father's place until November 1874, when ho came to the Nettleton 
farm, which he now owns. This is situated in Sec. 35, Willow Creek 
township, and couiprises 145 acres of choice land, well improved. One 
of the principal imi)rovempnts is the substantial barn, 30x5(1, with 



736 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

22-foot posts, erected the present season. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have 
three children : William Evert, Mary A. and Philip U. The junior 
partner, William H. Barringer, is one of the young business men of 
whom Paw Paw is justly' proud. He was born at Ross' Grove, De 
Kalb county, September 30, 1850, and the eldest of three children of 
Jolin H. and Delia (Mulford) Barringer. Both of his parents died in 
the year 1854, when William was but four years old. His grand- 
mother Barringer took the three little orphans to her home in Paw 
Paw and brought them up. William was with her twelve years at 
this place, then eight years with her at East Paw Paw. During these 
years he had made good use of his time both at school and on the farm 
in vacations. In 1874 they moved to a farm near Smith's Grove, and 
the following year he spent in Kansas. In the spring of 1881 he united 
in partnership with Mr. Pierce, as successors to the firm of Palmer & 
Stetler, in the drug business, the duties of which mainly devolve on 
Mr. Barringer. 

Elijah Swaktiiolt, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born August 
16, 1820, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and son of Joshua and 
Elizabeth (Van Loon) Swarthout. The name Van Loon traces back 
to original settlers on the Hudson. His grandparents on his father's 
side were from Holland. Elijah was the oldest of a fjmih' of eleven 
children, and brought up on a farm of 200 acres, he naturally became 
inured to those habits essential to a good farmer. He was also counted 
good as a scholar for the time and place. He remained on the old 
homestead till he was twenty-eight. December 25, 1848, he was mar- 
ried to Sarah E. Brown, daughter of Solomon Brown, of the same 
place. In the spring of 1856 the}- emigrated to Illinois, and pur- 
chased ninety acres of the old Russell Town farm west of Paw Paw. 
This he sold in 1861, when he bought eighty acres in Sec. 6, and in 
1870 another farm just west of the village, and in 1877 added to his 
real-estate acquisitions the tine property on Grummond street, where 
he now resides. He was in cojnpany with his son-in-law, James H. 
Tlioin]ison, five years, ending July 15, 1881. He was Methodistically 
inclined, in politics a democrat, and was a charter member of the 
Wyoming Grange. In 1880 a promising son, Frank M., died of con- 
sumption at the age of twenty-two. He has four children living: 
Catharine J., Mrs. James II. Thomjison ; Clarrissa, Mrs. B. J. Wheel- 
er ; Rasselas, and Solomon Brown. His estimable wife died September 
11, 1881, after a lingering illness of nearly a ^-ear. 

W. C. RrxYAN, clerk, Paw Paw Grove, son of Joshua and Eliza- 
beth (Swisher) Runyan, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, 
April 15, 1829, and with them moved to Lycoming county in 1833. 
In the spring of 185(i he, with his parents, moved to Northumberland 



WYOMING TOWKSHIP. 737 

county, where his father died in the fall of 1853. In October, 1854, he 
was married to Clara McKnigiit, of Montour county, and the follow- 
ing spring they moved to Lee county. Here he rented land from time 
to time in difterent parts of the county. His wife died January 19, 
1859. In the spring of 1860, at Meriden, Illinois, he was married to 
Mrs. Martha Litts, daughter of Abraham Rosenkraiis, of Wyoming 
township. In the spring of 1863 he bought a farm near Franklin 
Grove, but sold it in the spring of 1866, and bougiit in Wyoming two 
miles soutii of Paw Paw. His health failing in 1871, he was com- 
pelled to desist from all labor. In April, 1873, he engaged in the 
mercantile business at Paw Paw, continuing till December 1879. In 
January, 1881, he commenced clerking for L. Potter & Co. From the 
age of eighteen Mr. Runyan was a member of the Baptist church. For 
the past five years he has held a prominent position in the Lee county 
Sabbath-school work. He has two daughters, Elizabeth C. and Lydia. 
William Mereell, senior partner in the firm of Merrell & Co., 
Paw Paw Grove, was born November 29, 1829, in Canton, Hartford 
county, Connecticut. His parents were Capt. Alanson and Lucy L. 
(Mills) Merrell, and his grandfather was a revolutionary soldier. After 
the usual schooling, supplemented by a term at East Hampton, Massa- 
chusetts, he was married, November 28, 1848, to Louisa A. Daniels, 
of Canton, and in 1851 moved to Steuben county, New York, where 
he followed farming and lumbering. Volunteering in 1862, he was 
mustered in as 1st lieutenant of Co. D, 141st reg. New York Inf ; was 
promoted to the captaincy in July 1863 ; to the oflice of major in 
1864; was acting-colonel under Sherman on the march to the sea, the 
campaign of the Carolinas, and the final march to Washington, where 
he was mustered out. He was in about fifteen general engagements 
and skirmishes, including Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Pesaca, 
New Hope Church, — a hard battle at arms' length, — and Kennesaw 
Mountain. For one hundred days was either in engagements or under 
fire on the skirmish line. Of the entire regiment, when it came out 
of the noted battle of Peach Tree creek, there remained to report for 
duty only Capt. Merrell, a Capt. Baldwin and one lieutenant, of all 
the field and line ofticers, and but sixty-one privates. Moving west in 
1866, he farmed four years in Lake county and five years near East Paw 
Paw, when, in 1875, entered into coparttiership with John Edwards 
and Henry Goodyear under the firm name Wm. Merrell & Co., and 
engaged in general merchandising at West Paw Paw. The ne.xt year 
this firm erected the Centennial block. In 1878 Mr. Merrell sold his 
interest to Goodyear and moved to Kansas; returned the following 
year and renewed possession of the farm he had previously sold ; in 
the fall of 1880 united in copartnership with P. N. Edwards and Will- 



738 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

iani Siglin, under the firm name William Merrell & Co. Mr. and 
Mrs. Merrell have three children: Henry William, Viola Louise, and 
Frank Warren. The entire family united with the Methodist Episco- 
pal church in 1866. Frank is now taking a college and theological 
course atEvanston, Illinois. Like most soldiers, Mr. Merrell is repub- 
lican. 

Henry H. Harrington, justice of the peace of the town of Wyo- 
ming, and dealer in groceries, crockery, china and glassware. Paw Paw 
Grove, youngest son of Amasa and Annie (^Arnold) Harrington, was 
born at Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county. New York, February 9, 
1841, and with the family moved to Paw Paw in foil of 1S43. Till 
fourteen he was subject to a lung difficulty that confined him at home, 
hence his primary education was received from his mother. But this 
was necessarily quite limited, so much so that at the age of si.xteen, on 
entering the intermediate department of Prof. Perrin's school at Paw 
Paw, he for the first time studied arithmetic, geography, and grammar. 
His progress was rapid, however, for at the end of two years he was 
appointed as teacher in the department which he had first entered, at 
the same time continuing his studies in the high school department. 
Meanwhile his health had rapidly improved till at the date alluded to 
he was strong and rugged. He taught school in Lee and Ogle conn- 
ties most of the time till 1SC5, then went to Chicago and graduated at 
Eastman's Commercial College. He followed teaching and writing 
in law and in abstract offices in Ogle county till the fall of 1S69, when 
he went to Ohio and was married to Amelia R. Hosmer, of Parkinan, 
Geauga county. New Tork, daughter of Sylvester B. and Mary (Fos- 
ter) Hosmer (deceased). Here he remained six years on his wife's 
farm. In 1875 he moved to Paw Paw and purchased the store and 
dwelling-house combined, which he has since occupied. He joined 
the Methodist Episcopal church in the winter of 1S76, under the pas- 
torate of Rev. J. Hartman, since which time he has been a consistent 
member and cliurch-laborer, holding the office of recording steward 
and secretary of the board of trustees. He was elected justice of the 
peace in 1877 and reelected in 1881. He is a republican and a Mason, 
and a strong advocate of temperance. The three children are Mary 
Maud Anna, Madge Amelia, and Hosmer Hartman. 

T. H. Stetler, physician and surgeon, Paw Paw Grove, son 
of John Stetler, was born at Wilkesbarro, Luzerne county, Penn- 
83'lvania, August 6, 1847. The district school, high school and acad- 
emy each in turn contributed to his literary education till tlie fall of 
1867, when he came west to Malugin's Grove, Illinois. Taught school 
that winter at Adrian's school-house, the next winter at the Ed- 
monds school-house, and the next three years at the Grove. He now 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 739 

began tlie study of materia medica and chemistry with view to fitting 
for the medical profession, and in the fall of 1872, in company with 
Dr. Palmer, engaged in the di'ug business. He sold out in the spring 
of 1874, and iti the fall began taking lectures at the Ciiicago Medical 
College ; graduating there March 21, 1876, he settled down in the 
practice of medicine at Paw Paw. That one so young should think 
to compete for a share of the practice in a place where inetRciency and 
quackery would never be tolerated, and with physicians of age, experi- 
ence and established reputation, is evidence of his confidence in the 
genuineness of his qualifications, and his practice, already quite exten- 
sive, shows that the people are partakers of that confidence. Decem- 
ber 31, 1870, he was married to his estimable wife, Libbie Rosencrans, 
youngest daughter of Abram and Elizabeth Rosencrans, who has 
contributed largely* to his success in life. Dr. Stetler was raised a 
Mason in Brooklyn Lodge in 1870, and became a member of Corinth- 
ian Lodge, No. 20.5, in 1873. He is now secretary of this lodge. Li 
1873 he was made a Royal Arch Mason in Rochelle Chapter. The 
doctor is a communicant in the Presbyterian charch of Paw Paw, and 
superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is a man of decidedly 
republican views, and an earnest worker in the party. 

George T. Noe, farmer, Steward, son of Cummings Noe, was born 
on the farm at present owned by B. F. Ellsworth, formerly the early 
homestead of his parents. May 21, 1855. He attended the district 
schools of the neighborhood, and finished his studies in the Western 
College in Lynn county, Iowa. On March o, 1878, he was married to 
Mrs. Caroline Tetter, daughter of Gotleib Hochstrasser. These parents 
have two children : Eda Levilla and Mary Martha. Mrs. Noe is a 
member of the Evangelical church, and Mr. Noe belongs to the United 
Brethren, and is a republican. 

B. J. Wheeler, proprietor of Oak Grove Creamer^' and Ciieese 
Factory, Paw Paw Grove, was born near Bangor, Maine, May 14, 
1837. His parents, Jacob and Martha (Drake) Wheeler, had their 
home three miles from the nearest school-house, and bears being nu- 
merous in that region young Wheeler was prevented from receiving 
early instruction in the schools. About 1845 the family came west 
and settled at Nauvoo, in this state, and a few years later removed to 
Paw Paw Grove, where the subject of this notice attended the South 
Side High School one year. His father in 1851 purchased from John 
Pelcher 100 acres of land, the same on which his creamery is now sit- 
uated. This finally passed from his father's ownership, and several 
times changed hands until it was at last bought by Mr. Wheeler. In 
1856 our subject went to Minnesota, and was engaged three years in 
farming, peddling, and other pursuits. In 1859, having returned to 



740 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Illinois, he set out immediately for California, and engaged in mining 
in Plumas county. After tliree years' steady employment at this busi- 
ness he went to freighting supplies from Marysville to Humboldt val- 
ley, a distance of 300 miles, forty being across a desert. Prices charged 
for everytliing seem incredible. Potatoes sold at the mines for $15 per 
bushel, and Mr. Wheeler received $8.40 for the hauling. For hay to 
feed his team over night he paid at one time $90. The transporting 
of one load brought him Si, 800. Once just before reaching the end 
of his route an axle broke and he had to go forward to get it repaired. 
This occupied half an hour and cost $20. When he returned he got 
three Indians to help him change his load, in which were fifteen pounds 
of fish-hooks, and $1,800 of county scrip in a small yeast can. After 
resuming his wa}' he missed his hooks and scrip, and returning to the 
river where about 100 Indians were encamped, was not able to per- 
suade them to give up the plunder. He subsequently obtained a re- 
issue of the scrip. He remained in California four years, and on liis 
return purchased the farm on which he is now living. Here he en- 
gaged in farming, trading, shipping stock, and making brick. On 
January 1, 18T3, he was married to Clara Swarthout, daughter of 
Elijah and Elizabeth Swarthout, of Paw Paw. In 1874 he bought the 
grist-mill at the grove, and in 1877 traded it to Frank Nickey for the 
store now owned by George Lindsey, and the stock of hardware which 
it contained. The latter he sold to H. M. Wilson in July, 1879, and 
the same year took a trip with his family through Idaho, Utah and 
California, consuming four months in this journey. A drive of 3(i0 
miles behind a mule team was included in their experiences. If it was 
tedious it did not wholly fail of being ludicrous. Mrs. Wheeler says 
the mules were exasperatingly slow, unless the driver was drunk. She 
was the only lady passenger among fourteen men. The bottle of ex- 
hilarating fluid never went dry, and her thoughtful fellow-travelers 
proffered it with religions constancy whenever it went around. Mr. 
Wheeler erected the Oak Grove Creamery and Cheese Factory in 1880. 
This represents an industry of prime importance in Wyoming town- 
ship, and by his enterprise he has added not a little to the material 
prosperity and consideration of the community. He is a republican 
and an Odd-Fellow. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have had three children : 
Addie Kyle, Frank, and one " over the river." 

A. G. FowLKK, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, eldest son of Noah and 
Polly (Whitaker) Fowler, was born at Cambridge, New York, March 
3, 1826. The most of his schooling was obtained in the three last 
winters of his minority, and he made so good use of his meager privi- 
leges, and such progress in his studies, that he qualified himself to be 
a teacher and was employed in that capacity three years. In 1851 he 



WYOMING TOWNSHIP. 741 

spent six months in the State of Virginia. In the summer of 1853 he 
came to Illinois and settled at West Aurora, and had his home in that 
vicinity six years. Being a man of large ingenuity, to whom the use 
of tools is a natural gift, he worked successively in the sash factory, 
reaper shop, and as a carpenter on the depot and other buildings of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. This road was constructed 
to Mendota the year of his arrival. While living here he was married, 
February 19, 185C, to Nancy B. Deuel, of his native town of Cam- 
bridge. From Aurora Mr. Fowler moved to Waterman, De Kalb 
county, where he lived six years farming and holding office. He was 
constable four years and collector two terms. In the spring of 1865 
he came to South Paw Paw, and tlie next year occupied his present 
farm. He has 40 acres whose productiveness is recognized as consid- 
erably above the average. Deacon Fowler is a leading fruit-grower in 
this part of the country. He is a consistent and prominent member 
of the Baptist church of Paw Paw, and has filled the office of deacon 
nearly a dozen years. Politically he was first a "silver gray" whig, 
whatever that may have been, and is now a supporter of republican 
principles. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have three children, Mary, Isaac L., 
and Lois, all at home. 

Jesse Brittain, deceased, was a man of a limited education, eco- 
nomical in his habits and possessed of a marked degree of energy. His 
untiring industry and good management resulted in a competence for 
himself and a considerable estate for his heirs. He was born August 
8, 1808, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. In early manhood he 
was employed mainly in lumbering. In 1829 he was married to Miss 
Margaret Lemons, of Muncie, in the same state. In 1840 he moved to 
Beaver, on the Ohio below Pittsburgh, returning in 1843. He built 
himself a saw-mill and followed lumbering till the summer of 1850, 
when he came west and settled at Cottage Hill, in Wyoming township. 
Here he resided till his death, in 1875. His widow, after a happy com- 
panionship of nearly fifty years, is with his son, John T., on the old 
homestead. The following were the children : Charles W., John T., 
Lavina, Sarah (deceased), George (killed at the battle of Perrysville, 
October 8, 1862), and Zebreth, now farming at Raceburg, on the Sol- 
omon river, in Kansas. The eldest son, Charles, was always fond of 
travel, and gratified this taste in a large measure. He joined Col. As- 
pinwall's company, which built the Panama railroad, and from the 
isthmus went to San Francisco in 1851. He worked in the diggings 
until the discovery of gold in Australia, in 1854, when he repaired to 
tliat distant land, and during his travels visited Van Dieman's land 
and most of the islands in the Pacific ocean. He returned to Cali- 
fornia and went to work again in the mines. When Montana began 



742 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

to excite notice lie was attracted there by the supposed inducements of 
tiiat fresli field of discovery, and when last heard from was on his way 
to Alaska. John, too, seems to have had a love of change and inci- 
dent, but this partook quite largely of the business character. At the 
age of twenty-one he left New York, April 5, 185i, for California via 
Aspinwall and Panama and landed in San Francisco May 1 ; followed 
mining and prospecting for mines for twelve ^-ears, mostly in the coun- 
ties of Mariposa, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Klamath. He took part 
in several of the mining excitements, particularly the Silver Mountain 
and Frazer river mines in British Columbia in the j'ear 1858. He re- 
sided a short time at Victoria, on Van Couver's island, located at Hum- 
boldt bay in California, and followed ranching from IStlG to 1870, when 
he returned b}' rail. In his individual enterprises he was usually suc- 
cessful, but he lost heavil}' at times b}' stock companj' investments. 
He now resides on the homestead at Cottage Hill, and owns a 160- 
acre farm in Viola. 

Charles Pierce, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, was 
born in Pennsylvania, February 3, 1813, followed the business of 
moulder in a foundry some years at Kingston, Pennsylvania, came 
we.«t to Paw Paw township, arriving September 17, 1845, and moved 
to Wyoming November 15, 1856. He has erected several buildings, 
and is now the owner of several farms. He resides on the " Bogus " 
Gates place, but a few rods from the site of the old pioneer cabin of 
David A. Town, built in 183-1. He has been twice married ; his tirst 
wife was a Goodwin ; by iier he had three children : Thomas J., born 
August 16, 1836; John, born September 15, 1838, and George S., born 
January 22. 18il. On February 10, 1842, he was married to Cath- 
arine Sine; they have six children: Everett, born March 28, 1843, 
Emma S., May 17, 1845, Philip S., October 8, 18i7, Mary A., Novem- 
ber 11, 1850, Florence, December 29, 1852, Maria O., June 16, 1855. 
Piiilip owns a good farm in Willow Creek township, and is partner in 
tiie firm of Pierce & Barringer, at Paw Paw. 

Jamks H. TnoMi'6i>N, dealer in general merchandise. Paw Paw, is 
the son of William and Nancy (Harding) Thompson, and was born in 
Luzerne count}-, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1843. His fatlier died when 
James was but four years old. Wiien eight years of age he came with 
l»i^ mother to Paw Paw, and was educated in the graded school of the 
three Paw Paws. In 1855 his mother married John Colvill, with 
whom James has remained to this date, except when in the service of 
his country. He enli.sted in 1802, in Co. K, 75th reg. III. Vols., under 
Capt. Geo. Ryan, and during his three years' service was never out of 
the rebel confederacy. He was in action at Perryville, Stone Eiver, 
Chickamauga, and Lookout Mountain, and while on a reconnoissance at 




J^ U. E^i^ 



WYOJIING TOWNSHIP. 745 

Tunnel Hill, February 25, 1864, a singular accident befell him. At the 
top of Rocky Face Ridge, a tree a foot tlirougli was shot off at the 
height of forty feet and fell with terrible force upon him, crushing his 
musket in three pieces and almost fatally wounding iiim. Fortunately 
he recovered and was with iiis regiment on tiie Atlanta campaign. 
Being a clerkly penman he was detailed to a clerical position in the 
inspector-general's office. A testimonial from Capt. Nelson G. 
Franklin, acting assistant inspector general, speaks in imequivocal 
terms of Mr. Thompson. It is dated at Nashville, June 12, 1865, and 
says, " He has performed his duties in my office satisfactorily, and 
though complicated and arduous as the work has been, he has 
gained for himself an excellent name as a business man, and won the 
unbounded respect of all with whom he has had official relations." On 
his return from the army lie farmed awliile, and in 1869 united in 
copartnership with Mr. Colvill. In 1875 they sold out to William 
Merrell & Co., and Mr. Thompson moved onto his farm, which he had 
purchased two years before from Isaac Harding. In the fall he took 
charge of the clothing store here owned by Metz & Jackson, of Amboy, 
and in the spring of 1876 engaged in business for himself in the Col- 
vill building. He is one of the school trustees of the town of Wyo- 
ming, has served as collector, has been at the head of most of the 
republican movements, and at the present time is a member of the Lee 
county central committee. He has been repeatedly solicited to accept 
a nomination for county office, but his business preventing he has con- 
stantly declined. He is a member of Anchor Lodge, I.O.O.F. On 
March 28, 1867, he was married to Miss Catharine J. Swarthout, 
eldest daughter of Elijah J. Swarthout, of Paw Paw. 

John Allex, mechanic, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Hartford, 
Maine, July 13, 1813. His grandfather, Thomas Allen, deserted the 
British army on the northern frontier in the time of the revolution, 
and had several dangerous escapes from capture, while under pursuit, 
by the red-coats. At onfe time his pursuers passed the house in which 
he was concealed, and at another crossed over the bridge beneath 
which he was hiding. Making his way to Machias, Maine, he took up 
his residence there, and was one of the first six residents in the place. 
He was chosen town clerk and singing teacher, and in course of time 
was called to other posts of intiuence and respectability. He reared 
a son, John Allen, wiio became the father of eight children. From 
tlie notes at command the w'riter is unable to mention more than three 
of these, John, Thomas and Benjamin, the first the subject of this 
sketch. Tlie last two were for a long time in the service of presidents 
John Adams and John Qnincy Adams, Tliomas being employed by 
the two seven years. Among a number of presents bestowed upon 
44 



746 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

tliese men b}- the elder Adams was a trunk wliich he had carried with 
him to Europe when abroad as a representative of tlie United States. 
This was a sacred souvenir of him whose lips of burning patriotism 
whispered at the portal of death the glorious words, " Independence 
forever." John Allen lived in Maine until he was eighteen ; he then 
went to Boston, and soon after embarked on the ocean and was en- 
gaged in sea-faring nearly eight years. After this he worked a year 
or two in a last factory in Boston, and in 1840 emigrated to Ohio and 
hired out to a Mr. Gunn, a man of Scotch lineage, to work on his 
farm. On July 25 he was married to his employer's daughter, Sophia 
Gunn. Tiiree years afterward Mr. Allen returned to Boston witli his 
family and went to work again in tlie last factorj-, where he continued 
to be employed ten years. In 1855 he moved west, settled in Willow 
Creek township, and farmed four years. He next brought his family 
to Paw Paw, where they have resided up to the present time. For 
awhile he was engaged in carpentering; then in 1860 he joined the 
rush to Pike's Peak, but soon returned without improving his fortune. 
In 1862, being forty-eight years of age and legall}^ exempt from 
military dut}', he nevertheless heard the call of fiither Abraham for 
three hundred thousand more, and not able to shut his heart to the 
appeal of his country in the crisis of her peril he enlisted in Capt. 
Cogswell's Independent Illinois Battery of Light Artillery, and was 
attached to the war-worn loth Army Corps. The service bore heavily 
upon him, and it was not long till he was obliged to come home to 
recruit his health. "When he repaired again to the army he took with 
hi in his son Horace, who was mustered into the United States service 
at Springfield, in 1864. Taken suddenl}' ill once more, our subject 
was sent home to receive that care and nursing so sadly wanting in 
the army, and while there his son, only seventeen, was killed by the 
explosion of a caisson. His remains are interred at Huntsville, Ala- 
bama. Mr. Allen returned to his command, and served the remainder 
of his term of three years. During most of the time he was serving 
on detail as artificer. Having returned to civil pursuits, he nearly 
lost his life by falling thirty feet from a barn he was building to the 
ground. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Allen made public profession of re- 
ligion, and are now members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
They have five living children, three of whom have also arrived at a 
saving knowledge of divine truth. T. T. Allen is in Kansas, Charles 
H. and Eugene are at Paw Paw. "Weltha is married and living at 
Piano, and Eugenia is at home with her mother. Mr. Allen has 
twice been collector of Wyoming township. In 1877 he went into 
the manufacture of the Excelsior spring-bed bottom, and was agent for 



WYO-AriNCr TOWNSHIP. 747 

the sale of it in Illinois. He has made one trip to California and four 
to Kansas, where he now is improving a permanent home. 

Mks. SrsAN P. Detamore, proprietor of the Detamore House, Paw 
Paw, was a native of Pownal, Bennington count\', Vermont, and the 
youngest child of Jedcdiah and Tameson Foster. Her parents came 
to Paw Paw Grove in 1S47, but on the way out here she stopped at 
Eaton, Ohio, and was there through all the fearful scourge of the 
cholera two 3'ears later. Just as this was abating, in September, she 
was married to David Detamore, whose iather and mother, Jacob and 
Sophia Detamore, and brothers and sisters had all been carried off' by 
this terrible disease. While living here the only child the}' ever had, 
Mary E. Detamore, now the wife of Dr. Thomas D. Palmer, was born, 
and when they emigrated to Paw Paw, in 1851, she was six months 
old. On their arrival Mr. Detamore bought the property where the 
Detamore House has always stood, and as there was a gi-owing demand 
for hotel accommodations, they at once opened their doors to entertain 
the public. In a short time their business had so increased that they 
were compelled to enlarge their house. In ISofi Mr. Detamore sold 
the property and gave a bond for a deed. A long and e.xpensive con- 
test in the courts ensued, in the midst of which, in 1859, Mr. Detamore 
sickened and died. The heavy costs of this suit were paid by Mrs. 
Detamore from keeping boarders in a little private house. Being de- 
clared the rightful owner of the property, she returned to it in the 
spring of 1S61. Since then, with the exception of about a year that she 
was east to give her daughter the benefits of school, she has remained 
here continuall v, and has succeeded in securing a competency, and that 
which she prizes as still more valuable, the respect and good-will of 
lier large circle of acquaintances. Mention was made to the writer by 
numerous citizens of the lively interest this lady had ever taken in the 
welfare of the place, how she had sold lots at low rates, improved 
buildings, and contributed generally to its growth and prosperity. 

AYitLiAM M. Si'KOUL, farmer, stock raiser and dairyman. Paw Paw 
Grove, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1821, 
and was the son of James C. and Euphemia (Marshall) Sproul. His 
father was from Ireland, and a saddler by trade, followed mercantile 
pursuits, and was jjrominent in business. His grandfather Marshall 
served as a soldier in the revolution, and his mother was of Scotch- 
Irish descent. William had fair educational advantages, and taught 
sciiool some four winter forms. On November 18, 1844, he was mar- 
ried to Sarah A. McHard, and immediately settled down to farming on 
his father's place. Two children were the fruits of this union ; one 
died in 1S47, the mother followed to the grave the next year, and the 
other child was buried in 1854. Mr. Sproul took a second wife in the 



748 IIISTOKY OF LEE COUXTY. 

person of Miss Charlotte J. Wilson, and the marriage i-itc was cel- 
ebrated Jnne 6, 1849. She was the danghter of Richard and Mary 
(Durham) Wilson. Her grandmother, Margaret Durham, was the wife 
of James Durham. Long years ago, when the great west, where we 
now live, was the hunting ground of the savages, and the middle states, 
some yet unsettled, were on the border, the Indians made an irruption 
into Pennsylvania. The Durhams were living at the forks of the 
Susquehanna when the settlement was invaded. As soon as the news 
of danger reached the people they hurried off to the fort, the women 
being sent in advance, and Mrs. Durham with a babe in her arms, 
while tlic men delayed a little to look after matters. The latter, when 
moving towai'd the same place, were attracted by the frantic demon- 
strations of the house-dog, and on going to the spot indicated by his 
intelligent manner they fonnd Mrs. Durham lying in a shocking con- 
dition, scalped and tomahawked, apparently beyond all possible hope 
of recovery, though lingering signs of life might still be discovered. 
At length, to their surprise she called for water ; this was brought in 
a hat, and from this moment she clung to the last chance for life with 
such restoring tenacity that her recovery was finally accom|)lished. To 
add to her grief, her husband was taken prisoner by the Indians. A 
silver plate mended her fractured skull, and she lived to become the 
mother of si.x children. Mrs. Sproul well remembers her brave grand- 
mother. About 1850 Mr. Sproul bought a farm in Pennsylvania; in 
the spring of 1857 he sold it and emigrated to Illinois, settling in Wy- 
oming township, where he purchased 240 acres in Sec. 27. A tract of 
eighty acres was partially improved, the remainder was wild land. 
The house then on the place has a history. It was built entirely of 
hard wood, spiked together in the most substantial manner, and after 
being several times moved to different localities has probably found a 
permanent stopping-place in Paw Paw, where it is owned and occu- 
pied for a residence by John Briggs, being evidently improved by its 
itinerancy. Mr. Sproul has a neatly improved and well stocked home- 
stead, fenced with growing hedges, which contains thrifty orchards and 
good buildings. lie is a first-class butter maker, and the products of 
his dair^' bring the highest prices in Baltimore, Philadelphia, St. Louis, 
and New Orleans. lie received the first premium at the Missouri 
state fair, held in St. Louis in 1878. He gives most careful personal 
attention to this business and his abundant success is but the natural 
result of his industry and good judgment. By his last marriage i[r. 
Sproul has three children : Mary Jane, wife of W. L. Shumaker, Eu- 
phemia E., and Sarah Margaret, now Mrs. John R. Crandall, living in 
Clay county, Kansas. Mr. Sproul is a democrat, and his whole family 
belong to the Presbyterian church. 



WrOMING TOWIs^SlIIP. 749 

William Moffatt and Brotiiek, fanners, importers and breeders 
of stock, Paw Paw, were tlie sons of Josepli Moffatt, wlio was lost on 
tlie steamship Canadian in tlic straits of Belle Isle, June 4, 1861. 
The steamer struck an iceberg and went down in forty-tive minutes. 
William was born in Ontario county, Canada, August 24, 1837, and 
the mother died wlien he was five years old. There were three chil- 
dren younger than he; Robert and Mary Jane were twins, and the 
latter died suddenly at the age of seventeen. After the death of the 
motlier the family remained together and labored in unity, and in this 
•way could help one another, making all more prosperous. The father 
■was a thrifty, energetic man, and left a farm for each of his children. 
They all received a good education in the excellent common schools 
of their native place. These brothers have been in company since 
their arrival in the States, in March 1871, and have made a specialty 
of breeding thoroughbred stock. The}' resided three years in Cuyahoga 
county, Ohio, and in March, 1874, moved to this township, where they 
])urchased 430 acres of land. Their farm contains a number of com- 
modious buildings adapted to their business. We noticed a barn 100 
feet long, one building 40x60, and another 36x44. The latter is en- 
larged by shed-roof additions. The Moffatt brothers keep an average 
of thirty-five horses, seventy-five head of cattle, and a choice herd of 
Berkshire swine. They have imported eight horses the present season. 
" Johnny Ladd," four years old, imported in 18S0, weighs nineteen 
liundred pounds and is valued at $3,000. In 1878 they competed at 
Freeport against fourteen herds and received the higiiest premium. 
Calves have been sold from their herd for $300 apiece, and their sales 
of horses in the last year have amounted to more than $12,000. Rob- 
ert was married October 23, 1800, to Annie E. Leming, of Yorkshire, 
England. He is a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 205, A.F. and 
A.M and is a republican in sentiment, but has not yet taken his natu- 
ralization papers. Robert Moffatt, the African missionary, was a 
cousin to his father, and a daughter of the missionary was the wife of 
Dr. Livingstone, the explorer. 

Jonx BrciiAXAN, tarmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Sterling- 
shire, Scotland, December l.'i, 1815, and was the son of William and 
Janet Buchanan. His father was a soldier in the English army; he 
enlisted about the time of the battle of Waterloo for twenty-one years, 
and served under Wellington. When seventeen years of his service 
had expired he accepted the offer of a discharge, accompanied with a 
land warrant, instead of serving his full time and receiving a pension. 
He was an excellent scholar and bookkeeper, and could have been pro- 
moted to high positions but for the fatal habit of intemperance. The 
subject of this notice was reared by his grand])arents, and when twenty- 



750 HISTORY OF LEE COLNTY. 

one 3'ears old emigrated to Simcoe countv, Canada "West. lie lived 
there from 183C to 1850 leading a backwoodsman's lite in tlie main, 
driving ox-teams, and working with axe, auger, hoe, and chain imple- 
ments. In 18.50 he came to Wyoming township, accompanied by his 
father, and his brother William ; here he bought from the government 
240 acres of land in Sees. 17 and 20, and began breaking and raising 
crops. He still owns the same place, and all the improvements on it 
are tlie work of his own hands. As illustrating the rapid growth in 
value uf real estate in this part of the country, and how men's wisdom 
has been outdone by the prodigious improvement of recent years, it 
may be mentioned as a curious fact that Mr. Buchanan was once of- 
fered IGO acres of land adjoining his farm for $200, but supposing it 
to be worthless refused to buy. The same land would now sell readily 
for S50 an acre. Mr. Buchanan was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Wooley 
September 15, 1855. Their children, four in number, are Janet, Will- 
iam Henry, Mary, wife of Henry Calkins, and Charlie. Janet is af- 
flicted with total deafness, but converses readily with her mother by 
watching the movement of her lips. She is a ready writer, intelligent 
and interesting, and has a large correspondence. Mr. Buchanan is a 
democrat, and has been a Presbyterian some twenty years. One after- 
noon in 1860 his brother William took his fowling-piece and startt d 
out to shoot a crane. He did not return when he ought, and a violent 
thunderstorm having arisen in the meantime, it was supposed he had 
taken shelter at a neighbor's, so no search was made. At length, how- 
ever, he was tbund dead west of tiie house, and it was evident that he 
had been accidentally shot while getting over a wire fence. The shock 
was so great to his father that his feeble frame gave wa}' and he died 
the same week. Mr. Buchanan was now alone without a relative in 
America, but being in a kind community he has found the best of 
friends. 

JouN Haudino, lumber dealer and justice of the peace. Paw Paw 
Grove, was born in Exeter, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, August 14, 
1831. At the age of sixteen he left home and entered a store as clerk 
his employer giving him $00 a year, and by close economy he managed 
to attend school one term each twelvemonth. Afterward he obtained 
a scholarship in the Wyoming Seminary, located at Kingston, in his 
native state, and was in attendance there about three years. In 1854 
he was at the Xew York Conference Seminary in Schoharie county. 
All this time the voice of Horace Greeley was ringing in his ears, " Go 
west, young man, go west," and in 1855 he left the Empire State to 
seek his fortune in this section of the country. Ilis journey terminated 
in Wyoming township, where he engaged in teaching school south of 
the grove. After a residence here of tour years, he returned to the 



AVYOJIING TOWNSHIP. 751 

bosom of his cliildhood, sijending there his summers on the farm witli 
his father and mother, and his winters in pedagogy. In 1S62 an un- 
godly rebellion was scourging the land, and a pressing demand for help 
came from Uncle Sam. Securing at once letters of introdnction to 
prominent men in Washington, he proceeded there in search of a posi- 
tion on public works, and was attached to the engineer corps at Camp 
Baker and Long Bridge. After nine months in that place he returned 
home, and on July 21, 1864, was drafted, and on August 1 paid a 
commutation of §300. On the 2-tth he was mustered into the United 
States service as recruiting officer of Pennsylvania volunteers, holding 
the rank of second lieutenant. He mustered in seventy-three men ; 
then went to Harrisburgh and was mustered first lieutenant of Co. G, 
210th reg. Pa. Vols., and on September 15 he joined the 5th Corps 
under command of Gen. Meade. He was in battle at the South Side 
railroad October 28, and again February 1865, and was wounded while 
commanding his company at Hatcher's Run, February 6, by a musket 
ball passing outward and backward through his right elbow joint. 
Having received a furlough, he went home, but returned to the army 
in time to witness the last gasp and to help close the eyes of the de- 
funct slave-holding confederac}'. His active military life ended on 
May 18, 1805, when he was mustered out under general oi'der No. 82, 
and special order No. 238, of the war department ; but he was present 
at the grand reviews of the two armies of Meade and Sherman, which 
occurred respective!}' on the 23d and the ilth. On his return from 
the war, being solicited by his numerous friends in Luzerne county to 
present himself as a candidate for assemblyman, he did so and received 
almost the unanimous support of the convention, and became the 
nominee. It was a democratic "deestrict" and he M-as defeated by a 
majority for his opponent of 221 votes. Again the silvery voice of the 
patriarchal Greele}' resounded in his ears, and again his steps followed 
the setting sun, and brought him to Wyoming township. At the close 
of the war he received $1,705, which represented his savings, and on 
reaching Paw Paw, in October 18<j5, he formed a partnership with 
John Colvill, in the mercantile business. After about four years he 
sold to his partner, and in 1872 began dealing in coal, lime, and agri- 
cultural implements. In 1871 he bought the old store formerly used 
b}' Colvill & Harding and moved it to a lot south of the highwaj', 
with a view of fitting it up for an implement warehouse, but it was 
demolished by a high wind, and he was forced to replace it with a new 
structure, which he shortly after disposed of to W. C. Runyan. March 
1, 1876, he united in a copartnership with L. Potter under the name 
of Potter ik Harding, and carried on the lumber business until Jan- 
uary 1, 1880, when he bought his partner's interest, and since that 



752 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

time lias continued alone to deal in lumber and plastering materials. 
Mr. Harding stands prominently in the ranks of those who take a large 
interest in the welfare of the town, and anything necessary to its de- 
velopment never lags for lack of substantial encouragement from him. 
He has been useful to many who were endeavoring to secure perma- 
nent homes, b}' selling them lumber on easy terms when they were 
unable to pay cash. As the result of successful industry and economy 
he is the owner of considerable town property, and enjoj's a good 
home. 

E. G. Cass, editor and proprietor of "The Lee County Times," 
Paw Paw Grove, is a native of Illinois, having been born on a 
farm near Grand Detour, Ogle county, on October 14, 1S58. His 
parents, Jerarael and Sarah Maria (Grover) Cass, were born in Mary- 
land, Otsego county, Xew York; the former April 2S, 1817, and the 
latter June 2C, 1822. In January, 1860, the family moved to Henry 
county, and settled at Galva, where Mr. Cass received his first school- 
ing. In 1867 they went to Dixon, and there the subject of this notice 
attended the north side public school until November 20, 1870, and 
being a ready pupil made rapid and solid advancement. Up to this 
date his life had not been marked by incident, but being of an active 
and industrious habit and turn of mind he cherished a desire for man- 
ual as well as mental employment, and immediately went to work in 
the printing-office of W. M. Kenned}', of Di.xon, and continued there 
iintil September 1877. During the whole time he was not out of the 
ofhce two weeks, except for sickness, and now steady confinement and 
want of recreation had so told upon his health that he was constrained 
to quit work altogether for several months. In January, 1878, he 
formed a partnership with J. B. Gardner, and took control of " The 
Paw Paw Herald," then the property of its founder, R. H. Ruggles, 
of Mendota. Five weeks afterward the office was sold to its present 
proprietor, and Messrs. Cass & Gardner, on March 21, issued the first 
number of " The Lee Count}' Times." They also started the " Comp- 
ton Record." In May they began the publication of " The Lee Moni- 
tor," for the village of Lee. In August Mr. Gardner retired, and Mr. 
Cass has since carried on the business alone. In April, 1880, he com- 
menced the issue of a paper for Earlville, called "The Leader." Mr. 
Cass was but nineteen years old when he engaged here on his own 
account; and having readily worked up a large paying subscription 
list is evidence that he has conducted his business with ability and 
success. He is in high standing as a man and Mason. In 1880 he 
was secretary of Corinthian Lodge, No. 205; in April, 1881, he re- 
ceived the chapter degrees in Mendota, and was created a Sir Knight 
of Bethany Commandery, No. 28, in the same place. 



WVOMINft TOWNSHIP. T53 

James Fonda, blacksinitli and fanner, Paw Paw Grove, was born 
at West Troy, New York, October 29, 1816. His parents, William 
and Abigail Fonda, were both taken awa}-, and James was left an 
orphan at nine years of age. His school privileges were so limited 
that at eighteen he conld read and write only with difficulty. After 
four years' serving at the blacksmith's trade, he was mariied, in De- 
cember of 1837, to Alsina Bacon, a well-educated lady, who greatly 
assisted him. She died May 1, 1852, leaving six children. His sec- 
ond wife was Jane E., daughter ot John Hendricks, of Wayne county, 
New York. At the date of his first marriage he was eight dollars in 
debt, but at the time of his second marriage he had saved up some 
$2,500. This was the result of hard work at his trade. Brandling 
out now he managed, besides his blacksmithing, a large farm and saw- 
mill. In his heavy business he met some severe losses, but was in the 
main successful. In 1867 he sold out, moved to Paw Paw Grove, 
and bought what was known as the Christie farm, one of the oldest in 
this region. He still owns this form, now well known as " Fonda's 
Corner." Besides this he also owns property in the village where he 
now resides. Mr. Fonda had two sons in the service of his country, 
both in New Y'ork regiments. Fitch Fenton Fonda, the eldest son, 
enlisted, in 1861, in the 69th New York, was under Gen. Hancock, 
and taken prisonera t Petersburg at the time of digging Dutch Gap 
canal, and, after enduring the barbarities and untold suffering of 
Audersonville four and a half months, he was released from the tor- 
tures of starvation by the silent messenger death. Edwin B. Fonda, 
the second son, enlisted in the l-lTth New York, passed through a 
severe run of typhoid fever, was severely wounded in the battles of the 
Wilderness, under Warren, in Gen. Grant's campaign ; came home, 
but returned again after partial recovery. Being a fine penman, he 
was then detailed as secretary to the quartermaster, and served to the 
close of the war. He is now an engineer on the Union Pacific rail- 
road, with his hcadqiiartcrs at Omaha. Another son, James H., is 
engineer on the same road, with his headquarters at North Platte. 

Jacob Epla, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, son of John and Elizabeth 
(Derr) Epla, was born in Rockingham count}-, Virginia, January 9, 
1820. His father was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain. 
His parents were poor, and there were no schools, except an occasional 
one supported by subscription, but he made the most of his meager 
opportunities and tolerable progress in the elementary studies, though 
he was not a pupil between the ages of eleven and twenty-one. The 
clothing he wore in his boyhood was all made from flax raised by his 
father, and wrought into cloth by the industrious and tireless hands of 
his mother. He tells how in those days every girl had a spinning 



754 irisTOKY OF lee CUUXTY. 

wheel and went about to do work with it at 75 cents and si a week. 
In September, 1S37, the subject of this sketch came to Champaign 
county, Oliio, and hired out on a farm for $7 per month. In 1840, 
being yet six months in liis minority, he paid liis father §30 for this 
time, and made, as he facetiously says, §5 by tlie speculation, which 
was his only capital at majority. He came with a younger brother on 
foot to Terre Haute, Indiana, on September 1, 1840, where he hired 
for a year to work on a farm. This was the hardest year's work he 
ever did. He and his brother picked liftecn acres of corn, cleared and 
fenced twenty-three acres of heavy timber and had 7,000 oak rails left, 
cut sixty cords of wood, and burned 200,000 brick. The two following 
years he worked in the same neighborhood. He was married ilarch 
2, 1841, to Catherine Farnham, daughter of James Farnham, of Edgar 
county, Illinois. He rented land, followed teaming, and bought forty 
acres in tiie dense woods, clearing ten and building a cabin. This 
property he traded for a team in February 1845, and at once set out 
for Lee county, Illinois. He rented from Charles Pelcher that year 
the farm of 120 acres where the Oak Grove Creamery is situated, and 
also received from the government a patent for forty acres of the farm 
he now owns on Sec. 9, in AVyoming townsiiip. The cluster of hard 
maples standing in his yard were set out by him the same season. His 
present house was built about 1857. He enlarged his farm to 200 
acres, but has conveyed forty of this to his son Josiah, who is occupy- 
ing it. For six or seven years after coming to this county Mr. Epla 
was engaged in teaming much of the time. He hauled wheat to Chi- 
cago and sold it for 40 cents a bushel, and brought back goods and 
lumber, which he says he has "hauled all over these prairies." In an 
early day, about 1840, Mrs. Epla's brother started from Paris in Edgar 
county, this state, for Paw Paw with a load of apples, and though 
traced fifteen miles notiiing was ever afterward heard of him. ilr. 
and ilrs. Epla have been the parents of five children. They have 
buried two, and the living ones are Sarah, wife of E. M. Babbitt; Jo- 
siah, and Mary, now Mrs. Isaac Christie, of Iowa. Mr. Epla is a repub- 
lican, and past-grand of Anchor Lodge, I.O.O.F. 

Lester Harding, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1815. He traveled through this 
section of country and visited friends here in 183t> and again in 1839. 
April 28, 1842, he was married to Miss Jcrnsha Hall, daughter of Jon- 
athan Hall, of his native county. In 1840 he moved from there with 
his family, and was thirty -six days performing the journej*. In passing 
over nearly the same route since, b}' the improved means of travel, 
which consumed onl^' thirty-six hours, he could not refrain from notic- 
ing the striking contrast, and reflecting on the wonders of the age in 



WYOMIXG TOWNSHIP. 755 

which we live. Mr. Harding's father, Isaac Harding, settled here a 
3'ear prior to his arrival, and purchased from the government 100 acres 
in See. 9, Wyoming township. Sixty acres lying in the northwest 
quarter he conveyed to onr subject when he came, and this he still 
owns and occupies. He built his house in ISttS, hauling his lumber 
from Chicago. Mr. Harding and liis father both promptly acquired 
high places in local influence and public confidence. The latter had 
been here but a short time when he was elected to the responsible 
office of county commissioner, and was a member of the court and as- 
sisted to divide the county into townships, when that system of local 
government was adopted. Mr. Harding himself was the second sujier- 
visor of Wyoming township, and held that trust five years. Besides 
his services in that position he has filled every other township office. 
In 1858 he was elected sheriff of Lee county, and discharged the duties 
of that position three years. Politically Mr. Harding is a democrat, 
and it is a fact worthy of remark that he and Judge Charters are the 
only men of that persuasion who have been elected to a county office 
in Lee county in twenty-two years. In 1861 Mr. Harding went to 
Colorado, and from thence in the spring of 1863 to Montana. In the 
spring of 186.5 he visited British Columbia, and arrived home in Octo- 
ber after journeying sixty days. A mine which he sold for $1,000, in 
three months after the sale yielded $8,000. Mr. and Mrs. Harding 
have had five children ; three are living and- have their homes in Ne- 
braska. One son and a son-in-law are engineers on the Union Pacific 
railroad, and live at North Platte. The recently deceased wife of John 
Colvill was a sister to the subject of this notice. A brother of his is 
Garrick M. Harding, president judge of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. 
Daniel M. Hakris, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Giove, was 
born in Cayuga county, New York, July 9, 1825. His parents were 
Daniel and Miriam (Page) ILarris. In September, 181:6, Mr. Harris 
came to this township, and bought the farm he has since occupied, as 
well as a part of the farm opposite, the two pieces being in Sees. 5 and 
8, making 120 acres altogether. He returned to his father's place in 
New York, and on November 18, 181:8, was married to Christee Ann 
Adeline Carmer, of Auburn. In the following spring tiiey came to 
their prairie home in the west, and the same season built the small 
part of the house now owned by the Potter heirs, known as the " red 
roofed house." About 1851 they erected the small part of the house 
they now occupy. Two stages passed their place daily. In wet sea- 
sons it was not uncommon for Mr. Harris to have to get up at night 
and hitch to the stage with his ox-team, while the passengers with 
rails in hand lifted at the wheels, when a lift and a pull together would 
bring the stalled coach out to firm footing. In those times, says Mr. 



756 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Harris, his family rode to churcli at South Paw Paw behind yoked 
oxen, they not yet liaving begun to kee|) horses. Tiiese excellent peo- 
ple are the parents of three children : "William Arthur, Evart M., living 
in Marshall county, Kansas, and Dale E., at home. Mr. Harris has 
been commissioner of hiolnva3's several years, and is now school trustee. 
He was deacon in the Baptist cliurch of Paw Paw nine or ten years, 
and is a republican in politics. Mr. Harris is held in high esteem by 
all who know liim. 

W. A. CoNAXT, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Chenango 
county, July 2i, 1832, and the sou of Eliliu and Jeanette E. (Johnson) 
Conant. His school advantages w'ere quite fair, and included two 
terms at Glens Falls. He never liad any ditficulty in keeping at the 
head of his classes. He came to "Wyoming township in the spring of 
1849, was married to Charlotte L. Erwin, of Shabbona, and settled on 
See. 27. He bought 200 acres, and ha^ since added to it till now he 
owns 640 acres. They have three children living: Sarah Jeanette, 
Mary Elizabeth, and "William Terry. Sarah is Mrs. Simon Mann, of 
the Chicago Stove Works. Mr Conant has one of the largest and best 
farms in the county. Mr. Conant enlisted in Co. K, 75th reg. 111. 
Inf , and did three years" faithful service. He was in the engagements 
at Perryville, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ring- 
gold Gap, and the Atlanta campaign. He was wounded at Perry- 
ville. At. the reunion of Co. K, September 27, 1881, when a perma- 
nent organization was formed, J. C. Uowlett was elected president, 
"William A. Conant vice-president, and James H. Thompson secre- 
tary and treasurer. Another item of Mr. Conant's history is given 
elsewhere in this work. To that the writer gave careful investigation, 
and has given the facts. These speak for themselves. 

Isaac B. Bekry, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, son of 
James W. and Mai-garet (Baldwin) Berry, was born in Onondaga 
county. New York, March 24, 1813. He was raised on his father's 
farm, and at the age of fifteen moved with his parents to Oswego 
county, where he left home four years later to learn the carpenter and 
joiner trade in the cit}- of Oswego. In the fall of 1S30 he came to 
Ottawa, Illinois, worked at his trade a few months, and then went to 
Chicago, where he remained till the next autumn. From there he 
went to Warrenville, then in Cook but now in Du Page county, took 
a claim and impioved it, and lived twenty-five years. He was mar- 
ried in that place to ^lary Louise Ward, who survived only two years. 
In 1.S56 he celebrated his second marriage, with Harriet E. Rogers, of 
Naperville. His two children arc L. Louise, and Mary E., now Mrs. 
W. A. Pratt. In 1862 Mr. Berrv came to Lee countv and bought 
314 acres of land lying in Sees. 4 and 5, in Wyoming township, and 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. < 07 

in 32 and 33 in Willow Creek. Our subject is a republican in 
politics. 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

The civil township is cotcrminus with the congressional, which is 
38 X., R. 2 E. of the 3d P.M., and comprises thirtj-six sections of 
the choicest fanning land in the most delightful prairie situation in 
the world. The physical features present a pleasing outline wherever 
one may go. Standing upon either extremity of the valley of Willow 
creek, he sees une(|ualed farms running ^back upon the Jong slopes 
and across the ridges, which lose themselves in the general elevation 
of the country, all stretching far away in gorgeous beauty of land- 
scape. The morning sun in hazy autumn bathes the surface in spark- 
ling tints and mellow radiance, and the blue horizon receding into 
faint lines displays a misty trace of groves and hedges against a back- 
ground of watery sky ravishing to the view of animate brush or pen- 
cil. Elsewhere than upon the borders of this stream the country lies 
in bold undulations, excepting a narrow strip on the south side. 

Four bodies of woodland are situated in the township, namely: 
Smith's Grove, Allen's Grove, and the Twin Groves. The first lies 
in Sees. 3-i and 35, niostlj' in the latter; the second chiefly in the 
N.W. ^ of Sec. 36, which it mostly covers, and the other two in Sec. 
17. The larger of the Twin Groves belongs about equally to the 
southeast and the southwest quarters, while the smaller occupies the 
center of the northwest quarter. Side by side they stand ; their name 
had an obvious origin. The others are named from first permanent 
settlers. 

Willow creek takes its source in Wyoming township, crosses the 
line into this a mile and a (juarter east of the southwest corner, and 
flows north in a circular course, passing through Twin Groves. On 
the farm of L. G. Durin, on Sec. 7, it bends directly west, and a little 
lower down on the same section is joined by East Branch. This cuts 
the east boundary at the southeast corner of Sec. 12, runs southwest to 
the corner of Sec. li, and thence northwest nearly to the point of 
union with the first stream. Native willows found growing upon the 
banks of this water-course suggested the name for it, and when the 
township was organized no more appropriate name for that could be 
adopted than the one borne by the principal creek. 

The population is a mixture principally of Americans, Norwegians 
and Germans, the first predominating, and the second constituting 
one-third of the whole. The thrift, industry and intelligence of the 



758 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

inhabitants are conspicuously manifest. Bj tlie last census onl3' four, 
and these old persons, were found unable to road or write. 

The enumeration was made in ISSO, by Thomas Xelson, Esq., and 
showed that tiiere were 1,214 souls in the township. One-half the 
number is of foreign birth. There were 172 farms and 190 farmers. 
Compared witii other sections, the improvements in Willow Creek 
township are of the first order. Hardly a farm but has a tasteful and 
spacious dwelling; and the favorite red barns, large and heavily built, 
contrast pleasantl}' with the wiiite-painted residences. Planted groves 
have been reared with universal care, and the willow hedges, which in 
this township so closely approximate perfection, are the glory of the 
landscape. 

The township was settled nearly simultaneously at all the groves. 
Peter Gonzolas, a Frenchman, from Dutchess county. New York, 
came in the fall of lS3fi, and made a claim of the Slioudy farm, at 
Alien's Grove. He remained onl}' two or three years, and then disap- 
peared suddenly; some say he went west to join the Indians. Before 
his departure he sold his claim to Richard M. Allen. Tliis was the 
first farm improve'd in Willow Creek township. To the neighboring 
grove came an excellent family in 1837. These were the Smiths. The 
head of these was John Smith, from Argyleshire, Scotland, who had 
been educated for the ministry. He arrived in August, and bought a 
claim in Sec. 35, from James Armour. A prior claim to tiiis land had 
been made by a man named Cameron, who sold it to Armour. Neither 
of these squattci's was here long, the stay of each being too short to 
com])el the erection of a cRbin. A few logs had been cut, and that was 
all that had been done. The claim which Mr. Smith purchased in- 
cluded all of "Dry" Grove (a name given because no creek was near 
it) except a few scattering trees. This name was borne until 1838 ; 
wlion tiie country was surve^'ed into townships in that year the grove 
was designated as Smith's Grove in the field notes. John Smith was 
the first settler at this place, and erected his cabin close to the spot 
wiicre his son David's house now stands. In December following the 
family suffered a great misfortime in the loss of this dwelling by fire, 
togctiier with their clothing, bedding, money, and a large and valuable 
collection of books. It was roofed with mowed grass, and in this 
covering the fire caught. This was the second house erected in the 
township and the first burned. Another was built right awaj-, some 
ten rods east of the first. Death entered the Smith household about 
three weeks after their settlement here. John, the second son, was 
the first to be laid in the familv burving-ground. This was the first 
death of any white person in the township. Robert and David Smith 
occupy parts of the original claim which belonged to their father, and 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 759 

together own the greater part or the whole of the grove. The fatlier 
died at the old homestead in ISCO. A part of tlie house where David 
Smith lives, on the home place, was put up in 1855. Uncle John Col- 
vill, of Paw Paw, came from Scotland with the Smiths, to whom he 
is related, and made his home with tliem some years at first. With the 
national aftection of the Scotch for home-ties, and their tenacity to 
things of the past, John Smith, same in attachment as the ancient 
Scotchman who, on emigrating to Canada, tliought he could never 
sleep so well on any other as on his thistle bed, brought it with him 
only to throw away, by which last act lie propagated a dangerous pest, 
— brought also the favorite all-iron plow, supposing, doubtless, that not 
another plow in all the world could turn a furrow like that which turns 
the glebe in Scotland. But the Scotch plow, like manj' Scotch notions, 
had to be straightway abandone,d on reaching the new west. At that 
time the steel plow had not been invented, and the then common im- 
plement could not be used at this day, except its use should be com- 
pelled by imminent starvation. What glories shine about thy path- 
way, O Progress ! 

Dick Allen, who succeeded Gonzolas, and gave his name to the first 
settled grove in the township, was a character who could boast no 
savor3' reputation. Horse-stealing and counterfeiting w-ere the means 
of livelihood to the criminal class, whose ranks were full. These law- 
breakers were not separated from the rest of men, if we except a few 
of the more diligent ringleaders, who were constantly roving in their 
occupation of crime ; but they were settled down and living, scattered 
everywhere among better people. This could not have been but for 
sparse settlement, which limited the power of the friends of order. To 
the extent of that limitation the immunity of the others was enlarged, 
and their ability to commit crime and avoid its consequences was still 
more augmented by their dispersion through every community. Each 
was deeply or not in the business, according to his personal energj^ ; 
and while these men could not so much escape observation as not to 
be suspected, it was generally impossible to discover enough against 
them to insure conviction. It was likewise quite impossible to calcu- 
late with certainty on bringing an offender to justice on evidence rea- 
sonably complete, because allies whom the penalties of perjury were 
powerless to restrain were not wanting in any place. Besides, officers 
of the law had been known to be confederates. Allen lived in a log 
liouse and kept tavern from the first. The grove was thickly grown 
up to hazel brush, and was a safe and easy trj'sting-place for these men. 
The neighboi'hood was exempt from their robberies, a shrewd precau- 
tion to render their retreat more secure. The tavern was simply a 



760 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

station where shelter, refreshment and concealment were supplied to 
this class from a "fellow feeling which makes men wondrous kind." 

We do not know the date of Allen's departure, hut he was followed 
at this place, we are told, by a man named Price. Israel Shoudy came 
in 1844, bought Price's claim, and has lived on the place until this 
time. 

In 1839 Horatio G. Howlett came from Dixon, where he had been 
living two years, and settled at this grove. He is still on the same 
ground enjoying the golden autumn of a busy life. Having spoken of 
the insecurity of property in the first settlement of the country, an an- 
ecdote of Howlett is apposite to the subject. David A. Town was 
elected justice of the peace, and Mr. Howlett constable, with the 
understandin<r that neither should e.xact anv fees in civil cases. These 
two men were the inspiration of vengeance in the eyes of those who 
set the law at defiance, and were chosen to their offices because it was 
well known that they would act with vigor and decision. One day 
Town sent Howlett a warrant for the arrest of a man named Lovelin, 
charged with horse-stealing. He went to Allen's house and was told 
that Lovelin was in the field plowing. Securing the horse, and putting 
him under guard of another, whom he instructed to take deadly aim 
with his rifle on Lovelin the moment he should give the order, he went 
to the field and read the warrant to the man. He was pointedly told 
by the criminal that he would not go with him. Howlett, unperturbed 
by this, told him that he could do as he pleased about submitting; that 
he supposed Lovelin was armed, while he himself was not ; but he 
should take the horse, saying this with much determination. Lovelin, 
feeling that he had been victorious thus fai-, promptly replied that 
Howlett would have to pass over his dead body before he could touch 
the animal, and both started for the stable. The instant they arrived 
Howlett demanded his surrender, and receiving a defiant refusal 
ordered his man to draw a bead at his heart, and to tire when ordered ; 
then taking out his watch gave him barely a minute to submit to 
arrest. His hands began to twitch nervously in token that bravado 
had given place to fear, and he tamely yielded to be liandcufFed. Then 
was taken from him a huge bowie-knife, and pistols. He was bound 
over, but gave bail and was released. Soon after, he further compli- 
cated his situation by stealing Allen's wife and horse. He was caught 
by his bondsmen, with Allen's assistance, and lodged in jail at Syca- 
more, lie broke out, and lay in a stream of water until nearly dead, 
to avoid discovery, but was subsequently retaken and lodged in jail at 
Galena. One day when the jailor's little boy carried his victuals to 
him he succeeded in getting out of his place of continement, and catch- 
ing the child in his arms ran to the top of the clift near by. When the 






f/-^ 



WILLOW CEEEK TOWNSHIP. 763 

sheriff started in chase he halted him below, and, holding the child be- 
tween them, made a clever speech in which he conceded the right and 
duty of the sheriff to pursue and recapture him, but pointed out that 
he could have no personal motive in so doing beyond that involved in 
his otficial obligation, and added that liberty was dear to himself; that 
he was now free and should continue so at any cost ; and wound up 
with the terrible threat that if followed another step by the officer he 
should dash the child down the precipice upon the rocks below. With- 
out recourse, the sheriff naturally enough desisted from the pursuit, 
and the desperado escaped. The only word of him ever received here 
was when he was in jail in St. Louis on another charge of stealing. 
Judges Caton and Drumraond, who used to pass Allen's Grove travel- 
ing from court to court, told Mr. Howlett of this last episode. This 
was the first arrest of a horse-thief in Lee county. 

The Lidian trail from Ottawa north to the hunting grounds in 
Wisconsin ran through Allen's Grove. The Indians were once paid 
their annuities by the government at this place. 

Twin Groves were first named Moore's, from William Moore, the 
earliest settler there, who began his improvements in 1837 at the south 
grove. James Thompson and Levi Lathrop came together as early as 
1842, and in partnership bought Moore's claim, on which he had thirty 
acres of plowed land. Moore was paid $50 for the timber claim where 
the Thompson homestead has always been and aunt Amanda still re- 
sides. It is described as the N.W. ^ of S.E. i Sec. 17. Not long 
afterward Mr. Thompson bought out Lathrop's interest. He received 
a patent for this land, dated July 1, 1845, and three years later another 
for the S.W. J of S.E. J. Eobert Blair, by marriage brother-in-law to 
Mrs. Thompson, came here from Malugin's Grove with those we have 
mentioned, and bought a claim to part of the north grove, but never 
purchased it from the government. About 1850 he moved back to 
Malugin's. He died at the house of Mrs. Thompson in the present 
year, 1881. The first birth at Twin Groves was a son of his, Robert 
Blair, in 1846. On his settlement here Thompson improvised a shel- 
ter with rails^a rail pen, — and covered it with straw; lived in it sev- 
eral weeks. This was succeeded by a log cabin, scarcely better tor some 
time than the pen, but after chinking the crevices with rags and sliut- 
ting out the free and often raw winds, they lived along in unchecked 
comfort until the rank grass and weeds, which grew in the humid at- 
mosphere of the grove to the height of a man's head, began to decay 
and give their juices to the air; then every one of them fell with ague 
except Mrs. Blair. 

These first settlers were here tliree or four years before others 
began to come, and their nearest neighbors were at Malugin's Grove. 
45 



764 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Then George Wise and Isaac Gardner, brotliers-in-law, started im- 
provements at the north grove; tliey did not stay long, but sold to 
Mark R. Averill. Wise went to California, and Gardner to Florida. 
Averill's residence here was also short, for in the winter of 1853-4 he 
moved to Paw Paw, and embarked in trade, having first sold his land 
to Jacob B. Fisher, who came in the antnmn of 1853. 

Cummings Noe was an early man at Twin Groves, and settled 
there, as near as we can learn, in 1846. He first set up in a pen simi- 
lar to Thompson's, wiiich he did not think of calling a house. His 
home for many years was on the place now owned by B. F. Ells- 
worth. He and Mr. Thompson and James Smith entered, from the 
government all of the south grove. Tiiis is now owned by Mr. 
Thompson's widow and William Dunkelberger. Jacob Fisher's 
widow and L. H. Durin are the present proprietors of the north grove. 

The settlers here had at first only Indian trails to guide them 
across the billowy prairie. The earliest white man's road, though 
never surveyed, was one staked out by Erastus Noe, from Twin 
Groves to Hickorj' Grove, and used many years. Hogs were found 
running wild in these woodlands before any person came to make a 
home. They probably strayed away from a distant owner, or were 
lost from a passing drove. 

In the summer of 1847 James Smith and Nathan Koons left 
Franklin county, Ohio, and came to this township. The latter made 
a home in the extreme southwest corner, and still owns the original 
homestead. The former settled at Twin Groves on a tract of 300 or 
400 acres which he had previously entered. Joseph Barnhardt came 
in company with these men. The only buildings at the groves on 
their arrival was Noe's hasty cabin, already noticed, and Thompson's 
log cabin and hen-house. Tiie immigrants made a descent on the 
hennery, drove out the fowls, and occupied the building to sleep in, 
wiiile they still took their meals in their wagon. It is said they were 
homesick. Doubtless. Next day Shabbona and his tribe came that 
way. It was in the month of June, still the wind was raw and chilly, 
and this grand old chief, and as many of his followers as could, hud- 
dled behind the wagon for shelter. 

Before departing from Ohio Smith cut a willow walking-stick and 
announced his intention to plant it when he should arrive at his pros- 
pective home; and, unmoved by the jibes of his skeptical friends, he 
predicted over and over again with great confidence that he should 
raise an immense quantity of timber from it, and realize thousands of 
dollars. He was not wide of the mark. Cutting the cane into four 
pieces, he set them in the ground, and in a few years had willows for- 
ward enough to furnish a good many cuttings, which the people were 



"WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHTP. 765 

glad to get. During the war a man from Galesburg, named Piatt, 
bought up the trees growing in this region, prepared and shipped the 
cuttings in car-loads to all parts of the west, selling them at a good 
figure, persuading patrons that in willows were just the right quali- 
ties for live fence. For some two years this was a thriving specula- 
tion, and gave many hands employment. This townshij) has miles 
upon miles of willow hedge growing in great beauty and perfection. 
It has been so much a tavorite for the reason that it furnishes a great 
amount of wood and timber in a short time, as well as a tolerable en- 
closure of land, that osage orange has not been able to make any con- 
siderable headway against it, although vastly superior for the single 
purpose of fencing. 

As early as ISiT Jesse Koons arrived from Ohio, and A. N. Dow 
also settled here. 

Samuel Eeese, a 3'oung man, came now to live at Mr. Thompson's. 
Probably the next year, James Stubbs, a bachelor, and a married 
brother reached this community ; the latter died not long after, and 
the other moved to Mendota. Cyrus and John Goff came as early, 
and lived here a few years. The former located his house between 
the two groves, and kept tavern on the route of travel between Ottawa 
and Pochelle. L. H. Durin and Gilbert Durin, brothers, came from 
Vermont in 1849, and settled here, the former on his present home- 
stead. The latter has removed to Steward. These are men of sub- 
stance and great respectability. Ira Durin did not come till some 
years afterward. He was a useful citizen and office-holder, who has 
now moved away. 

"Wesson Holton, another Green Mountain Yankee, located his family 
northwest of the groves in 1S52, and was many years employed in mill- 
wrighting. He has taken an active part in the public afiairs of the 
township and held various" important offices. He sent three sons to the 
army in time of the late war. 

"William L. Smith arrived in 1853, or earlier, and James A. Harp 
the next yeai'. Mr. Harp held township office several terms. The 
first arrival of Byrds, who settled on the north side of the township, 
was in 1853. They were from "Virginia. There would be nothing to 
say of them had they s^'mpathized with their country in the dark hour 
of pro-slaverv, treason and rebellion. Louis P. Braithwaite came in 
1853, and Louis P. Smith in 1854. 

Returning now to the neighborhood of Allen's and Smith's Groves 
we mention the later settlers without regard to the order of their arrival. 
Dr. Basswood came about IS-K) and remained four or five years. Na 
thaniel Allen and his family came in 1845. His sons were Harrison, 
Nathaniel, Chandler, Ephraim, and Alonzo ; and he had four daughters. 



766 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Chandler did not reach here until the following year, when he entered 
tlie land where he now lives, the S. i of S.W. ^ See. 26, and the X. ^ of 
N.W. ^ See. 35. Benjamin Nettleton had settled here as early as this 
period. Isaac C. Ellsworth, a Vermonter, emigrated from Ohio in the 
spring of 1846. His son Benjamin he had sent in advance the autumn 
before with a drove of stock, being compelled by tlie extreme drouth 
of that year to remove it from that state. Ellsworth settled on Sec. 34. 

Cliristopher Vandeventer, formerly from New York, arrived here 
from Michigan in 184S, coming with a two-horse team, and driving 
sheep and cattle. He made his home where he at present lives, on the 
S. E. ^ Sec. 24, and built a log cabin. At that time not a house stood 
between his own and Broady's Grove, 17 miles north. His father set- 
tled at the same date east of the grove, in De Kalb county. 

As near as we can ascertain the following persons located themselves 
in the neighborhood of these groves between 1846 and 1855: Matthew 
Atkinson, Perry Atkinson, Amos Atkinson, McNabb, Richard R. 
Walker, Andrew Stnbbs, Freeman Crocker, Daniel Maxwell, Sylvanus 
Staples, Prince Stevens, Hugh Wells, George Clark, Richard Clark, 
John Piatt, and AHonzo Osborne. Jeptha P. Mittan settled in the 
southwest part of the township about 1850, and is still residing there. 

In the east ])art of the township settlement was made on Willow 

creek by John B. Briggs in 1851, and John H. Bacon and E. E. Bacon 

about 1854. Briggs' location was on the northeast corner of Sec. 14, 

and the Bacon last named was a little higher up, on the same side of 

the stream, where he planted a large nursery and did an extensive 

business. 

GERM.\NS. 

In the first half of the middle period, as we regard it, German im- 
migration set in, and the first of that nationality to settle in Willow 
Creek was Gotlieb Hochstrasser, in 1854. A little later, and probably 
the same year, was Joseph Herman ; in 1856 Frank Bates, Frank Her- 
man and John Herman came, and in 1857 a second Frank Bates and 
Areheart Hochstrasser. These were all the Germans who arrived up 
to this date; after a short interval others made their appearance, the 
most conspicuous of whom is John Yetler, in 1859. Xext year George 
Erbes, one of the solid and reliable men of the township, brought his 
family. 

At the present time these people number nearly 200, and for thrift 
and good citizenship are unsurpassed in any part of the country. 

NORWEGIANS. 

Ommon Hilleson, the first Norwegian immigrant to Lee county, is 
regarded with so much pride by his countrymen as to suggest the 



"WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 767 

attributes of a Scandinavian deity, and a little notice of him at the head 
of this article will not be out of place. He reached our shores in 1837, 
and walked all the way from New York to Chicago. From the latter 
place he started for the Norwegian settlement on Fox river on foot, but 
being overtaken by a covered wagon filled with men, women and chil- 
dren, and being invited to ride with them, got in. He was by this time 
able to understand a little English, and when two of the men got out and 
walked behind and talked together about his money, their real character 
and intentions were revealed to him. He had some money, and no doubt 
his situation was uncomfortable, until a man and a woman driving a 
team providentially overtook them, when he leajjed out as the charmed 
bird flies when the spell is broken, and sprang into the other wagon 
without a word of parting to the one or of introduction to the other. 
His leap in the dark had brought him to good footing, for this time he 
had not fallen among thieves, but among some of his own people going 
home to Fox river, and his journey thither was happily relieved of 
further unpleasant incident. It has a singular seeming, but is never- 
theless a verity, that with scarcely any knowledge of the English ver- 
nacular he left all his countrymen behind and pushed forward to Lee 
Center among strangers, not in habit, sentiment and nationality only, 
but in language also. This shows him to have had the truly pioneering 
spirit ; he could not have been less than a pioneer. Having obtained 
work there, it was not long till he was able to start independently, and 
he settled in Bradford township, where he became wealthy, and his 
widow, Elizabeth Hillison, yet resides. In course of time, as a certain 
consequence, other Norwegians came and settled ai'ound him, and as 
their numbers increased they scattered out, many going early to Sub- 
lette township. The first to go was Lars Larsen Eisetter, in 1847, who 
was also the second to come to Willow Creek. 

The earliest Norwegian settler here was Amund Hilleson, a single 
man, who emigrated to Sublette in 1851, and having saved enough from 
his first years wages, in 1852 bought the N. E. J Sec. 15, his present 
home, at the government price of $1.25 per acre, and in the spring of 
1855 came on it to make his permanent residence. Toiling here year 
after year with the patient, unrelaxing industry of his class, he has in- 
creased in worldly goods and grown in the regards of the whole com- 
munity until there is no man who stands fairer, and none could more 
justly so than Amnnd Hilleson. He was followed early in 1856 by 
Lars L. Risetter, from Sublette, who had at this time been in the country 
long enough to secure a considerable start, and who located his femily 
on the S.W. J Sec. 15, which is now occupied by his son Lewis. The 
story of how Mr. and Mrs. Risetter labored with unflagging persever- 
ance in and out of doors, and bought and sold crops and land, combin- 



768 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

ing calculation with severe labor, and making for themselves in a few 
years a handsome fortune, as well as adding greatly to the consequence 
and prosperity of the township, is one that cannot be told in our nar- 
row space. But his neiglibors say, "No man made nionej- so fast and 
BO fairly by hard work and economy, and from large crops and the rise 
in values, as Mr. Risetter." 

The third Norwegian settler was Edwin O. Winterton, who im- 
proved the N.W. J Sec. 15 ; the fourth was Amund Cragowick ; the 
fifth was Thomas Hilleson ; the sixth was Lars Salmonson, who began 
his home in the center of Sec. 16 in the winter of lSGO-1 ; the seventh 
was Ole Olson ; then came Edwin Edwards in the spring of 1862, 
and bought the N. i of N.E. J Sec. 11 ; Lars Oleson in the spring of 
1863, and settled with his family on Sec. 10, where he at present resides. 
Christopher Oleson came about the same time, and in lS6-t Jacob Oleson 
began to improve the N.E. ^ Sec. 1. Heldor Nelson came to the N. 
E. i Sec. 2. and William Oleson to Sec. 16. Later arrivals, without 
regard to date or order, were Edwin Edwards, N.E. ^ Sec. 11 ; Heldor 
Eden in the same location; Lars Hilleson, S.E. J Sec. li ; and Nels 
Oleson, Peter Johnson, Allen Johnson, Andrew Eskland. Lewis P. 
Boyd, Lars Knutson, A'ick Winterton, Thomas Oleson, Christ. C. Alsa- 
ger, Hans Johnson, Jacob Edwards, Hawkin Risetter, Newt Boyd, and 
Thomas Nelson. 

There are now 400 of this nationality in Willow Creek township; 
and concerning the cultivation of the humbler arts of peace and the 
practice of the soldierlv virtues in war, this writer can say from per- 
sonal knowledge that few equal, while none e.xcel, them. 

PIONEER FACTS. 

Chicago was the first trading point for this part of the country, and 
people went with o.x and horse teams, singly and in companies, but gen- 
erally in companies, as it was not often that a team could make a trip 
without getting stalled at least once on the road, and it was of no little 
advantage to have hel]) at hand for every distress. Forty bushels of 
wheat made an ordinary load. When stuck in a slough the bags of 
grain had to 1)0 carried over on the teamster's back, and the fewer there 
were to divide the task, the longer and more arduous were the labor 
and detention. Sometimes the water was deep; then if there were 
wagons enough they were unloaded, placed end to end across the 
stream, and with the end-boards taken out formed a bridge that an- 
swered well the object of its improvisation. 

One time, when uncle John Colvill and David Smith were hauling 
grain to Chicago, their wagons got set in the mud and thej' had to 
carry the bags of wheat across the slough on their backs. In doing 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 



769 



this uncle John pulled off his boot-soles and had to go into Chicago 
barefooted. The hostler, just from Erin, viewing him from head to 
foot, in innocent wonder broke forth : "Where in the dickens part of 
the world did ye come from?" The bootless man felt that he must be 
in sorry plight indeed, but was skeptical of Pat's judgment when, in 
feeding tlie horses the rank, coarse slough-grass, then so common, he 
volunteered the information: "And sure and 'tis the biggest timothy 
that grows in this country." 

Usually a horse-team made the round trip to Chicago in seven days, 
stopping there just long enough to feed and do trading. Teamsters 
not infrequently took along cooked provisions and camped out at night 
■when the weather was good. Taverns were not wanting on the road, 
but the patronage dispensed to them made a heavy inroad into the 
profits and sometimes wholly consumed them. A pioneer of 1845 says 
there was then no room in Chicago to put up teams, that he had to 
sleep and feed his team in his wagon, because accommodations were 
inadequate. That was thirty-five years ago in a city than which not 
another in the world, say travelers, is better supplied with facilities for 
public entertainment. He had taken to market forty bushels of wheat, 
which sold for sixty cents a bushel, and he received twenty cents per 
bushel for hauling. His expenses were $3.50, leaving $4.50 for seven 
days on the road with his team. But occasionally a load of merchan- 
dise was brought back for hire, and this made a more profitable trip. 

After the opening of the Illinois and Michigan canal, Ottawa and 
Peru became trading centers, and when the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy railroad was constructed to Mendota, in 1853, a market was 
established still nearer, at Earlville. Only wheat and pork were hauled 
by teams to Chicago, the latter to be sold for $1 to $3.50 per hundred; 
but when these other points were opened to trade, corn and oats were 
sold there. Aurora was an important trading place, and a good many 
did business there, especially as it was where they often went to get 
grinding done. The grist-mills at Dixon, Fox Kiver, Binghamton, 
and Dayton's above Ottawa, drew custom from all this region. When 
one went to mill he took a full load, all the neighbors sending a grist 
by him ; he would be gone two or three days, and would not have to 
renew the journey until each of his neighbors had been to mill in the 
same manner. Cooperation was practiced in everything. In getting 
stock to Chicago neighborhoods made up droves together. How beau- 
tiful was the spirit of this period ! The pioneers avow in sad agree- 
ment that if they had the power they would 

" Roll back the tide of time, and raise 
The faded forms of other days." 



770 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

The first roads in the country were laid ont ou Indian trails. The 
Chicago and Galena, and the Ottawa and Rockford roads were survey- 
ed mainly along such traces. 

In the beginning Galena exceeded Chicago in size and importance, 
the lead mines there attracting men in pursuit of labor from parts as 
remote as the Wabash and the lower Mississippi. Mr. H. G. Howlett 
has seen as many as twenty teams togettier pass Allen's Grove in the 
spring going to Galena, where they would remain through the summer 
and return in the fall. 

For many years buffalo bones were numerous in low places, and 
the first settlers were told by the Indians that before any of the whites 
came the buffjiloes perished one hard winter. This was the winter of 
1830-1. Snow fell to great depth and blew into immense drifts ten 
and twelve feet deep. The cold was intense and prolonged. For 
more than forty daj's under a beaming sun the eaves of the cabins far- 
ther south did not run. The buffaloes resorted to the low places for 
tall grass, and great numbers never got away. The following winter, 
though less severe, was remarkable as well for exceeding inclemency. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first school at Allen's Grove, the earliest in the township, was 
taught in 18-18 by Miss Martha Vandeventer, sister to Christopher 
Vandeventer, in one of Israel Shoudy's log houses. Mr. Shoudy had 
several of these and was keeping tavern at the time. A Miss Nettle- 
ton and Miss Laura Brace kept school in the same place a little later. 
In the autumn of 1819 a frame sciiool-house was built by subscription 
on nearly the site .of the present one, the land being donated by 
Shoudy; and the next winter the first school was taught by Miss Clara 
Price. Miss Smith, of Shabbona, was an early teacher in this house, and 
Israel Shoudy says uncle John Colvill trained the shooting ideas of the 
young in the same place. 

Tiie first school ever taught at Twin Groves was in a log cabin in 
James Thompson's dooryard, the one which he put up on his settle- 
ment there. The name of the first teacher is swallowed up in time 
unless, as has been suggested, it was that of the widow Stubbs, who 
was an early tutoress. Miss Maria A. Ilolton, now Mrs. B. F. Ells- 
worth, tauglit in this cabin in the summer of 1853. The Twin Groves 
school-house was built in 1851 by the joint efforts of a number of indi- 
viduals, and in the autumn of 1857 was purchased by the district at 
auction. In the winter of 1863-1 it was burned down, and the pres- 
ent house was erected the following summer. Miss Mary J. Fisher 
taught the first term in the new house. 

The Ellsworth school-house was built in the spring of 1855, says 



WILLOW creek; township. 771 

Mrs. Eilswortli, who kept the first school tliat summer. Joseph 
McCoy hauled the shingles and finishing lumber from Earlville, and 
the house was regularly used for religious worship. Another occupies 
the old site, and David Smith has the old building for a shop. 

The Vroman house was built not far from the same time of the 
last, and Miss Helen Vroman was a teacher in it a number of terms. 

The Norwegian parochial school was established in 1866 as a part 
of the Lutheran church system, having for its object the education of 
the children so that the}' can be taught the catechism in the language 
of their fathers. In the beginning the sessions were held in private 
houses; next in school-houses during public vacations. The Lutheran 
community embraces parts of Alto and Willow Creek townships, and 
is divided into three private districts for select school purposes. Six 
months' school are held each year, one half in the spring and the other 
in the fall. Those living in Alto, and nine families in Willow Creek 
near the town line, constitute the Alto district, and hold their school 
in Union district. No. 10. They have had two and one-half months' 
every year since it was instituted. The third, or south district, which 
has occupied the school-houses in districts No. 5 and 7, has had two 
and a half months', leaving one month for the village of Lee, where 
the term is held in the public school building. The school was organ- 
ized by the Rev. C. G. P. Peterson, preacher in charge, an able scholar 
and divine. Rasmus Rasmusson, a good old man in the congregation, 
took control of it for a month and until a regular teacher could be 
found. The first was Thomas Nelson, u'ho has taught more or less up 
to tlie present time. The following other teachers have also been em- 
ployed at various times: Hendrickson, Christopherson, J. Gossendal, 
Iver Faiiebust, E. Teffre, S. W. Weeks, J. J. Maakkestad, and another 
who was a student at the time. Only one instructor is employed in 
the same period; he teaches first in one district and then in another. 
The school is maintained by subscription, and has about 100 pupils, 
divided among the three districts. The scholars attend the English 
public schools regularly. The south district built the present year 
(1881) a private school-house, 18x26, on the southeast corner of 
Sec. 15, at a cost of nearly $500, including furniture and fixtures, neat 
patent seats being among the latter. Holden Risetter donated one-half 
acre of ground for the building site. 

The present township treasurer is E. W. Holden. His report for 
the school year ended June 30, 1881, shows nine public school-houses 
in Willow Creek, and an estimated value of school propertj' of $5,550. 
Number of children under twenty-one years of age, 581 ; between six 
and twenty-one, 372; enrollment, 304; principal of township fund 
$6,525.08; tax levy for schools, $1,558.68. 



772 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

POST-OFFICES. 

This township has had two country post-offices. The first was the 
Willow Creek office, called b^' the people " Twin Grove," where it was 
established, as near as we can ascertain, about lb49. llobert Blair was 
appointed first postmaster, but as he moved away about that time he 
never handled any mail. It was actually established at tlie house of 
one of the Gofis, who liad it for a short while, and until he removed, in 
ISoO. Gilbert E. Darin now took it until some time in 1853, wlien 
it passed into the hands of William L. Smith. After keeping it for a 
time he deputized a man named Beckwith, who turned out to be a 
peculator, and tiien he took it back to his own house. It is said that 
James Harp was the next postmaster, and that when the office again 
changed hands it went to Squire Ira Durin's. We cannot follow all 
the changes with certainty, but are told that a William Moore was 
postmaster at one time. B. F. Ellsworth was the incumbent from 
Jul}', 1866, to 1S73 ; the office then went to A. H. Knapp's, and from 
there to Adam Miller's, when it was discontinued about 1875. 

The South Willow Creek post-office was established in time of the 
war, and was kept by Hiram J. Abrams, on the south line of the town- 
ship, and on Sec. Si. It was kept up until about 1873. 

PIONEER WORSHIP. 

Pious hearts raised altars to the Most High, and companies of peo- 
ple came together at convenient intervals for public devotion. Elder 
Baker, a transient Presbyterian, was the earliest regular preacher at 
Allen's Grove that we have heard of, and held meetings in the Shoud\' 
school-house. Occasional services by the Rev. Cantield and Elder 
Wood, of Earlville, and an e.xhorter named Olmstead, antedated Elder 
Baker's ministrations. Wood and Olmstead were Methodists. It was 
the custom of these men to visit all the neighboring settlements, and 
the}' preached at Twin Groves as well as here. Elder Smith and the 
Rev. James Price should also be mentioned. Classes were formed at 
the school-houses after the inhabitants had become numerous enougli to 
have such meeting-places and to establish an orderly system, but all we 
can say is that what was done was for the good of souls and the glory 
of God, for few traces remain of actual occurrences, and the recollec- 
tions of the good fathers and mothers in Israel refuse these treasures 
out of the abundance of their forgetfulness. How quick is the good 
forgotten ! How long doth the evil remain ! 

The first sermon at Twin Groves was preached by a Methodist 
minister from Rochelle. The Rev. Richard Haney was the first circuit 
preacher, and came there with tolerable regularity. He was extremely 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 773 

fond of wolf-hunting, and never missed an appointment when circum- 
stances flivored a good catch. On one occasion he secured seven of 
the animals, which he dug out of their burrow. Elder Wood preached 
at the groves several years subsequent to 1853; when he began we 
have no means of knowing. The Revs. Davids and Roberts labored 
there regularlj' anterior to 1860. 

POLITICAL AND WAR HISTORY. 

Formerly what is now embraced in Wyoming, Willow Creek and 
Alto townships was a part of Paw Paw precinct, and elections alter- 
nated between Malugin's and Paw Paw Grove. After the adoption 
by the county of township organization, in 18-±9, this territory was 
formed into Wyoming, whose dimensions were not changed until 1855, 
when Willow creek was organized with its present bounds, including 
the area of Alto township. 

The first annual town meeting was held at the Twin Groves school- 
house in district No. 3, April 3, 1855, and was organized by the appoint- 
ment of Ira S. Durin as chairman ; A. N. Dow was elected moderator, 
and G. Bishop clerk, and they were qualified by E. Woodbridge, justice 
of the peace. The recorded proceedings show that besides the election 
of officers, the running at large of stock and penalties relating thereto 
were the chief subjects acted upon. 

In 1861 Willow Creek was reduced one-half in size by the organiza- 
tion of Alto township. 

Until 1860 the polls were held at the Twin Groves school-house ; 
the next two or three meetings, including two special ones, were at tiie 
Yroraan school-house ; then they were moved to Allen's Grove ; and in 
1865 back to Twin Groves. In 1867 and 1868 the Vroman house was 
again the polling place, and in 1869 the Center school house, the meet- 
ings going back again for two years to the Vroman, and in 1873 to the 
Center house. In 187-1 the election was at the red school-house, and 
the ne.xt year at Adam Miller's. At the town meeting in 1874 a reso- 
lution was presented by C. M. Bacon and adopted, instructing the town 
board to take the initiatory step toward ]nocuring a building lot for a 
town-house near the center of the township, and to report to the next 
annual meeting the probable cost of each, a site and a hall. John 
Tetter, supervisor ; L. G. Durin, assessor; Dwight Davenport, town 
clerk, and Robert Tliompson and H. G. Hewlett, justices of the peace, 
reported that one acre on the southeast corner of Sec. 16 could be pur- 
chased for $150, and that a building 20x34, with 12-foot posts, would 
cost about $800. A vote was taken whether to buy and build, result- 
ing witli 50 in the affirmative and 47 in the negative. The house was 
erected the same season, the whole property costing the township $1,100. 



774 



HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 



Tlie annual meeting in 1S76 organized at the nearest school-house and 
then adjourned to the new town-house. 

At a special meeting held at the Vroman school-house October 16, 
1S69, to vote upon the cjuestion of subscribing to the capital stock of 
the Rock River railroad, 1 vote was cast in favor of and 2i against the 
proposition. Another called meeting was held at the same place on 
March 26, 1870, to vote for or against taking stock of the Chicago and 
Iowa Railroad Company to the amount of $50,000, on the condition 
that they should construct their line within one mile of the center of 
the township. On this proposal 75 votes were recorded in its favor 
to 51 against it. The company failed to comply with the condition of 
the agreement, and the township was thereby released from its obliga- 
tion. Willow Creek is flanked by these two roads, which furnish all 
the inhabitants convenient markets without their taking any of the 
burdens. 

The following township officers have been elected from year to year : 



Tear. 


Si;PERTISOR. 


Tows Clerk. 


Assessor. 


Collector. 


1855 


Robert Smith 


G. E. Durin 

Ocorgc Bishop 

James A. Harp 

James A. Harp 

.Tames A. Harp 

A. 0. Smith 

A. C. Smith 

M. N. Dunton 

James A. Harp 

Chas.E. Hall 

Dwisht Davenport..., 

Dwight Davenport 

Dwight Daveuport. . . 
Dwight Davenport — 
Dwight Daveni)ort... 


Prince Stevens 


William Bvrd. 


1856 


Wt■p^ion Holton 

Wessiiii Udlton 

Wesson HoltOQ 

Chas. H. Hall 




1857 
1858 


Chas. U. Hall .. 

Chas. R. Hall 


William H. Dow. 
Hn"h Wells 


1859 


L. 15. Durin 

William Sutton 

Benjamin Kettlcton.. 

William Sutton 

L. G. Durin 


Hu.'h Wells. 


181)0 
ISIil 
186-J 
18fii 


James A. Flarp 

•JamtiiS A. Harp 

Beijj;imin Neltletou .. 
Henjamin Ncttk-ton .. 

Ira S. Durin 

Wesson Holton 

Wesson Holton 

Wesson Holton 

Wesson Uolton 

Wesson Holton 

.John Yetlcr 


J. p. Millan. 
William Bvrd. 
Charles Miller. 


18ti4 


L. G. Durin 


U. I^ Daveuport. 


18(15 


L. G. Durin 


18(>6 


David Smith 


J C Howlett. 


18t)7 


David Smith 


O. B. Jone*. 


18U8 






180!) 

18T0 


David Smith 


B. F. Ellsworth. 


1871 


J. C. Howlett 

B. F. Ellsworth 

B. F. ElNworth 

Dwight Davenport 

Dwight Davenport . . - 
.1. C Howlet* 


Adam Miller 




187J 


Joiin Yftler . . .... 


C. M Bacon 


R. Wells. 


1873 




C. M. Bacon 




1874 


John Yettor 


Robert Smith 


George Beemer. 


1875 




L. G Durin 




187B 


John Yetter 

John Yetter 

J. C. Howlett 


.Adam Miller 


W. H. Brvant. 


1877 


J. C. Howlett 

R. J. Thompson 

R. J. Thompson 

R. J. Thompson 

R. J. Thompson 


Adam Miller 




1878 
1879 


W. W. Brittaln 


L. P. Bovd. 
L. P. Bovd. 


1880 


J. C. Howlett 

J. C. Howlett 


Adam Miller 


Robert Hopps. 
Robert Hopps. 


1881 









In 1861 C. M. Bacon was appointed town clerk, vice A. C. Smith, 
who moved awa}-. The following have been elected justices of the 
peace, and possibly a few others whom the defective records do not 
enable us to identify: in 1855 Ira S. Durin and Henry Bishop; 1858, 
H. C. Holcomb; 1860, Joel C. Jackson ; 1S6l>, Ira S. Durin and C. M. 
Bacon (the latter did not qualify); 1865, R. II. "Walker; 1866, M. G. 
Phillips; 1867, L. G. Durin ; 1868, ■William H. Dow and Hugh Wells; 
1870, "William H. Dow; 1872, H. G. Howlett; 187?., "W. Holton : 1874, 
H. G. Howlett; 1877, R. Thompson; 1881, "W. H. Emmett and 
Thomas Nelson. 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 775 

During tlie war the tires of patriotism burned briglitly on the 
altars of tiie country, but nowhere more brightly than in Willow 
Creek. She lavished the flower and strength of her yeomanry upon 
the greedy appetite of war, and the anguished rents in her Spartan 
firesides tell what woful work was done in the ranks of her sons by 
ghastly disease and red-handed carnage. Those who remained at 
home — the old men, the wives, the mothers, the sisters -upheld the 
hands of the government with exalted devotion. 

A Union League was organized late in 1862, when it was feared 
that the state would be invaded by foes without, and convulsed by 
enemies within. A membership of about seventy was formed into a 
company, of which Nathaniel Nettleton was the captain-president. 
Andrew Stubbs was the marshal of the organization, which assembled 
generally at Allen's Grove and Vroman's school-house, and was drilled 
by John Edwards, of Paw Paw, a veteran of the Mexican war. After 
the presidential election, in 186i, the league fell into neglect. 

Before the close of the war the township voted a bounty of $600 
to every volunteer who should be credited to Willow Creek after that 
date. No draft soiled her garments. 

We annex a list of the soldiers who went from this township in 
the time of the war, and though it may not be without error, it is be- 
lieved to be as correct as it can now be made with no records for 
authority. 

N. Chandler Allen, Alonzo Allen, Harrison Allen (also in Mexican 
war), David Anderson, Dewitt Abrams, Devalson Abrams, Sylvester 
Bidwell, John Paisley, George Paisley, William Paisley, G. S. Priggs, 
Adin Priggs, John Britton, Alpheus Peemer, Charles Bennett, Reu- 
ben Pactil, Joseph Parnhard, Pigelow Parnhard, Lewis P. Poyd, 
Grin Sisco, Levi Cashner, Robert Donaldson, Alexander Donaldson, 
Frederick Erbes, John Edgar, John Ellsworth, Lewis M. Fairchild, 
George W. Girard, Ehrhart Gehrig, James C. Ilowlett, George Hol- 
lenback, Edward Hollenback, Charles E. Hall, Moore Hess, Santee 
Hess, Edmund W. Holton, Densla Holton, Chandler G. Holton, 
George Hochstrasser, Orlatido Jones, Andrew Jackson, Sivert John- 
son, Morris Johnson, Joseph Keugular, Zephaniah Keugular, Nelson 
Larsen, S. S. Linton, Jonathan F. Linton, F. C. Mason, Peter Mittan, 
Chauncey Mittan, James Miller, William Miller, Merritt Miller, 
Clement Miller, Frank Mills, Francis Mills, William Mills, Amos 
Noe, William Noe, Hamilton Nichols, Thomas Nickleson, William 
Nettleton, Daniel Nettleton, Penjamin Nettleton, Nathaniel Nettle- 
ton, Jacob Schwab, Alexander Schwab, Jacob Smuck, Charles Stein- 
brook, George Seymour, William Steele, Thomas Steele, John Shoudy, 
John Smith, James B. Smith, Bayard Smith, Alexander Smith, John 



776 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Uiiger, David Vronian, Robert Vroman, Abram Van Patten, Irwin 
Vandeventer, William Yandeventer, Cliristopiier C. Vandeventer, jr., 
Robert Weils. 

TORNADO. 

The toi'nado of Sunday, June 3, 1860, struck tliis township about 9 
o'clock at night, midway of the west line of Sec. 18. William Cutts 
was within eight}- rods of it when it left the township; he says the 
noise was not unlike the rattle and clatter of a freight train when 
standing close to it, except that the former was tremendous in vohime. 
Boards, plows, harrows, timbers, reapers, stoves, furniture, earth, 
stones, animals, — everything that it could gather in its way was whirl- 
ing, dashing and crashing with a thundering roar and force that filled 
the ear with a sound of picturesque terror, as much as if heaven and 
earth were battling for the same space at once. Andi'ew Stubbs, 
standing out of its range as it went by, saw it first several miles west, 
and describes its appearance as it approached and passed. 

The night was moonlit, and from where he watched the tempest 
the moon was visible throughout. Massive pillars of flaming cloud 
were piled from earth to sky; the top was a sheet of fire; shafts of 
electricity, as large to view as a stovepipe, poured in hideous currents 
down the seething mass of inky blackness, presenting a sight of sub- 
lime horror. 

The first liouse in Willow Creek which received its fury was Abram 
Miller's near the township line. It was unroofed, then taken up, car- 
ried over the well and the stable, but failing to clear a straw-stack was 
overturned and scattered in all directions. The occupants were Mr. 
Miller, Mrs. Miller, and two small children. The mother lay some 
time under a part of the roof in an insensible condition, having sus- 
tained considerable injtirics. None of the others were much harmed. 
The children, sound asleep in their beds when the shock occurred, 
were blown twenty-five rods into a wheat field, where one of the little 
fellows was found shouting lustily that all the windows were broken 
out. A tin boiler standing beside the house, full of water, was not dis- 
turbed ; and a book of receipts, brought from Iowa, was picked up on 
the farm. Gilbert E. Durin's place was the second reached. His 
house stood nearly out of the path of the electric monster, but a small 
addition was snatched awav and dashed into fragments. James Nealis 
and another man were blown into the tops of some locusts in the door- 
yard, and the former was cut so badh' in the thigh, on a scythe hang- 
ing upon a limb, that he bled nearly to death. A. X. Dow's premises 
were the ne.xt to sufier. His house was seized as if it had been a toy, 
carried into the air and turned roof downward, going to pieces in utter 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 777 

wreck. Eight persons composed this family, and all were more or less 
hurt, one child having an arm broken. 

The moving column raised slightly at Twin Groves, through the 
south one of wliicli it tore a gap ten to twenty rods wide, leaving the 
undergrowth but little disturbed, while twisting, splintering and inter- 
lacing the taller trees, mostly stalwart black walnuts, in the wildest 
disorder. The damage to the timber fell chiefly on "William Smith. 
Thompson's house, a very heavy structure, was unroofed, and the large 
building moved on its foundation. His strong corn crib and two log 
stables shared the general ruin. A man named Schieler, living on 
Thompson's land, had his house demolished, and all seven of the family 
were severely injured, and horribly begrimed as if violently rolled and 
dragged in fine dirt. 

From this point to Sec. 14 lay a stretch of prairie, and no injury 
to life and little damage to property were done ; but there a house 
belonging to William Bacon, occupied by Allen Johnson and his sister, 
Norwegians, was wrecked. The inmates, on the first appearance of the 
storm, had luckily gone to a neighbor's, and thus escaped its terrible 
fury and danger. 

The county line was reached midway of Sec. 13, and here at Allen 
McConeky's the most painful 'destruction was accomplished. It was 
now between nine and ten, and the family had retired. Rain had been 
falling hard but calmly before the crash came, and Mrs. McConeky 
arose to attend to keeping it out of the windows. The wind began to 
rise, and in a few moments so increased that she remarked to her hus- 
band tliat the house would blow away. He sprang to her side at the 
window, and at that instant, she relates, she saw the east side of the 
house coming in upon them, but can remember nothing more, save that 
she was conscious of lying on the ground with a heavy weight resting 
upon her body. The house was shivered to^ atoms. Mr. McConeky 
was killed outright, also the eldest and the youngest boys. Another 
little son was terribly bruised, and all hope of his recovery was for 
some time abandoned. Mrs. McConeky had an arm broken. Horses 
and cattle were killed here as elsewhere in the path of the destroyer. 

In this vicinity a boulder weighing half a ton was lifted from the 
ground and carried some distance; but the most curious exhibition of 
power was at the point where tlie storm ended its work, three-fourths 
of a mile east of the county line. At this place was a piece of newl}' 
broken prairie. The farrows lay parallel with the direction of the tor- 
nado, and the toiigli sods were lapped up, twirled into a close bod}', and 
deposited forward in a pile of ten or twelve wagon loads. As if glutted 
with disaster, the storm now raised, and carrying on its dismal and 
solitary energies high up in the air, moved on to Lake Michigan, where 
it lost its identitv. 



778 HISTORY OF LEE COTJjn'T. 



COUNTRY CHURCHES. 



In 1868 a church under control of the Methodist Episcopal denomi- 
nation was erected on the soutliwest corner of Sec. 16, jointly' bj' the 
Methodists, Congregationalists, and United Brethren, and is called the 
Twin Groves Metiiodist church. The ground on which it stands (one 
acre) was conveyed by James Thompson and his wife Amanda, to 
James Thompson, Henrj' Lewis, Aaron Smith, L. G. Dnrin, and M. A. 
Eice, trustees, in trust for the Metiiodist Episcopal church. In con- 
sideration of certain subscriptions by the Congregationalists and United 
Brethren, they have a guaranty of use upon certain conditions set forth 
in the deed. A reservation in favor of the Methodist denomination 
empowers them to annul the joint ownership by refunding to the other 
societies the respective amounts invested by them in the edifice, when- 
ever they shall deem the sole occupancy of the house necessary. The 
building is 30x40, neat and shapely, with a high spire, and cost $3,500. 
Over half of this sum was subscribed in advance, and the remainder 
was secured at the dedication, delivering the societies from debt. Mr. 
James Thompson and aunt Amanda enjoyed the privilege of being the 
most liberal donors. Besides the site, the former contributed $1,000, 
and the latter $630. The house was built by the Rev. Seeley, Meth- 
odist contractor, who had taken to supplying pulpits in a manner not 
contemplated by Holy Writ; the terms of the contract were disre- 
garded, yet the work was accepted, and in 1874 it had become neces- 
sary to make extensive repairs, which amounted to $600. The dedica- 
tion was on November 9, 1868, and the services were conducted by the 
Revs. F. A. Hardin and A. P. Beach. The first regular Methodist 
preacher in this house was the Rev. C. C Combs,'aud tiie Rev. Brewer 
represented the Congregationalists. Tlie Rev. Wendell was one of the 
first, if not the first, who preached for the United Brethren. Among 
his successors there have been the Revs. Young, Bender, and two 
Lewises. Following Combs there have been the Revs. Curtis, Farm- 
iloe, Stoddard, Davis, Hoffman, Tibbals, Record, and others whose 
names cannot be given. Tiie Rev. Record began his ministry in 1879. 
The most important incident in the history of tiiis church was the pro- 
tracted effort in tiie winter^of 1868-9, lasting seven weeks and result- 
ing in over 130 conversions. The Rev. Combs conducted the revival 
on the part of tiie Methodists. Over 100 united with iiis societ}-. 
When he came on the circuit the Methodists here had only nine mem- 
bers, and these were all women ; but during his pastorate the number 
was swelled to more than 130, including those on probation. These 
were divided into classes, some of which have had regular preacliing, 
and have become as strong as the parent church. The membership 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 779 

has been reduced by removals to about eighteen. The Congregation- 
alists have nearly all left, and the United Brethren no longer have a 
class, but the neighborhood keeps up a Sabbath-school. The present 
trustees of the church are James Fisher, E. M. Pettenger, George A. 
Brittain, Richard Phillips, L. G. Durin, Caleb M. Bacon, and one or 
two others. 

The Congregational society, now disorganized, was first formed 
about 1S59. Some of the original members were Ephraim Durin and 
his wife. Harper B. Davenport and wife, Woodbridge, the Rev. James 
Brewer and wife, and Simon Cole and wife; Caleb M. Bacon became a 
member subsequently. The membership at no time exceeded seven- 
teen. This was organized under the Home Mission, from which it 
obtained aid ; and the first preacher was the Rev. Brewer; the second 
was the Rev. Henry Buss, and the third and last was the Rev. Breed. 
A salary- of $-200 a year was paid the pastors, and services were held in 
the Twin Groves school-house until the erection of the church. The 
society was involuntarily disbanded by the removal of members. 

In the spring of 1864 the Rev. Jacob Fowler revived the Prot- 
estant Episcopal society which had formerl3' been in existence, and 
brought together some fifteen constituent members. He was a man 
of kindly spirit and excellent character, and left behind him a reputa- 
tion as an able and faithful minister. Under his pastoral labors the 
infant organization grew to respectable numbers, not fewer than thirty 
or forty, including in the list of the principal ones Adam Miller, Samuel 
Argrave and wife, Winfield Argrave and wife, Abram Rosenkrans and 
wife, Lydia Miller, Joseph McCoy and wife, Henry Abrams, Jeptha 
Mittan, Nathan Koons and wife, and Alexander Beemer and wife. This 
work belonged to the Shabbona mission, and the first two years the wor- 
shiping places were the Ellsworth and Beemerville school-houses. In 
1866 the society, with the outside help furnished, felt itself able to 
raise a house of worship, and accordingly undertook that object. The 
house, 30x40, was built at an expense of S2,600 ; but a contribution 
of $1,800 was obtained in Chicago through the exertions of Elder 
Fowler. The dedication took place on Sunday, August 6, 1866. The 
Rev. Madison Handy succeeded as the second pastor, and during his 
charge also the church prospered. He, too, was a man of gentle 
spirit and manners, and was followed by the Rev. A. C. Wallace, 
whose earthly warfare unhappily brought the tottering society to a 
violent fall. Having become too weak to maintain preaciiing without 
assistance from other people, and being in arrears to the pastor in the 
sum of $500, he ])rocured a judgment in the circuit court, levied upon 
the church, and sold it under execution. It fell to him under the 
hammer, and he disposed of it in 1874, to the United Brethren society, 
46 



780 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

for tlie amount of his claim. Tliis house stands across the road in 
Wyoming township, on tlie X.E. ^ of X.W. ^ See. 6. 

The membership of the society now owning this building is con- 
tained almost entirely in Willow Creek, whicli name the society bears. 
The organization dates from 1857, with twelve original members. 
The tirst pastor was the Rev. Adams, the first class-leader C. Xoe, 
and tiie first trustees R. Hall, C. Xoe and PI. Lewis. The number 
of members is twenty-four. The present minister is J. L. Harri- 
son ; class-leader, J. M. Able ; trustees, R. Hall, J. M. Able and C. 
Allen. Fifty scholars form the Sabbath-school. 

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Lee county was 
first organized in the fall of 1858, by the Rev. Didrikson, who made 
one visit to Bradford township. The members were widely scattered 
in Sublette, Bradford, Lee Center, and Willow Creek, and meetings 
were at first held four times a year, and distributed to the several 
townships. The Rev. A. C. Preus came after the church was put in 
working order, and ministered to all the people of this faith. Meet- 
ings began to be held more frequently, and the worshipers here 
assembled at the Byrd and Twin Groves school-houses. The Luther- 
ans gradually left the other townships and settled in this and Alto, 
and when they erected their present church, in 1861, twenty or more 
families were in the community. We can mention the following: 
Amuiid Hillison, Lars L. Risetter, Lars Salmonson, Jacob Olesoii, 
Heldor Nelson, Jacob Peterson, Holden Peterson, Lars Oleson, Will- 
iam Oleson, C. Christopher, Edwin Winterton, Lars Hillison, Haakn 
Risetter, Thomas Hilleson, Christian Hillison Se.xer, Omund Oleson 
Cragvick, and the Boyds. The Rev. Preus remained over the con- 
gregation a year or two and gave way to the Rev. C. J. P. Peterson, 
under whose charge the church was built and the parochial school es- 
tablished. This church is the most graceful and stately edificoof the 
kind in the township. Its location, in a beautiful and commanding 
spot from which one may view the country for miles in almost any 
direction, adds much to its attractive appearance. A lofty, beautiful 
spire pierces the clouds, and arrests the eye at a great distance. The 
house is 34xC0 feet, substantially built, and cost §3,500. It is situ- 
ated on the northeast corner of the W. -J of X.E. ^ Sec. IL A parson- 
age of twenty acres on the town line is the property of the church, 
and is described as the E. ^ of N.W. ^ of N. W. J Sec. 2. It was pur- 
chased in 1870, for $40 per acre, and the same year the south part of 
the residence was built. In 1875 the main or front part was added, 
completing the building for §1,700. The present year (ISSl) a barn 
has been put on the premises at an expense of §200. The place is 
neatly kept and ornamented with evergreens and the common varie- 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 781 

ties of deciduous trees. Tiie deacons are H. Nelson and Vick Will- 
iams, and the trustees are Thomas Nelson, Einar Bner, L. Helland 
and O. P. Boyd. Since the Rev. Peterson the following pastors have 
been settled here : G. O. Jukam, P. A. Rasmusson, J. Tackle and J. 
Nordby. The salary paid is $450, which is increased by incidentals 
from baptisms, funerals and marriages to $600. The congregation 
numbers 460. A Sabbath-school is kept up through the pleasant part 
of the year, and at the present time it has a membership of seventy,, 
under the superintendency of the pastor, who, according to the custom 
of this church, has tiie charge of such schools. Instruction of the 
children for one year, beginning at the age of fifteen, is attended to 
one day in every week by the pastor, and is called " preparation for 
coniirraation." At the end of the course they are confirmed, and be- 
come a part of the visible membership of the church. In the church- 
yard a few graves have been made. The first burial was tliat of 
Thomas, son of Lars L. Risetter, who died September 23, 1864. 

The Zion church of the Evangelical Association belongs to the 
Rochelle circuit, and holds services once a fortnight. Its thirty-three 
members are all Germans. For six years prior to the organization, in 
1868, at the Byrd school-house, regular preaching was had there every 
two weeks by one or other of the following ministers : J. M. Sindlinger^ 
Henry Messner and L. B. Tobias. Some of the most prominent orig- 
inal members of the class were William Dunkelberger and wife, John 
G. Yetter, John Yetter and wife, Philip Yetter and wife, Gotlieb 
Hochstrasser and wife, George Hochstrasser, Julia Yetter, and Mary 
Hochstrasser. William Dunkelberger was the first class-leader. The 
society was organized by the Rev. John F. Shnee, who continued a& 
the first pastor. His successors iiave been the Revs. G. M. Young, 
John Schweizer, A. Gotschel, A. Strickfaden, C. Ghestatter, J. K. 
Schulz, and the present pastor, J. J. Lintner. The first trustees were 
John Yetter, William Dunkelberger, and J. L. Lutz, and the present 
ones are John Yetter, Christ. Rothe, and Peter Wagner. A flourishing 
Sabbath-school is well attended the year round ; seventy-three scholar* 
are now enrolled, with John Yetter as superintendent. Mr. Yetter ha» 
filled this responsible position ever since before the organization, and 
has been a class-leader in the church several years. The society owns- 
a tasteful and substantial house of worship, standing on the southeast 
corner of Sec. 5. It was erected in 1875 at a cost of $3,000, including 
the lot which it occupies. Tiie dimensions of the building are 32x46 
feet, and the dedicatory services were held by Bishop Jacob J. Escher. 

Mass was first read to the German Catholics by Father Westkam^ 
of Mendota, at the house of Peter Kimbler, about 1863. At that time 
there were Peter Buchholze, Peter Schneider, John Herman, Joseph 



782 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Herman, Frank Herman, Frank Bates, Thomas Down, Frank Bates, jr., 
Peter Kimbler, and six other families who joined in tlie organization. 
Only ten of these were permanently settled in the township. Father 
Westkam advised the immediate building of ajchurch, and nearly $2,000 
were at once subscribed. The next year a house built of stone and 
costing some $3,000 was erected on the northwest corner of the S.W. 
i Sec. 16; the main building is 26x40, with an addition sometimes 
used for a school in which the children receive instruction in the tech- 
nical education required bv their religion. John Harman donated four 
acres of ground for a churciiyard. The lirst priest who celebrated mass 
ill tins church was Father Nigg, of Mendota. Fathers Goldsmitii, 
(4obbels, Antlion Butter, Frank Schriber, Fralech, Joseph Baenak and 
Charles Halin have been the later celebrants. Father Ilahn, the offi- 
ciating priest at the present time, comes from Chicago once a month. 
Fifteen families now constitute the membership of the church. 

A German Lutheran society was organized in 1S70 by the Rev. 
William Ilalleberg, at the Byrd school-house, with the families of the 
following-named persons: George Erbes, Ehrhard Ilochstrasser, George 
flochstrasser, Godford Ghei'ich, Lewis Ghcrich, William Hackmann, 
Henry Schultz, Jacob Rubel, Jacob Scheinholtz, and John Scheiuholtz. 
Preachers have served this society in the following order: Kevs. Will- 
iam Halleberg, Charles Weinsch, John Feiertag, H. H. Norton, W. 
O. Oeting, and W. Krebs. There are now eight families who hold 
meetings at the Byrd school-house once in five weeks. They have a 
Sunday-school superintended by the pastor on preaching Sabbaths. 
George Erbes has been the trustee from the beginning. 

A society of Dunkards was organized at the Byrd school-house in 
1863. Occasional meetings had been previously held in other places. 
Tiie original members were eight in number, as follows: John Toft 
and his wife Margaret, Alva R. Harp and his wife Amanda, William 
Vroman and his wife Elizabeth, and D. C. Vroman and his wife Cath- 
erine. Their numbers finally increased to eighteen. The Rev. John 
Fillmore settled in the township soon after the organization and was 
the only minister the society ever had. A. R. Ilarp was the first 
deacon. Services were held at the Byrd, Beemerville and Twin Groves 
school-houses. At the end of three or four years the members removed 
to Marshall county, Iowa. An organization of Dunkards holds regular 
services still at the Byrd school-house. 

The subjoined notes relating to pioneer history should have appeared 
under their proper heads. As early as 1844, and from that date for 
eight or ten years, regular preaching was had at Allen's Grove. About 
1848 a Presbyterian society was formed, and maintained an existence 
several years. The Revs. Baker, Breed, and another, were the preachers. 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 783. 

Afterward a Methodist society was instituted. The Rev. Gammon, a 
Baptist, also held meetings at the Grove. 

A family of Littletons came to Smith's Grove near 1845, and the 
younger members lived there until recent years. A Scotch family of 
Platts arrived about 185-i from Aurora, but were originally from Prince 
Edward's Island. 

CEMETERIES. 

Besides churchyards and some private burial lots there are the Ells- 
worth and Twin Groves cemeteries, both desirable locations for sepul- 
ture. The former is on the south side of the public road and of Sec. 
34, and obtained its name from Isaac C. Ellsworth, on whose farm it 
was laid out. The other is situated on the S.W. ^ of S.E. J Sec. 17, 
adjoining the public road, on a prominence falling off on every side, 
and washed on the north by Willow creek. Mrs. James Thompson 
gave one acre and sold half an acre more for this site. It is held in 
trust by the school trustees of the township, who sell the lots for $5 
apiece. Several handsome monuments have been set up in this beau- 
tiful city of the dead. Each, Dnrin, Miller, Reesand Tetter, have one, 
and the Thompsons two. 

" The dead are here. I hear their steady throw 
Of shuttles moving in the upper sky, 
Weaving a fabric pure and white as snow." 

VILLAGE OF LEE. 

This flourishing village is situated in the counties of Lee and De 
Kalb, the part on this side of the line being on the northeast corner of 
the S.E. ^ Sec. 1. The Chicago and Iowa railroad was completed to 
this point in the autumn of 1871, and at once a movement was begun 
to inaugurate business. From a slight beginning has grown a live 
town, bristling with activity, running over with trade, and from which 
more produce is shipped than from anj' other station on the line. The 
population is largely, if not principally, Norwegian. 

The first building put up was a small one by Christopher & Jorgens, 
which was used for a grain office and grocery. J. Cheasbro built an 
ofhce at the same time and started trading in grain, coal and lumber. 
Both firms had tlieir offices up in the i'all, but transacted no business 
until after New Year's. R. J. White built the first store in the spring 
of 1872, on the northeast corner of Main and B streets, and soon after 
a post-office was established and he received the appointment of post- 
master. His partner, named Knight, sold out after three months to 
A. B. Trask ; the latter disposed of his interest to Ilenr}' Moore, and 
he to W. H. Bryant. The firm then added farm machinery to their 
trade. In 1874 White retired, and Mr. Bryant accepted the appoint- 



784 HISTORY OF LE£ COUNTY. 

ment of postmaster, and has been the incumbent of the office until now. 
After three years he disposed of his store, and lias since dealt only in 
agricultural implements. 

After "White, J. Johnson started next in a general store on the west 
side of Main, between A and B streets. In July, 1872, the railroad switch 
was finished ; freight began at once to be delivered, and tiien the place 
took a sudden advance. Abel Downer opened the third general store, 
including a stock of drugs, on the southwest corner of Main and B 
streets. Ostewig & Leyder started the same season in hardware. 

The first dwelling was built by James Minnihan in 1872; the next 
March W. H. Emmett erected the second; and in 1874 others went 
up, among these Mr. Christopher's, east of the track. 

Frank Bacon built a hotel on B street, in the early winter of 
1872-3 ; in 1874 A. B. Trask built the second, which is now the only 
place of public entertainment, and is called the Clifton House, a well 
kept establishment, of which John A. F. Lambert is proprietor. 

The north elevator, built by J. Cheasbro, went up in the tall of 
1872, and immediately in the winter following Christopher & Jorgens 
erected the south one. The first butcher shop was opened on B street, 
east of the track, in 1872; next year William Finton moved it onto 
Main street, north of B, where he has enlarged it, and now occupies it 
for a market and dwelling. Miss Margaret Edsall, first milliner and 
dress-maker, opened rooms in 1873. The present drug store, kept by 
W. F. Forbes, was built in 1873 for a saloon, and the next year moved 
to its present location on B street. In 1873, also, Lars Holland put up 
a wagon shop, and Iverson & Espe a smithy. These shops and the 
elevators were on the east side. The same year X. D. Schoenholz built 
a harness shop, L. L. Risetter a store and dwelling on the southeast 
corner of Main and B streets, Lars Midnes a notion store, Knudt Ty- 
son a photograph gallery, and Trask a store and dwelling, first occu- 
pied by C. H. Eathburn, and afterward sold to John Dyas for a saloon. 
Cheasbro sold his elevator and lumber-yard this year to McLean, West 
& Co. 

Stevens and Prestegard built a hardware store on Main street in 
1875, and B. II. Skoyles began the grist-mill, finishing it the next 
year. In 1879 Christopher & Jorgens remodeled their elevator and 
put in a stationary engine and wood-working machinery. Tlie present 
year (1881) Sardis Vosburgh erected a handsome brick store on the 
northeast corner of Main and B streets. This is the first brick struct- 
ure raised in Lee. 

The village was incorporated in 1874, and the first board of trus- 
tees, consisting of James G. Boardman, Arthur McLane, William R. 
Baumbach, A. B. Trask, and W. H. Bryant, held their first meeting 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 785 

August 11. McLane was chosen president, and Jolm Johnson clerk of 
the board. The trustees for the current year are P. P. Hill, president; 
William W. Hallett, clerk; W. H. Enimett, T. P. Dalton, H. W. 
Johnson, and K. O. Ostewig. This town, no more exempt than others 
from annoyance, has been, like them, plagued with the saloon nuisance. 
In the spring of 1S7S the party opposed to licensing the sale of liquors 
came into power, and have since that time been in the ascendancy. 
This good achievement was originally due to the revival efforts of Mrs. 
Trego, from Ohio, a temperance lecturer who came and held meetings 
two weeks. 

The first school was opened in December 187-i, in the Dyas build- 
ing, with W. H. Emmett as teacher. In the summer of 1875 Miss 
Eva Brj'ant taught the school in the Midnes building, and the follow- 
ing winter it was kept in the same place by Henry W. Davidson. In 
the spring of 1876 Miss Margarett Edsall taught a term in the shop 
she had formerly occupied in the millinery business; and that summer 
the district built the present school-house. In this building Miss 
Hampton kept the first terra ; J. L. Johnson then had the school two 
years, and the later teachers have been Miss Mary Griftin, J. W. 
Shanks, William H. Hallet, and Mrs. George Lattin. This is a union 
district, and Henry E. Daniels, Charles Childs and A. B. Trask were 
the first directors. 

A converted Jew, calling himself Prof. Kyder, delivered the first 
public discourse in the fall of 1874, in the Dyas building, which had 
been used for a saloon. The room was not yet cleared of the rubbish 
of the ungodly traffic, and the seats were made by laying planks upon 
the empty beer kegs found on the premises. The same day a union 
Sabbath-school was organized in this house, and W. H. Emmett was 
elected superintendent. Preaching was now begun here by the Rev. 
Nicholson, of Shabbona, for the Methodists, and the Pev. Clouse, of 
the same place, for the Baptists. The next summer the public and 
the Sabbath schools, and the religious meetings, were removed to the 
Midnes building, where each was regularly held until the school-house 
was erected, in 1876. The two denominations held alternate services 
up to the time that the Methodists built their church, in 1877, when 
the Baptists discontinued their meetings about a year. They have 
since used the Methodist church every other Sabbath. Elder Clouse 
preached until January 1, 1870, and the Rev. E. W. Hicks since that 
date. The Methodist ministers after the first have been Pomeroy, one 
year ; A. B. Metier, two years ; Dickens, one year, and W. H. Records, 
one year. The Sabbath-school has always been a union one. W. H. 
Emmett was the first superintendent, for two years, the school then 
lapsed the same length of time and was revived with Samuel Hender- 



786 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

son for superintendent. He was followed after the second year by J. 
W. Shanks for one year; then W. H. Einmett returned to the position 
six months, and now T. P. Dalton lias it. 

The Methodist church, built in 1877 and dedicated December 30, 
cost nearly $2,000. In the following April the steeple was struck by 
lightning, causing a damage of $125. The house is a gothic, 28x42, 
durably constructed, with a chaste e.xterior, and surmounted by a neat 
spire. It stands in De Kalb county. 

Before the Catholic church was built in Lee, people of that faith 
had to travel long distances to attend mass; the nearest was at Twin 
Groves on the west, where services are held but once a month. It was 
thirteen miles to Rochelle, eighteen to De Kalb, and twenty to Sand- 
wich. In view of the needs in this matter, in the spring of 1878 M. 
P. Harris, John Kennedy, James Kirby and Bernard Malloy started 
the scheme for building a church in this place. Kirby was designated 
by them as treasurer, and Harris acted as secretary. These men went 
to the Catholics living in the adjoining country, and from those who 
would give to the object they took good notes, bearing ten per cent inter- 
est, and in three days raised $3,000. John Kennedy, James Kirby and 
Stephen Kirby divided the notes equally among themselves as col- 
lateral, and each advanced $1,000. The men first named now went 
forward and built the church. John Kennedy gave one acre of ground 
where the building stands, and this, with his cash contribution, 
amounted to $500, the largest sum donated by any person. The house 
cost $3,200. It occupies a sightly location in the west part of the vil- 
lage, and is 40x60 feet on the main foundation, with an extension in 
the rear running back eighteen feet. It was dedicated in tlie autumn 
of 1878 by Father Verdin, vice-president of the St. Ignatius College, 
Chicago. Father Edwards, of Rochelle, was the priest in charge when 
it was built. Mass is celebrated ever}' other Sabbath by the Rev. 
Father Trac}', of the same place. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Robert Smith, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, son of John 
and Jane (Colvill) Smith, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, June 22, 
1822. Emigrating with his parents in 1837, he reached Ottawa in 
July, and the next month arrived at Smith's Grove, so named from his 
father, the first settler. This designation was given by the government 
surveyors. Prior to this the place had borne the name of Dry Grove, 
for the reason that it was watered by no stream, and two claimants had 
been in possession, namely, Cameron, who sold to James Armour and 
he in turn to John Smith. The claim included all the woodland except 
a scattering growth, and lines called for no attention at this period, for 



■WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 787 

none had yet been established by survey. Neither house nor cabin 
had been built and only a few logs cut. The family located on Sec. 35, 
Willow Creek township, and erected a cabin on or near the present site 
of David Smith's house. In December tliey were rendered houseless 
by fire, but the loss of house was the smallest damage, for with plenty 
of timber at hand that could speedily be replaced, but not so with the 
gold and silver coin lost in the ruins, and the clothing, and bedding, and 
fine large library of books dissipated in smoke and air. This was the 
second house built in this neighborhood and the first burned in these 
parts. A second cabin was erected by the Smiths a few rods east of the 
first, and soon they had relapsed into routine ways, with too many 
frontier cares for time to contemplate sadly their diminished wardrobe 
and furniture, but it was no easy matter for a reading family to become 
reconciled to the loss of their books. Besides the subject of this sketch 
the Smith children were John, Alexander, Martha, and Jane. Ale.xander 
was born on arrival at Ottawa, and John died in August, immediately 
after the settlement at Smith's Grove. This was the first death in 
"Willow Creek township. The family remained together until Martha's 
marriage to William Hopp, about 1840. Mr. Smith's present farm is a 
part of the original claim. He made entries of land at different times 
directly from the government. The first pieces were the S.E. J and the 
N. W. ^ of S.W. J Sec. 35. He owns 290 acres, in the highest state of im- 
provement, hedged with willow and osage orange, containing valuable 
orchards, and a beautiful two-story residence, with arcade in front and 
elegantly furnished throughout. This place, known all over the country 
as Willow Farm, has a high reputation for the natural beauty of its 
location and a variety of cultivated attractions, which denote the rare 
taste of its possessor. In an article upon this delightful country seat 
the " Amboy Times " says : " The Willow Farm, the residence of Robert 
Smith, two and one-half miles north of West Paw Paw, is an exhibition 
of art and nature combined, to show what could be done to harmonize 
discordant elements and to grow into symmetry a beautiful home- 
residence in this great State of Illinois. Mr. Smith's father came to this 
country in an early da}' and selected this choice spot now matured into 
a paradise. . . . All in all this impresses one with a love for a country 
home." Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Harriet M. 
Baisley, daughter of John H. and Jane M. (Low) Baisley, of Wayne 
county, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1856. Mr. Baisley was reared in 
Philadelphia and Mrs. Baisley was a lady of French e.xtraction, from 
whom, doubtless, Mrs. Smith inherited her exquisite love of the 
beautiful. Three children have blessed their union and inspirited 
their home with the sunshine and gladness of domestic joy : Ella G., a 
graduate from the Jennings Seminary, at Aurora, whose accomplish- 



788 HISTORT OF LEE COUNTY. 

merits in tlie fine arts are of a liigli order, is the wife of Teal Swarthont, 
of West Paw Paw. Bertha B., now Mrs. William Crompton, living near 
Chatsworth, Livingston county, displayed at a verv early age a delicate 
poetic taste and power, which suggests at once a recollection of those 
fairies of verse, the Davidson sisters. When fifteen years old her 
poems, appearing under the name of "Bertie." were admired and 
received appreciative comment. One piece, written wiien she was 
fourteen, entitled "Would that I were a Child Again," leads the 
reader to think ot the writer as one of mature years. Clyde W., the 
youngest child, is living at home. He has been about two years in 
attendance at the Classical Seminary at East Paw Paw, and this season 
will enter the Chicago University to fit himself for the practice of the 
law. Mr. Smith is a republican in politics. He has held township 
office and was the first supervisor of Willow Creek township. 

David Sximi, farmer and stock raiser, Paw Paw Grove, son of 
John and brother to Robert Smith, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, 
July 16, 1S31. His father w.is thoroughly educated for the ministry 
in the Presbyterian church, but abandoned his purpose to become a 
farmer. In 1S37 he came to America and located with the rest of the 
family at Smith's Grove, which received its name from his father, as 
the original settler at that point. In December after arrival the cabin 
which they had erected was burned down, and nearly all their effects, 
including a large and valuable library, were lost. His father in trying 
to remove a trunk containing all the coin they had and other articles of 
value was burned in the face by ignited tallow streaming down from 
overhead, and was obliged to drop the trunk and leave it to bo de- 
stroyed with its contents. This misfortune made him destitute, and 
be had to b»iy corn on credit at ^1 per bushel. It was seven years be- 
fore he could p.ay for it, and the same time elapsed before he was able 
to save ^50 to buy forty acres of land. He gave for his claim in the 
first place $150. While struggling in the midst of straits and difficul- 
ties a cousin in Scotland sent him $100, which seemed at that time 
like a special providence in the form of a small fortune. To raise the 
$50 mentioned he sold cows at $7 apiece and a very fine young mare 
at $35. At that time three-year-old steers would bring but $11. 
People hauled pork to Chicago and sold it for $1.50 to $i?.50 per hun- 
dred. Potatoes delivered there brought thirty cents, and wheat fre- 
quently no more than forty cents }>er bushel. At the Farmers" Hotel, 
in that city, a man could get supper, lodging and breakfast, and hay for 
his team, all for fifty cents. When Mr. Smith's father died, in 1S60, 
he had three hundred acres of land as the reward of his industry, pri- 
vations and self-denyings. The mother did not survive long after their 
arrival in Illinois, but died in 1S40. Deer abounded here in sreat 



WILLOW CREKK TOWNSHIP. 789 

numbers, and wolves were so numerous that the repeated attempts at 
slieep liiisbandrj' were aggravating faihires. Young Smitli embraced 
sucli opportunities as tliere were for schooling, and obtained a fair edu- 
cation by attending winters until he was of age. His earliest teacher 
was Robert Walker, who tauglit first on tlie town place, and to whom 
lie went six terms. Another of his instructors was a man named 
Smith. His school was on the west side of Peru street north of the 
depot in West Paw Paw. Mr. Smith is the owner of several choice 
tracts of farming land. In his homestead on Sec. 35 are 110 acres 
and across the road in Wyoming in Sees. 1 and 2 and 330 acres more. 
In Sec. 3 of Wyoming and Sec. 34 of Willow creek are 112 acres, and 
in the latter township in Sec. 26 are 120, and Sec. 33 still another piece 
of 80 acres. On the death of their mother, about 1864, Mr. Smith 
received into his family nine nephews and nieces over whom he has 
exerted a truly benevolent and fatherly care. Three have died, three 
are doing for themselves, and the others are still at home. None of 
his nieces have married. To each of the boys he gave $1,000 when 
twenty-one. Since reaching manhood Mr. Smith has been most of the 
time in ofBce. He was assessor several terms, and school trustee and 
treasurer fourteen j'cars. 

Nathaniel A. NKrrLETON, deceased, was born in Ireland, Septem- 
ber 30, 1829. About 1843 his parents, Benjamin and Maria (English) 
Nettleton, with their family came to Sterling, Illinois, and in 1845 re- 
moved from thence to Smith's Grove, in this county, where they bought 
a farm in Sec. 35, Willow Creek township. This is now owned by 
Philip Pierce. After Nathaniel became of age he worked out, rented 
farms on shares, and traveled according as circumstances favored his so 
doing. On December 28, 1858, he was married to Miss Jane Smith, 
daughter of John and Jane (Colvill) Smith. Shortly' after this event 
he bought the Bishop farm, adjoining the home-place on the west. In 
February, 1865, he enlisted in Co. I, 15tli 111. Inf., and was taken sick 
while in camp in Chicago. He was furloughcd to come home and re- 
cruit his health, and three weeks later died at his residence, of inflam- 
mation of the lungs, contracted by exposure in the barracks. A sud- 
den change in the weather found the soldiers without an adequate 
supply of blankets. Mr. Nettleton was interred in the Ellsworth 
burying-ground. His widow, thus bereft, had the sole care and train- 
ing of thiee small children fall to her lot, but by judicious manage- 
ment she has been able to keep her family together and to save her 
home. All tlie children are still with their mother. These are Cora, 
Harley, and Arthur. The eldest is twenty-one and the ^-oungest nearly 
eighteen. Mr. Nettleton's father was a carpenter, and not in very easy 
circumstances when be came to this state. 



790 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Lewi8 M. Faikciiild, farmer and stock raiser, Paw Paw Grove, 
was born in New York, June 22, 1831. When he was five years 
old his parents, Samuel P. and "Wilimot (Ogden) Fairchiid, moved to 
Canada, where they resided eighteen years. Earlv in 1850 our subject 
apprenticed himself to the blacksmith trade at Mount Pleasant, learn- 
ing it in three years, together with carriage ironing and all kinds of 
work appertaining to this business. In the spring of 1853 he came to 
Lee Center, this county, and worked one year; after that he was em- 
ployed at West Paw Paw by James S3'monds and made the first stir- 
ring and breaking plows and corn cultivators ever manufactured in the 
place. He was married here December ?>, 1854, to Elizabeth, daughter 
of Oliver Edmonds, of Shabbona, De Kalb county. Her father was an 
early settler near Washington Grove, in Ogle county, to which place he 
came in 1838 and made a claim of 100 acres, which he sold to John 
Edwards. In 1855 Mr. Fairchiid removed to Amboy and the follow- 
ing spring went by ox-train overland to California, making the jour- 
ney in three months. He was on the Pacific coast less than four 
months and returned via Nicaraugua and Graytown. Early ne.xt year 
he located at Shabbona Grove and worked at his trade two years. In 
1859 he bought 120 acres in Sec. 33, Willow Creek township, where he 
now resides, and to this subsequently added a tract of eighty acres. In 
18G2 Mr. Fairchiid enlisted in the 75th 111. Inf. He fought at Perry- 
ville, where he was three times struck with bullets; one was stopped 
by the brass on his belt and anotiier lodged in his pocket-book. At 
Stone River he was captured by the enemy and escaped, but was re- 
taken the next day. He had been in their hands but two hours the 
second time when Col. Brownlow led a cavalry charge on the Mur- 
frecsboro pike and rescued the prisoners, including Mr. Fairchiid. 
During Mr. Fairchild's absence liis wife, quite as heroic as any soldier 
in the field, remained on the farm plying her loneh' cares and waiting 
with fortitude for her husband's return. From December, 1864:, till the 
next September James Pike, of the 1st Tenn. reg. (rebel), was the 
hand in charge of the place. He was a prisoner and enlisted in our 
navy, but by reason of a wound was rejected and Mr. Fairchiid got 
permission to send him to work on his farm. The subject of this 
sketch had three brothers in the 13th 111. Iiif He is a republican and 
a Mason, and belongs to the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Fair- 
child is also a member. 

Lewis E. Drmx, farmer and stock raiser. Steward, was born in 
Newfane, Windham county, Vermont, March 8, 1820. His parents, 
Ethan and Mary (Gates) Durin, were of English descent. When our 
subject was fifteen liis father moved to Franklin county, Vermont, 
where he owned a farm. Lewis stayed at home till he was twenty-one. 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 791 

and his health having become impaired lie spent liis twenty-second 
year at Saratoga Springs. The next seven years he worked most of tlie 
time as a laborer. In 1840 he came to Rockton, Winnebago county, 
Illinois. In the autumn of 1850 his brother Gilbert arrived from the 
east, and the two together entered, in Sees. 5, 6, 7 and 8, pieces of land 
aggregating half a section. In 18.53 the parents also came west, and 
from that time until their death, in 1865, they had their home with 
Lewis. The mother died February 23 and the father April 11. On 
February S, ISoi, Mr. Durin was married to Miss Margaret Rees, 
daughter of Thomas and Margaret Rees, of Virginia. They have had 
four children : Martha died in 1861, at the age of six and a half years : 
Ida M. lives at home; Ada E. is the wife of W. W. Brittain, and Will- 
iam G. is at home. Mr. Durin has made a number of changes in his 
farm, by selling off and buying again, to bring it to that standard which 
his fancy approves, and now it is one mile square and contains many 
jileasing and valuable improvements. The grove is a feature that can- 
not fail at once to attract notice. It covers four acres, one half is white 
ash, the other European larch and a few soft maples, the whole regu- 
larly arranged in rows. The value of his land is much enhanced by 
tlie tine buildings which it contains. There are seven principal ones. 
His beautiful residence stands near the site of his old house. Two 
barns are each 30x50, one is 30x08, tiie haj' barn is 30x40, the corn 
barn 24x50, the carriage-house 20x30, and the granary 16x24. Mr. 
Durin is a republican in politics. He has been four times elected 
assessor. His brother, Ira S. Durin, for some ten years justice of the 
peace of Willow Creek township, will be remembered as prominent in 
the early history. 

E. W. HoLTON, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, son of Wesson and Hcpsi- 
betli (Durin) Holton, was born in Vergennes, Vermont, May 21, 1839. 
His father was a millwright. In 1853 he moved west and settled at 
Twin Grove, where he still resides. Edmund lived with liis grand- 
father Holton at Dummerston, in his native state, until the next year 
I after his father's departure, when he ran away, and by the aid of a lit- 
tle money given him bj' an uncle reached Chicago. Arriving on Sun- 
day he asked for entertainment at the first house he saw, and was kept 
till Monday. The man being a workman in a machine shop he accom- 
panied him to his work in the hope of getting something to do for 
money to continue his journey, but his entertainer was generous enough 
to raise $5 for him and he went on his way with gratitude in his heart. 
He came directly to Twin Grove, knowing that here he should find 
his father and the Durins. He worked the first year for his uncle, Ira 
Durin, and after that was at home with his father till his majorit}'. 
Beginning in the autumn of 1860 he worked by the month for nine 



792 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

montiis at Proplietstown, Wliitesides county. In August, 1861, he 
volunteered in Co. E, 34tli 111. Inf., and the tirst engagement in which 
tills command ]>articipatcd was at Corintli. Mi\ Iloltoii was taken 
seriously ill at Nashville and was discharged on surgeon's certificate. 
This sickness disqualified him for labor during the first year at home. 
On December 25, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Cordelia 
Mittan, daughter of Jeptha Mittan. In the fall of 1863 he took his 
father's farm and worked it twelve years, and in October, 1875, bought 
his present home, an improved farm of eighty-six acres, on Sec. 20. 
Mr. Holton is a republican. His four children are Elmer D., Arthur 
R., Wesson, and Larilla. His grandfather, Wranslow Holton, is living, 
at the advanced age of ninetv-two. 

DwiGHT Davenport, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, son 
of Erastus and Pamelia (Dayton) Davenport, was born in Delaware 
count}', New York, June 15, 1829. His father was a farmer in good 
circumstances, who had eleven children. At the age often our subject 
went to live with his uncle, Charles Davenport, a merchant at Angelica, 
Alleghany county. New York. Here he attended school at the Alle- 
ghany Academj- four years, and was graduated in the class of 1850. 
The remainder of the time he was clerking in his uncle's store, until 
1859, when he came west and settled in Willow Creek township, buying 
120 acres of wild land in Sec. 27, on which he is still residing. On 
January 31, 1854, he was married to Miss Margaret Hickman, daughter 
of Abram and Esther (Searles) Hickman, of Lansing, Tompkins county, 
New York. They have reared one son, Charles T., who married Miss 
Mary, daughter of Andrew Stubbs, an adjoining neighbor. In 1881 
Mr. Davenport erected a fine new house on his premises, which is 
18x34r in the main part, with a wing 18x22, two stories and a base- 
ment. Politically he is a republican. 

Albert Glassi'oole, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in the 
county of Norfolk, England, October 14, 1834. His father, who died 
when Albert was but ten years old, was commander in the Honorable 
East India Company service. Albert was educated first at the Yarmouth 
Grammar School, and then at a naval school, in the city of Yarmouth. 
At sixteen years^of age, as midshipman, he made his first voyage to 
Melbourne, Australia, in the government service, taking out one hun- 
dred and fifty distressed needle-women from the port of London. From 
Melbourne, with a cargo of smoked mutton-hams, he sailed to Hong- 
Kong, China, and thence, with teas and silks, returned to London. His 
second voyage was from the port of Yarmouth to Constantinople, with 
a general cargo, in his uncle's schooner, a pleasure trip described by the 
sailor phrase, " In everybody's mess and nobody's watch." In 1853 he 
was appointed to the Royal Mail Steam Packet service, as fifth ofiicer, 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 793 

and for nineteen months was stationed out at the Island of St. Thomas. 
Diirintf this stay the ship encountered one of tlio most fearful hurri- 
canes on record. It was about this time that Gen. Santa Anna made 
his final escape from Mexico, and young Glasspoole thus describes his 
connection with that affair: "Having run into Havana on our return 
voyage word came to us through the Spanish pilot that we would tind 
Gen. Santa Anna in the Bahama channel on board the Spanish man-of- 
war, and he would like to have us stop and take him to St. Thomas. 
Accordingly I was sent off in charge of a boat to get him. On going 
aboard the Spanish steamer I was introduced to the general's wife and 
told her I was ready to take them aboard. After taking the general 
and his wife aboard I returned with two boats for his money and his 
suites. The money was in silver bars; there were two good boat loads 
of that." While "lying to" at Greytovvn, on the isthmus, Glasspoole 
saw that whole town burned to ashes by American men-of-war. Failing 
in an attempt to bombard it down the men went asliore and fired it 
with tar and kerosene. Glasspoole assisted in taking the refugees off 
to an island. It may be of interest to mention that the last ship to 
which he was appointed in this service was the Trent, afterward so 
noted in the Mason and Slidell case. Mr. Glasspoole received a very 
complimentary letter from the court of directors, dated May 10, 1856. 
We quote just enough to indicate its character : " Conveying expression 
of their satisfaction at the praiseworthy conduct displayed by you on 
the night of the 30th ult., and also at the high character given you by 
Capt. Abbott." Shortly after receiving this letter, as a further mark 
of esteem, he was honored with a very gratifying promotion. In 1857 
Mr. Glasspoole emigrated to America. At Batavia, Illinois, he was 
married to Miss Laura Carr, daughter of Capt. Carr, of the IT. S. Mer- 
chant service. His first years of western farming were spent on rented 
land in Kane county. Here his change from sailor life was attended 
with some curious and somewhat expensive experience. He was wont 
to say, "Yes, I am naturalized, at a cost of $2,000." About 1866 he 
came to Willow Creek township and bought 160 acres. He has a good 
farm all paid for. He has one son, who has crossed the Atlantic twice 
and is now a student at East Paw Paw ; also a brother is colonel in the 
Queen's service. 

CiiEisropHER Vandeventer, farmer, Lee, son of John and Mary 
(Boyer) Vandeventer, was born in Erie county, New York, in 1815. 
His grandfather Vandeventer was captain of a company of rangers in 
the revolution, which did duty as scouts for Gen. Washington. His 
grandfather Boyer was a soldier in the same war. Both these fought 
at the Cowpens and in several other battles. His father served on the 
frontier in the war of 1812, invaded Canada under Gen. Van Rensselaer, 



794 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

and helped storm and capture the British fort at Queenstown, October 
18, tliat year. The subject of this sketcli was raised a farmer, but took 
up tlie carpenter and joiner trade, and followed it most of the time 
during his early life. On September 6, 1838, he was married, in 
Michigan, to Miss Miranda Salisbury, who was the mother of four 
children : Irwin (dead) and Edwin (twins), William and Christopher, 
and died in 1845. His second marriage was with Mrs. Rozillow Low, 
June 6, 1846. The children by this union were Mary E. (dead), 
Martha (dead), Ellen J., Eber E.. (dead), IsabcU, James and John 
(dead). This wife died September 27, 1858, and he married again, 
December 1, same year, Mrs. Ann Baker. By her first marriage 
she had ten children; by the last, one, Marj' Alice. Her death oc- 
curred January 24, 1874. Mr. Vandeventcr's fourth marriage was to 
Mrs. Elizabeth Bi-aithwaite, on February 11, 1875. By the first hus- 
biind she was the mother of the following children : Maria Elizabeth, 
Sarah Ella, Caroline (dead), Laura, Emily, Ida, Ada, and Louis P. 
Mr. Vandeventer has been commissioner of highways of Willow Creek 
township, and school director in his district eleven years. As an 
Odd-Fellow he belongs to Spartan Lodge, No. 272, at East Paw Paw, 
and to Paw Paw Encampment, No. 52. He has passed all the chairs 
in the lodge, and in politics is a democrat. His farm of 182 acres, 
valued at §11,000, contains never-failing wells and springs, and is the 
best watered farm in the country. He has an orchard of choice frnit 
unequaled in this region. Hissons, AVilliam and Christopher, volun- 
teered and served for three months at the beginning of the war, and 
fought at the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. The latter reen- 
listed for three years, and served his full time. Irwin entered the 
service in the fall of 18G1, for three years, and was color-bearer of his 
regiment; he fought at Forts Henry and Donelson, and at Shiloh, 
where he was taken prisoner by the rebels and confined until the follow- 
ing June, when he was released and died the same month of typhoid 
fever, at Iluntsvilie, Alabama. Eber enlisted in the regular arm}- just 
after the war, and went to Fort Scott, and from thence to Fort Stan- 
ton, New Mexico, where he died. 

James C. Howi.eit, farmer and stock raiser, Paw Paw Grove, son 
of Horatio G. and Amanda M. (Canfield) Howlett, was born in Onon- 
daga county, New York, March 22, 1837. When six months old he 
came with his father to Chicago, then to Dixon, and finally, in 1839, 
to his present home at Allen's Grove. He was well prepared with a 
practical education for the business of life. His earlier instruction 
was obtained in the log cabin schools of the neighborhood. His first 
term was in one part of the Shoudy treble log house, and his teacher 
was a Miss Nettleton. His next preceptress was Laura Brace. At a 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 795 

later date he was a pupil of Bobby Walker, who had a school near the 
old Robinson place. This knight of the ferule was excellent both as a 
scholar and teacher, and was fond of quoting Bobby Burns, which he 
had at his tongue's command. Mr. Howlett finished his studies at 
the Lee Center and South Side academies. In 1860 he went to the 
Rocky Mountains. He taught three terms of school in Missouri, and 
was in that state at the breaking out of the war. In June, 1861, he 
enlisted in a company which was recruiting there, and was appointed 
orderly sergeant ; but not being mustered into the service, and sus- 
pense and inactivity ensuing, he came home, driving through with a 
herd of cattle, and barely escaped being taken by guerrillas. This 
company was afterward accepted and cut to pieces at Wilson's creek, 
where two-thirds of tlie men were killed. Before his departure from 
Missouri he spent an evening with Gen. Price, and on his arrival at 
Quinc}' saw the first rebel flag captured in that state. On August 6, 
1862, Mr. Howlett volunteered in Co. K, 75th 111. Inf., and served 
till the close of the war. He fought at Perrysville, and his regiment 
was engaged at Stone River, Chickamauga, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, 
and elsewhere on the Atlanta campaign, and the subsequent service 
in Tennessee against Hood, ending in the battles of Franklin and 
Nashville. The last half of his term was served in the assistant adju- 
tant-general's office, where he had charge of the clerical force. He 
was one of thirty who competed for the position ; all liaving sent 
specimens of penmanship, he was selected for the detail. One of his 
duties was to go through the brigade every evening and obtain a list of 
the casualties, in which duty he was often very mnch exposed. On his 
return home he went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was with his brother 
several months in the post-office. His marriage to Sarah Jane, daugh- 
ter of James Fowler, of Shabbona, occurred April 13, 1867. To these 
parents five children have been born, namely, Mary, George G., 
Amanda B., Wilbur and Florence C. Mr. Howlett is a republican, 
and takes a lively interest in the success of his part}', and contributes 
his personal influence, which is by no means limited, to keep it in 
power.' For manj' years he has been a member of the republican cen- 
tral committee for Willow Creek township. He has filled the office 
of supervisor five terms, town clerk four, collector one, and is present 
incumbent of the office first named. He is well known as an experi- 
enced and efficient school teacher. 

HoKATio G. Howlett, retired. Paw Paw Grove, is the son of Par- 
ley and Pliebe (Robbins) Howlett. He was born in Onondaga, Onon- 
daga county. New York, August 31, 1809. Plis father was a native 
of Vermont, and one of the earliest settlers in Onondaga county. His 
mother was born in Connecticut. Mr. Howlett enjoyed good oppor- 
47 



796 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

tunities for securing an education, and did not let them pass unim- 
proved. He took a course of studies at the Onondaga and Homer 
academies, and is now one of tlie iive on!}' living ones who were fellow 
students at the latter institution when he was there. In his twenty- 
first year he and a brother engaged in salt manufacture at Geddes; at 
the end of a year they sold out and went to merchandising for another 
year. On his twenty-first birthday Mr. Howlett was united in mar- 
riage with Amanda Malvina Canfield, of Syracuse, with whom he lived 
in great happiness until August 3, 1850, when she was taken from 
him by death. Not long after his marriage he settled on a farm, 
which he sold when he came west in 1832. In January of that vear 
he emigrated ; he started for Chicago, and had his goods shipped there 
by way of the lakes, but on reaching Niies, Michigan, was taken sick 
and compelled to remain at that place till his resources were exhausted 
by exorbitant charges. His parents were wealtiiy and he could have 
obtained assistance from them by making known his condition, but he 
disdained to do this, and had his effects sent back to Niles. Here he 
was appointed deputy sheriff' on his recover}', and tilled this office and 
remained in the town three 3'ears. In 1835 he came to Chicago and 
opened a meat market, near the spot where the Tremont House now 
stands. At that time tiiere was but one white woman in the place. 
He got control of all the butchering business and secured a driving 
trade, Indian and emigrant patronage being verj' large. George Smith, 
since one of the heaviest bankers in the city, and Alexander Mitciiell, 
the railroad magnate, of Wisconsin, had a little brokers' office, and Mr. 
Howlett deposited with Mitchell every night his wildcat funds, in 
■which business was then mainly transacted. The first day his receipts 
were §60, the second day §400, and at the end of thirty days §3,000. 
All that he ever got back into his hands was the small sum of §60. In 
the autumn of 1837 he left Chicago and came to Dixon, where he re- 
sided two years. A few log cabins and two frame buildings stood at 
that date in the town. In 1839 he settled at Allen's Grove, where he 
has had his home until the present time. He purchased a claim of 
160 acres on Sec. 36, for §1,000. The land was not surveyed into sec- 
tions till two or three years afterward. Mr. Howlett boarded the sur- 
veying party when the work was done in this neighborhood. Aside 
from his interests in farming since he came here, he has been an active 
and influential business man. At one time in the early history of the 
county he kept hotel in Dixon ; about 1854 he went to merchandising 
in Paw Paw, in company with A. B. Sears, who decamped, leaving him 
to pay the heavy debts of the firm ; he was justice of the peace ten 
years and constable four. While trading in Paw Paw his children 
were living in the east, attending school ; from the time his eldest 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 797 

daughter returned to keep house for him he has since had at least one 
of them with him. He was the parent of nine children, four of whom 
died in infanc}'. George Marvin, agent for the J^tna Life Insurance 
Compan}', lives at Fort Dodge, Iowa; James C. resides on the home- 
stead ; Harriet Amanda is the wife of O.J. LeMoin and lives in Mich- 
igan ; Cornelia Caroline married Cornelius Vosburg, of Pennsylvania, 
and Frances Maria, relict of Samuel Foresman, is now Mrs. George 
Piatt, of Kansas. The first two years that Mr. Howlett lived here he 
cast the only whig vote in the precinct, and for his devotion to his 
principles, the democrats, when speaking of his politics, designated 
him by an inodorous adjective. The polls were held alternately at 
Malugin's Grove and Paw Paw Grove. 

S. W. Weeks, hardware merchant, Lee, was born in Kendall county, 
Illinois, in 1852. His parents, Wier and Susan (Sunde) Weeks, emi- 
grated from Norway in ISi*!, and settled at Big Grove, Kendall county, 
where both are still living. He was engaged in general farm work 
until seventeen years of age, and then was attending school the next 
three years at Lather College, in Decorah, Iowa. From twenty to 
twenty-eight he taught in the common schools. In the spring of 1880 
he became a partner with Christopher & Jorgens, of Lee, in the grain 
trade, and in December disposed of his interest and formed a partner- 
ship with O. J. Heng, under the firm name of Weeks & Heng. They 
purchased the hardware store of Stephens «& Prestegard, and began 
trading just at the close of the year. Mr. Weeks was married October 
29, 1878, to Miss Trudy J. Eogde, of Willow Creek township. She 
was the daughter of Jacob and Elsa Rogde. They have one child, 
Elsa Sophia, born in 1879. Mr. Weeks is a republican, and he and 
his wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. 

William H. Bkyant, postmaster and implement dealer, Lee, was 
born in Wyoming township in 1817. His parents were Obed W. and 
Sarah (Lindsey) Bryant, with whom he lived at home on the farm until he 
was sixteen, when he went to Hillsdale College, Michigan, and devoted 
himself to study four years. The following year he spent in Sedalia, 
Missouri ; returning to Illinois, he was engaged in 1869 in farming, 
and in 1870 went to Idaho and Oregon. In these places he passed a 
year sight-seeing and prospecting in the mines. In 1871 he returned 
home and farmed until the autumn of 1872, when he went into a 
general store at Meriden, La Salle county, and on March 30, 1874, 
associated himself in partnersliip with R. A. White, of Lee, buying out 
the interest of Henry Moore. They did a general merchandising 
business, and extended it to include agricultural implements. After 
three months Mr. White retired, and was succeeded as postmaster by 
Mr. Bryant, who also continued the trade three years alone. At the 



798 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

end of that time lie sold his stock of goods, and has since confined his 
business to the post-office and the sale of farming implements and 
machinery. Mr. Bryant was united in marriage with Miss Ada M. 
Haish September 15, 1881. She is a communicant in the Methodist 
church. He was collector of Willow Creek township in 1877, and in 
1879 he was the republican nominee for county treasurer against Isaac 
Edwards, of Ambo}', but failed of election by sixty-four votes. He is 
an Odd-Fellow, and was a charter member of Fidelia Lodge, No. r>35, 
I.O.O.F., which was organized in Lee, and in 1880 removed to Steward. 
Mr. Bryant is a whole-souled man, of pleasing manners, gentlemanly 
and accommodating. 

Ole G. Jelle, farmer, Lee, fifth in a family of seven children by 
GoTider and Aver (Jorgendatter) Jelle, was born in Norway, Sej)tember 
13, 1850. He attended the common schools of his country and worked 
as a laborer until his emigration in 1871. Two of his brothers arrived 
later, Atlaak and Ole, the youngest in the family. He settled in this 
township, and has made his home here until now. April 24:, 1881, he 
was married to Mrs. Amelia Prestegard, widow of George Prestegard, 
and daughter of Lars Oleson. She was married the first time February 
2, 1876, and her husband died May 30, leaving two children : Georgiana, 
born November 14, 1876, and Isabella Lida, November 21, 1878. Mr. 
and Mrs. Jelle both belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. 

Edwin Edwards, farmer, Lee, son of Einnerand Christina (Einner- 
son) Edwards, was born in Norway in 1828. He was in the military 
service of Norway seven years ; he was drafted when twenty-one, and 
drilled and did garrison duty. A part of the time he was permitted 
to be at home. When in camp he at first received si.^ cents per day, 
but toward the close of his service got ten cents, ^nd the last year his 
■wages were increased to twelve cents. When Amund Hilleson emi- 
grated to this country, in 1851, Mr. Edwards took his place with the 
employer, Thurstan Hoagland, and worked for him two years as slO 
per year. After that, until he came over himself, he worked indepen- 
dently as a laborer. In 1858 he embarked for America in a sailing 
vessel in command of captain Bunaway, and was two months in cross- 
ing the ocean. He settled in Bradford township, where he was married 
in the autumn, soon after his arrival, to Miss Johanna Ritter, who was 
born in 1832. She took passage with him from Norway. Mr. Edwards, 
like most of his countrymen, is a good example of what industry, steady 
habits and careful management will do in this free land of equal privi- 
leges. When he came here he had but $14 to begin with, but he had 
learned not to shirk hard work, and he laid hold at once of the tools of 
labor with a fixed resolution to make a respectable home, and whoever 
visits his place cannot fail to mark how completely he has succeeded. 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP, 799 

He has an intelligent family growing up around him to receive from 
his indulgent care the comforts and benefits which he has marshaled 
around him. In the spring of 1862 he came to this township and 
bought eighty acres of land, the N. J of N.E. ^ Sec. 11. He has since 
added 120 more, and values the whole at $10,000. Both himself and 
wife are members of the iSTorwegian Lutheran church, and he is one of 
the trustees. Their children are Gabried Hanson, Nellie Henrietta 
(now Mrs. Barney Jacobson"), Julia, Edwin, John Michael, Lena, Anne, 
Ed wardena, and Swan Arnoldos. Mr. Edwards is a republican in polities. 

William Geove, farmer, Lee, son of William and Cornelia (Clay) 
Grove, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 18.3-1. His father 
was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain. In 1837 his father 
settled in Knox county, Ohio, and there his mother died when he was 
twelve years old. Shortly afterward tlie famiU' removed to Seneca 
county, and some years subsequently to Fulton county, where they 
lived ten years. In 1863 they left Ohio and came to Willow Creek 
township, and bought from 'Squire Ira Durin the farm on which Mr. 
Grove is now living. It is the N.W. J Sec. 21, and is valued at 
$8,000. Here the senior Grove died May 3, 1872. The subject of 
this sketch was married February 17, 1861, to Miss Amanda Gee, 
daughter of Henry and Eliza (Williams) Gee. She was born May 20, 
1814. Mr. Grove enlisted in December 1863, in company H, 100th 
Ohio Vols., and was attached to tlie first brigade, third division, 23d 
army corps. He served on the Atlanta campaign and was engaged in 
a good deal of small fighting; he returned to Tennessee under Tiiomas 
to resist Hood's invasion, and fought at the battles of Franklin and 
Nashville. Before this, late in the autumn of 1863, he marched to 
Knoxville, to the relief of Burnside. After the destruction of Hood's 
army in Tennessee he went with his corps to North Carolina and 
helped to finish up the rebellion. He was discharged at Toledo, Ohio, 
in July 1865. Mr. Grove is a republican. His nine children are all 
living, and are named as follows : Emma C, Mary C, Nora L., Ada I., 
Ella C, George P., John H., Nellie Frances, and Clyde Arthur. 

Lewis P. Boyd, farmer, Lee, third son of Peter and Sarah (Olson) 
Boyd, was l)orn in Norway, December 7, 1838. He emigrated to 
America in 1857, and stayed the first summer in Kendall and Bureau 
counties. Next year he went to Iowa, where he remained till the au- 
tumn of 1859, and then went to Mississippi for some months. Coming 
back to Iowa the following spring, he left there in June for Kendall 
county, Illinois, and there enlisted in July in Co. D, 36 111. Inf. He 
campaigned in Missouri, fought at Pea Ridge, marclied from there to 
Cape Girardeau and Pittsburgh Landing, and reached Corinth just as 
tile rebels had evacuated the town. The following summer he was in 



800 HISTORY OF I>EE COVXTY. 

Mississippi, canipaigiiiiiir; he was taiceii Iroiu llvaii by boat and rail to 
Cincinnati wlien Bragg mareiiud to tiieOiiio; from tliere l)e fell down 
to Louisville by boat, joined in Bnell's pursuit, and fought at Perry- 
ville. Subsequently he was in the engagements at Stone River, Chicka- 
mauga and Missionary Ridge; marched to Knoxville; campaigned 
some the following winter in the Cumberland mountains; went on the 
Atlanta campaign ; fought at Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, and Lost Moun- 
tain, and was wounded June 18, being shot through both thighs. He 
lay in the general field hospital several days, then was sent back to 
Chattanooga, then to Nashville, next to Jefiersonville, and from thuuce 
to Camp Butler, Springfield. At Jefiersonville, through the careless- 
ness of surgeons and nurses, gangrene got into his wound and he was 
nearly sacrificed to bad and harsh treatment. His time expired four 
months before he was discharged from the hospital, in January ISC'). 
He could not abandon his crutches for a long while ; still has to use a 
cane sometimes, and draws a pension from the government. In 1867 
he began farming on his own land ; in 1870 he went to his present 
home of eighty acres, which is worth $-i,8l>0. Li 1871 he was married 
to Miss Sophia Johnson. Their children are Sarah Louisa, Isabel Me- 
linda, Anna Maria, Olena Martinda, Peter Oly and Engerborg. Both 
parents are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and Mr. Boyd 
is a republican. He has been constable four years, collector three 
years, and is now road commissioner and school trustee. 

John YirrrER, steward, is one of the most prominent citizens of 
Willow Creek, and a leading farmer and stock raiser. He is the only 
living son of John G. and Ivatrina (Meyer) Tetter, and was born in 
Germany in 1835, where he was reared to farming, and received a 
good common school education. In the spring of 185i Mr. Yetter 
emigrated to this country, and stopped nine months in New York, 
where he was joined by the rest of the family, — two parents, four 
brothers, and seven sisters. They all came to Putnam county, Illinois, 
and engaged in farming there on rented land. In the fall of 1859 Mr. 
Yetter came to this township and purchased 160 acres where his house 
stands, being the S. i of N.E. ^ and the N. f of S.E. J Sec. 5. His re- 
lations soon followed him here, except a sister, who resided in the 
West but one sunnner and now lives in New York, and his motiier, 
who died in 1857. His father has since lived with him. He was mar- 
ried in the autumn of 1857, to Miss Lena Schoenholz, by whom he has 
a large and interesting family of nine children : John P., Carl T., Lena 
E., Mary M., George, Jacob, Fred, Franklin B. and Julia Ma}\ Mr. 
Yetter and his wife and the two eldest daughters are members of the 
German Evangelical or Zion church, and he is a republican. Of pul)lic 
oftices, he has held that of supervisor eight years, and of road commis- 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 801 

sioner three. He owns 312 acres of land, 192 where he lives, and 120 
just over the line in Alto township, which is improved with valuable 
buildings; large, perfect and imposing willow hedges, and is stocked 
completely with the best patterns of farm implements and machinery; 
but it is as a stock farm that it is most important, for Mr. Yetter, dur- 
ing some years, has made the breeding of thoroughbred cattle a spe- 
cial feature of his business. His horses- are of high grade, and all his 
animals give evidence of his care and skill in this favorite branch of 
industry which he has chosen. His farm is valued at $20,000. No 
man in this section of country is more widely and favorably known 
than Mr. Yetter, and the portrait which is given of him in this work, 
we feel sure, will give great satisfaction to his numerous friends. 

George L. Ekbes, farmer, Lee, oldest child of George and Elizabeth 
(Grossardt) Erbes, was born at Knox Grove, in this county, April 28, 
1855. He has always worked at farming and attended the English 
schools. He was married May 23, 1876, to Miss Mar\' E. Hackmann, 
who was born May 2, 1855, in Peru, Illinois. Her father, William 
Hackmann, came to America in 1849 a single man ; in ISoO he returned 
to the old country and was married to Henrietta Klute. The couple 
then came and settled in Peru. Mr. and Mrs. Erbes have had two chil- 
dren, George William, born October 9, 1877, died November 7, 1879 ; 
and Elizabeth Sophia, born April 9, 1880. They both belong to the 
German Lutheran societ\', which worships at the Byrd school-house. 
Mr. Erbes is a republican. 

George Erbes, farmer, Lee, eldest son of George and Philopena 
(Schwabenland) Erbes, was born in Germany in 1824. He was a fai"m 
laborer in the old country. In 1853 he emigated to America and settled 
at once in Peoria count}', Illinois, where he lived four years, the first 
three working as a hand, and the next year renting land. His marriage 
■with Miss Elizabeth Grossardt, who was born also in Germany in 1826, 
and came to this country in 1853, was in 1855. In 1857 Mr. Erbes 
moved to Lee county, and lived three j'ears at Knox Grove. In 1860 
he brought his family to Willow Creek, and bought the E. -J- of S.E. J 
Sec. 11. He began here with very small means, as he himself says, 
"a poor man, almost without property," but with true German pluck 
and industry' he struggled along, aided by his equally persevering wife, 
until they now have a home of 240 acres, valued at $12,000. He 
subsequently bought the W. | of N.E. J Sec. 14, and the N. ^ of S.W. 
J Sec. 12. They have raised four children and have one dead : George 
L., who married Miss Mary Hackmann, Fred W., William D., Kate E., 
wife of John Greene, and John P. (dead ). The whole family belongs 
to the German Lutheran church. Mr. Erbes is a republican and an 
esteemed citizen. 



802 HISTORY OF LEE COTTNTY. 

Ole W. Oleson, farmer, Lee. In 1847 bis fatlier, Lars Oleson, 
emigrated from Norway to Bradford township in this county. He was 
a carpenter in his native conntr}', and soon after his arrival obtained 
employment as a workman in the Grand Detour plow-works, and was 
there with Col. L. Andrews four years. "While working in that place 
he saved enough money to buy forty acres of land in Bradford town- 
ship in partnership with Lars Hilleson. On quitting the plow factory 
he bought more land, and finally had 120 acres, which he improved. 
He was married in that township in 1818, to Isabel Hilleson, and the 
first child born to them was the subject of this notice, in the same year. 
Besides Ole they had three others, Holden, Amelia, now Mrs. Ole G. 
Jelle, and Betsy, wife of Ole Rogde. In the spring of 1863 the 
father moved with his family to Willow Creek and settled on Sec. 
10, where he still lives. He owned here at one time 480 acres, but 
sold 160 and divided the remainder among his four children, all of 
whom reside in this township. Ole was married in February 1868, to 
Miss Augusta Oleson, who was born in Norway October -i, 1849. Her 
mother died when she was eleven years old, and two years later she 
emigrated with her father, who died five years afterward. The three 
children of these parents are a son and two daughters, Isabel Florence, 
Lewis, and Gure. Mr. Oleson and his wife belong to the Norwegian 
Lutheran church. He owns the S.E. f Sec. 10, valued at $8,000. 

Amund Hilleson, farmer, Lee. The first Norwegian settler in 
Willow Creek township was Amund Hilleson, second son of Hilla and 
Emaline (Emmonson) Helge, born in South Bergen stift (state), Nor- 
way, June 20, 1821. His father died when he was six j'ears old, and his 
mother being left in destitute circumstances with six children, the latter 
were bound out according to the custom of that countrv in regard to 
the poor, that is, each farmer takes one in his turn for a length of time 
corresponding to the amount of propertj' he owns; while sometimes 
the poor are bid off at auction, the keepers being paid for their care and 
trouble. Mr. Hilleson was provided for according to the former 
method. When sixteen years old he was able to take care of himself, 
and hired out the first year for §5 and his clothing, the second year for 
$7 and clotliing, and so on, gradually but very slowly increasing until 
he had worked thirteen years, the last two or three years receiving as 
high as §10 and a little clothing per year. Four years before he had 
enough money saved to emigrate he began to turn his thoughts wist- 
fully toward America, and from that time worked with the sole object 
of coining at the earliest time he could be ready. That time arrived 
in 1851, and he came directly to Sublette township, where his brother- 
in-law, Lars L. Risetter, was living, and worked the first year in the 
employ of Thomas Fessenden tiirough haying and harvest for $11 per 



» 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 803 

month. In 1852 he bought the JST.E. ^ Sec. 15 in Willow Creek for 
$1.25 per acre, and continued to hire out as a laborer until he had been 
here tive years. In 1S55 he began to improve his land, keeping house 
for himself two 3'ears, when, in 1857, he was married to Miss Emaline 
Larsen, who was born May 8, 1822, and emigrated to Sublette in 1855. 
They have had two children : Helge A., born in 1859, and Evaline, 
born September 6, 1863, and died December 16, 1866. The whole 
family belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Hilleson con- 
tributed liberally toward the erection of their house of worship, having 
given to that object some §600. In 1875 he bought the JST.W. ^ Sec. 
15 for §8,150. He has one of the best improved and most desirable 
farms in the country, which is valued at $19,000. He is a republican 
and one of the solid men in means and character in Willow Creek 
township. 

Henry Baenhakd, farmer, Lee, son of Henry and Eva (Rineliart) 
Barnhard, was born in Fairtield county, Ohio, in 1808. In 1850 he 
came to Twin Groves, and after renting land one or two years from 
James Thompson, bought his farm, which he still owns and occupies, 
on Sec. 9. He entered the southwest quarter, and afterward sold the 
south half His farm of eighty acres he values at $5,200. He was 
married in Ohio about 1839, to Miss Harriet Kearns. They have had 
the following children: Matilda, wife of George Davenport, living in 
Kansas ; Joseph (dead), Bigelow (dead), Emma, married Ebenezer Pet- 
tenger (dead); Hemy, living at home; Melville (dead), and Mar}', at 
home. Joseph enlisted in 1863, fought in two battles, and died at 
Vicksburg from disease. Bigelow enlisted first for one hundred days ; 
he served his time and then enlisted for three years, and died in New 
York before reaching the seat of war. Mr. Barnhard is a republican. 

Robert J. Thompsox, farmer, Steward, was born in Hampshire 
county. West Yirginia, March 2, 1847. He was the son of Robert and 
Zulemma (Taylor) Thompson, was reared a tiller of the soil, and re- 
ceived a common school education. His grandfather Thompson ran 
away from his home in Ireland and came to America before the revo- 
lution. He fought in the cause of the colonies, and after the war set- 
tled in Hampshire county, where the subject of this notice was born. 
His grandfather Taylor was an Englishman and fifer in the revolu- 
tionary war, and Mr. Thompson's mother has liis fife in her possession. 
In March, 1865, Mr. Thompson emigrated to this county and settled 
in Willow Creek, and in 1868 he was followed bj' his parents. His 
father had owned land in this township a good many years before he 
came here to live. Mr. Thompson owns 150 acres, left him by his 
father, valued at $10,000. He is a democrat in politics, and is filling 
his fourth term as town clerk of Willow Creek. He was married 



804 HISTORY OF LEE COCNTY. 

March 15, 1870, to Miss Eva L. Flagg, daughter of Lucius H. aud Al- 
mira Flagg. She was born April 16, 1847. They liave had four chil- 
dren to bless their home : Guj, George, Nora, and Eddie (dead). 

Jacob B. Fisher, deceased, son of Thomas and Mary M. (Bookes) 
Fisher, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 6, 1810. He 
lived at home on his tather's farm until of age. In that dav the cus- 
tom among shoemakers was to go around the country and make the 
boots and shoes for families at their houses, the leather being furnished 
by those having the work done. The subject of this sketch took up 
the trade without serving an apprenticeship, and did the work for his 
father's family, the arrangement being that the other boys should do 
the out-door work. When he became twenty-one he went on a farm 
of eighty acres, mostly woodland, and was married January 28, 1833, 
to Miss Ruth Carleton, who was a daughter of Thomas and Hannah 
(Reese), and was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1812. 
About 1836 they removed and settled near Columbus, on a farm of 
120 acres of their own ; and in 1853 they emigrated to Willow Creek 
township, where Mr. Fisher bought 400 acres of land. These parents 
had fourteen children : Martha E. (dead), Mary J., now Mrs. Patrick 
Daugherty; Thomas C, married Miss Avals Moore; Sarah Ann, wife 
of John Hickey ; William (dead) ; Adeline, now Mrs. William H. Dow ; 
Margaret, wife of Benjamin W. Noe; Hannah (dead); Lydia (dead); 
Adolphus, married Dolly Siglin ; Phebe, wife of John C. Grove; Elea- 
nor; Jacob, married Miss Elma J. White, and James, married Miss 
Estella Conkliu. Mr. Fisher was a democrat in politics, held the office 
of supervisor and road commissioner, and was a member of the Presby- 
terian church from early life. Mrs. Fisher belonged to the same de- 
nomination, but as there was no Presbyterian church here she first 
joined the United Brethren and afterward the Methodist church, of 
which she is at present a member. She and Jacob and James live 
upon the old homestead, which contains 240 acres, valued at §12,000. 
Mr. Fisher died January 9, 1857, much regretted. Mrs. Fisher was 
left with a very large faniily, but she proved equal to her heavj' re- 
sponsibilities in successfully rearing her children and managing the 
affairs of the farm. 

William Dunkelbeeger, farmer, Steward, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania in 1820. His parents, Solomon and Christiann (Harmon') Dun- 
kelberger, had six sons and four daughters. His great-grandfather 
emigrated from Germany before the revolution, and two uncles named 
Dunkelberger served the country in the war of 1812. When the sub- 
ject of this notice was eight years old his father removed with his 
famil}' to New York, and he lived there, working as a fanner, until 
1867. In that year he came to Willow Creek and bought the N.E. \ 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 805 

and a part of lot 1, KE. i of S.W. i, and lot 2, KW. i of S.E. J Sec. 
17. He has recently purchased thirty-two acres adjoining on the west, 
and now owns a pleasantly situated farm of 215 acres, which he values 
at $15,000. In 184:5 Mr. Dunkelberger was married to Miss Sarah 
Knedler, who was born in 1819. They have had seven children, as 
follows: Mary Sophia, wife of Henry J. Evers, Sarah Jane (dead), 
Caroline Elizabeth (dead), Phebe Adelia, Hannah Amelia (dead), 
Christiann Esther (dead), and Maria Catherine, now Mrs. August Mer- 
tons. Both parents are members of the German Evangelical church of 
Willow Creek, and Mr. Dunkelberger was the first class-leader in that 
society. He is a republican. 

Louis P. Smith, farmer, Lee, son of Charles and Maiy (Clayton) 
Smith, was born in Pennsylvania in 1815. His father served in the 
last war with England, and was in some engagements. Mr. Smith left 
home when a j'oung boy and went to live with a man named Isaac 
Smith, who was a miller, aud from him he learned the same trade. He 
was employed at this twenty years. In 1834 he settled in Ohio, where 
in 1840 he married Miss Mary Spring, who died in 184-4, leaving one 
child, Byard. He was married again Januaiy 24, 1847, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Armstrong. By the second marriage six children have been born, 
as follows: William, Hannah Jane, Jacob, Daniel B. (in Colorado), 
George, and Louis Milton. In 1854 Mr. Smitli removed to this town- 
ship and selected a home at Twin Groves, and the following year came 
to live on his present farm, the S. i of S.W. ^ Sec. 9, which he now 
values at $5,200. He has been road commissioner several terms, and 
is a democrat in politics. His son Byard enlisted in the 27th 111. Vols. 
in 1862, but was shortly after transferred to another regiment and 
served his term of three years. He fought at Stone River and Lookout 
Mountain, served on the Atlanta campaign, the march to the sea, and 
the campaign of the Carolinas. 

HiLLA L. HiLLESON, farmer, Lee, eldest son of Lars and Augusta 
(Swanson) Hilleson, was born in Sublette township, this county. May 
15, 1857. His father, a brother to Ommon Hilleson, the first Norwe- 
gian settler in Lee county, emigrated from Norway in the same party 
with Lars L. Risetter, in 1847. A brother and sister accompanied him 
all the way to Lee Center. These were taken sick with cholera, and 
as everybody was afraid to go near, the care of them fell on him, and 
his whole time was divided between the work he had to do and his 
attentions to them. He had $100 when he arrived, but this was 
soon spent for the sick, and at last both died. By proper precautions 
he was prevented from taking the disease. But the saddest ofKce was 
the last, a painful one, when he had to give his own brother and sister 
sepulture without assistance. The next year, in partnership with his 



806 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

brother Ominon, he rented ground and sowed seventy acres of oats and 
planted t\vent\' acres of corn. Tlie oats these two cradled, and the 
wliole crop they hauled to Chicago after it was harvested. From this 
crop lie got a little start, and after working with his lirother a few years 
got a piece of land in Sublette. Finally he married, and lived in that 
township until about ISfiC, when he came to Willow Creek, where he 
now lives. Hilla, his son, was married March 15, 1877, to Miss Bertha 
E. Winterton, who was born in Bergen stift (state), Norway, in 1857. 
She emigrated with her parents Allen O. and Bertha P. (Espy) Win- 
terton, in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Hilleson belong to the Norwegian 
Lutheran church, and are the parents of two children : Augusta Louisa 
and Betsy Margaretta. 

Jacob E. Miller, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in the town 
of Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York, in 1827. His father fought 
in the battle of Plattsburg, New York, in the last war with England, 
and married for his wife Maria De Grauph. Mr. Miller was raised on 
his father's farm, and at the ]>roper age was apprenticed to the black- 
smith trade, but he never worked at it after he finished his time. In 
1848 he left his native state and settled at Bristol on Fox river, in 
Illinois, and lived there eight years, working by the mouth at farm- 
ing. In August, 1854, he was married to Miss Jane S. Brown, of 
Bristol, who was born in 1827. In September, 1856, Mr. Miller 
moved with his family to his present home on the S.E J Sec. 28, in 
which he owns eighty acres. In addition to this he has forty acres in 
Sec. 27, and both pieces are worth $6,000. His building location is 
one of the most sightly in Willow Creek, and admits of an extended 
view of the country which is beautiful and picturesque in this region. 
Mr. and Mrs. Miller have reared four children : Charles L., Florence 
D., Frank G. and Thaddeus E. Charles was married in 1879, to 
Miss Celestia Griswold ; Florence lives in Colorado, and Frank is a 
soldier in the 21st V. S. Inf., is orderly sergeant of his company, and 
superintendent of the post school on Vancouver's Island. The sub- 
ject of this notice is indepLMideut in politics. 

Andrew Sriiius, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Hartford, 
Oxford county,JMaine, March 11, 1820. His parents were Nathan 
and Sophia (Allen) Stubbs. Mr. Stubbs worked at farming till lie 
wiis twenty years of age, and then went to New Bedford and shipped 
on board a whaling ship and was awa\' during a four years' cruise. 
Ho sailed around Cape Good Hope, visited New Zealand, Australia, 
the Societ}' Islands, and the Navigator Islands. His second voyage 
lasted nearly four years. He went around Cape Horn, visited the 
Chilian part of St. Carlos and Talcahuano, the Peruvian port of Callao, 
went to Lima, nine miles back of Callao in the interior, called at the 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 807 

Sandwich Islands several times, and cruised in the Japan and the 
Okhotsk seas. The third and last voyage he made consumed over 
three 3'ears, and on this he shipped as second mate. He landed first 
at the Azores, next at the Cape Verde Islands, then at the Sandwich 
Islands, stopped at Sitka, spent one season along the coast of Kam- 
tchatka and in the Arctic ocean as far north as the 72° of latitude and 
the ice barrier. Here he came near being devoured, at one time, by 
Esquimaux dogs. He sailed now to the Sandwich Islands and Hong 
Kong, then back again to those islands on his passage home around 
Cape Horn. His vessel touched at Pernambuco, and loaded with 
oranges. Between the second and third voyages he was at his home 
in Maine one year farming. He was on the water twelve 3'ears, and 
from the time he began following the sea until he quit was fourteen 
years. Mr. Stubbs was married in Massachusetts in 1850, to Miss 
Lucinda Green, from near Cleveland, Ohio. She was born in East 
Cleveland in May 1832. Her grandmother Gunn was one of the 
earliest, probably the second white woman, to settle on the western 
reserve. These parents have nine living children : Elizabeth H., now 
Mrs. George Hinckley ; Charles A.; Benjamin, married to Miss Ella 
Shoudy : Almond L. ; Mary, wife of Charles Davenport ; Albert, Lillie 
May, Ida, and Wealthy. Shortly after the close of his last voyage, 
and in July 1853, Mr. Stubbs came to Lee county, and settled in 
Willow Creek township, where he has since lived. He was first on 
the Nettleton farm a short time, and then came to his own 120 acres 
on Sec. 27. He has been road commissioner, and is a republican. 
Mrs. Stubbs belongs to the United Brethren church. 

Xathaxiel C. Allen, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, boi'ii in Hartford, 
Oxford county, Maine, in 1822, was the son of Nathaniel and Polly 
(Tinkham) Allen. His mother was descended from Ephraim Tink- 
ham, who came over in the Ma3'flower. The descendants had in their 
possession until recent years a kettle which their ancestor brought 
with hini, and which was used until the bottom wore through. Mr. 
Allen pursued farming and lumbering as his occupation while in 
Maine, and in 1845 his father's family came to this township, and he 
followed the next year. He still occupies the land which he then 
entered — a quarter of a section, worth now $8,000. In the winter of 
18-48-9 he went to Minnesota, and worked at lumbering. In the 
spring he went down to St. Louis with a raft of logs. This was the 
cholera year, and one of the raftsmen died on the float. The follow- 
ing winter he went to Mississippi to cut cord-wood, but having cut his 
leg badly, and being taken with chills and fever, he returned in Feb- 
ruary. In 1861 he was married to Miss Emaline Johnson, of Viola 
township, who came with her parents from Vermont, and settled there 



1 



808 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTT. 



about 1849 or 1850. Tlie}' have four sons and three daughters: Cora, 
Nettie, Rufus, Aranda, Clarendon, Adalbert, and Blanche. These are 
all living, and Cora is the wife of Terry Stevens, of Shabbona. Mr. and 
Mrs. Allen are members of the United Brethren church, and he is a 
republican. In February, 1865, Mr. Allen enlisted in Co. I, 15th 111. 
Inf. He rendezvoused at Camp Fry, Chicago ; went thence to New 
York, and from there to North Carolina, joining his command at 
Raleigh. He marched to Washington City, participated in the Grand 
Review on May 24, then was transferred to Louisville and St. Louis, 
and was furloughed at the latter place. He rejoined his command at 
Fort Leavenworth, where he was mustered out on September 17, 1865. 
Mr. Allen has been twice almost fatall^^ injured. The first time he 
was run over by a runaway team, and had his facial bones broken. 
The next time he was knocked down and terribl}' gored by an infuri- 
ated bull. Mr. Allen held to the rope by which he was leading him, 
while the animal rolled him about on the ground, and when in reach 
of a tree wound it around and tied it, and then rolled away. It was 
supposed each time that he could not live. 

Noah W. DAVENrour, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, was born in Har- 
persfield, Delaware county. New York, in 1823, and was the eldest 
child in the tamil}'. His mother, whose maiden name was Panielia 
Dayton, was a native of Weatherstield, Connecticut. His father, Eras- 
tus Davenport, was born in Columbia county, New York. His grand- 
father Davenport was a revolutionary soldier. The subject of this 
notice traces his lineage in this country from the Rev. John Daven- 
port, a co-founder of New Haven. In his " History of the United 
States " McCabe thus refers to him : " In the year of the Pequod war 
(1637) John Davenport, a celebrated clergyman of London, and The- 
ophilus Eaton, a merchant of wealth, and a number of their associates, 
who had been exiled from England for their religious opinions, reached 
Boston. They were warmly welcomed, and were urged to stay in the 
Bay colon}- ; but the theological disputes were so high there that the}' 
preferred to go into the wilderness and found a settlement where they 
could be at peace. Eaton, with a few men, was sent to explore the 
region west of the Connecticut, which had been discovered by the pur- 
suers of the Pequods. He examined the coast of Long Island Sound, 
and spent the winter at a place which he selected as a settlement. In 
April, 1S38, Davenport and the rest of the company sailed from Boston, 
and established a settlement on the spot chosen by Eaton." In the 
campaign against the Indians, which resulted in the total destruction 
of the Pequod nation, Capt. Davenport acted a conspicuous part. 
When their fort on the Thames was assaulted and taken he com- 
manded one-half of the assailing party, and Capt. John Mason, who 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 809 

was in command of the whole expedition, directed personally the 
movements of the other half. Mr. Davenport received a good English 
edncation, and in 1846 commenced reading to prepare himself for the 
practice of medicine. In 1848 and 1849 he attended lectures at the 
Albany Medical College, of New York, and in 1850 located in Lor- 
raine county, Ohio. Subsequently he settled in Van "Wert county, 
where his health failed, and then he came to Lee county, Illinois, re- 
maining one year. In January, 1874, he went to Washington Terri- 
tory, living there two years. In 187G he returned to the east, and 
finally settled down on a farm in Willow Creek township. In the 
summer of the present year (1881) he took a foreign tour. Dr. Daven- 
port has had an eventful, as it is an interesting, history, but his native 
modesty will not permit us to detail it in full. He was descended 
from old-line whig stock, and is naturally a republican. 

George A. BEixTAm, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, was the second son 
of William and Elizabeth (Oman) Brittain, and was born in Lycoming 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. His paternal ancestors were residents 
of New Jersey, and those on his mother's side belonged to Pennsyl- 
vania. His parents reared a large family ; their twelve children were 
named as follows: Margaret, Susannah, Sarah, Effie (dead), Hester 
Miranda, Amelia, Mary, Rebecca, John, George, William Wesley, 
Oman Peter (dead). John was a soldier in the 156th 111. Vols., and 
served nearly a year. In 1855 Mr. Brittain's parents came to Lee 
county and rented laud ten years. In 1865 his father bought the farm 
where our subject now resides, the S. ^ of N.W. J Sec. 28. On this 
place the former died in 1878, at the age of seventy-nine years. Mr. 
Brittain has increased the homestead which he received from his father, 
by the addition of the S.W. J of N.E. J Sec. 28, making 120 acres 
valued at $6,000. He was married in 1876, to Miss Marietta Hall, who 
is the daughter of Reuben Hall, and was born December 22, 1859. 
Their children are Oman P., born August 15, 1878 ; and Martha, Sep- 
tember 'J, 1880. Mr. Brittain has been constable and collector, be- 
longs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a republican. Mrs. 
Brittain is a member of the United Brethren church. 

Sardis VosBURGH, farmer, Lee, son of Charles and Millicent (Van- 
luvanee) Vosburgh, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, July 
8, 1836. His life-long occupation has been that of a farmer. In 1856 
he came to De Kalb county, and settled at Shabbona, living there till 
1867. The year before he had purchased of his present farm the S.E. 
J Sec. 23. He has since bought eighty acres adjoining in Sec. 26, 
making a total of 240 acres of very desirable land, valued at §12,000. 
On March 27, 1867, he removed from Shabbona to this homestead. 
His marriage with Miss Ellen Atherton, who was born in 1835, took 



810 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

place on Marcli 24, 186'!:. They have three intelligent children : Will- 
iam, born July 10, 1867; Fannie, December 22, 1S68; and Nellie, 
October 31, 1870. Mrs. VosbUrgh is a communicant in the Baptist 
chnrch. Mr. Vosburgh has been road commissioner si.x years, and is a 
republican in politics. The present year (1881) he put up a handsome 
store building in Lee, the lirst brick structure ever erected in that 
village. Mr. Vosburgh is one of the most respected men in Willow 
Creek. 

Thomas Nelson, farmer and teacher, Lee, son of Nels and Guro 
Samson, was born in Hardanger, Norway, September 26, 1843. His 
3'outh from six to fourteen was spent in the district schools of the 
country ; afterward he attended A^oss higher school for teachers at 
Vossvangen, two years. He taught one year, beginning in the spring 
of 1861, and the following spring emigrated to America, and was en- 
gaged as a teacher in the Norwegian select school in Chicago. He 
taught till the autumn of 1864, and on November 1 enlisted for two 
years in the navy. His whole service was on the Mississippi transport 
Volunteer. He was retained but half his time, and was mustered out 
November 3, 1865. On his return to civil life he took one term of in- 
struction at the Paxton University, in Ford county, Illinois, and then 
taught again in Chicago until the autumn of 1866. Having been pre- 
viously engaged to teach in the Norwegian Lutheran congregation in 
Willow Creek, he came here that fall. Until 1870 he was teaching 
and clerking; in that year he bought his present farm of forty acres; 
since that date he has taught both English and Norwegian schools, and 
clerked and farmed. His homestead is valued at $2,000. In the au- 
tumn of 1868 he returned to Norway, and on April 2, 1869, took in 
marriage Miss Bertha Swassand. They embarked the same season for 
America. The fruits of this union have been three children : Nels 
William, Carrie Louise, and Andrew. These parents are members of 
the Norwegian Lutheran church, and Mr. Nelson is a republican. In 
1880 he was commissioned notary public, and appointed census enu- 
merator for Willow Creek township. In the spring of 1881 he was 
elected to the office of justice of the peace. 

Caleb M. Bacon, farmer, Lee, eldest son of Daniel H. and Mary 
(Zuber) Bacon, was born in Pennsylvania in 1826. From his father's 
farm he went at the age of nineteen to New Bedford, Massachusetts, 
and engaged to go on shipboard. His first voyage was through the 
Indian ocean, by way of Australia and New Zealand, to Kamtchatka, 
thence to the Sandwich Islands, and from there home via Cape Horn. 
This occupied twent\'-two and a half months. From 1847 to 1849 he 
was on a voyage in the Indian ocean, visiting Australia, island of Java, 
strait of Sunda, thence home by way of Cape of Good Hope, touching, 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 811 

on the passage back, at St. Helena. In October, 1849, he sailed for the 
Pacific ocean and Polar sea, making ports on the west coast of South 
America and at the Sandwich and other islands. This vo3'age lasted 
tliirty-one months. On his subsequent ones he went out and returned 
by the way of Cape Horn. He shipped again for the Pacific and Arctic 
oceans in October 1852, and visited tiie Sandwich and other islands 
and Hong Kong, and was absent twenty-nine months. In the autumn 
of 1855 he sailed over neai-lj' the same route on his fifth and last voyage, 
which he brought to an end in the spring of 1858, when bis health 
broke down and he took a discharge from the ship at the Sandwich 
Islands, and came home from there as a passenger. The vv^hole of his 
sea-faring life was spent in the whale-fishery. In the fall of 1858 he 
came to Willow Creek township and made permanent settlement on 
tiie S.W. J of Sec. 14, wiiere he has lived until the present time. He 
had been twice to Illinois before, having come on visits between his 
voyages. His first marriage was with Miss Sarah Pettibone, of New- 
York city, wiio survived her nuptials only five months. In 1862 he 
was married again, to Miss Sarah Brittain, who was born in 1833, and 
was the daughter of William Brittain. Five children have been born 
to them : Rhoda, Uaniel, Elizabeth (dead), Mary, and Homer. When 
Mr. Bacon first came to the township he purchased 240 acres of land, 
afterward he added 80 more, but now has 300, handsomely cultivated, 
improved with substantial buildings, and valued at $15,000. He is a 
Congregational ist, but the societ}' to which he belonged, and which 
assisted in building the Twin Groves Methodist church, has ceased, by 
reason of removals, to exist. He has been road commissioner, town 
clerk twice by appointment, assessor two years, and constable and col- 
lector. He is an independent republican, and a public spirited and 
prominent citizen. 

Laus Laksex Risetter, retired farmer, Lee, was born in Hardanger, 
Bergens stiff (state), Norway, March 30, 1826. He was the youngest 
son of Lars Larsen and Anna (Peterson) Risetter, and was reared to 
farming, and received a common school education. In the middle of 
March, 1847, he left his home in Norway to take passage for America; 
he was delayed a month in the city of Bergen, was a month crossing 
the ocean, and still another month in reacliing Chicago. He proceeded 
from New York l)y the Hudson river to Albany, from thence by rail 
to Buflalo, and the remainder of the way by the lakes. Ommon 
Hillesoti, the first Norwegian settler in Lee county, had brothers and 
sisters in the party with which Mr. Risetter came, and he was to meet 
them in Chicago and transport them to Lee Center, but failed to reacii 
tliere before they got away, although they were detained awiiile in the 
place. "Big Nels," the most prominent Norwegian in the Fox river 
48 



812 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

colony, convej'ed them as far as his home, and there they hired a man 
and his team to bring tliem to Lee Center, where they arrived on June 
20. Mr. Risetter was taken with fever and ague and was ill all sum- 
mer, and not able to work before December. He arrived at Lee Center 
sick, penniless, and unable to make himself understood and liis wants 
known to tlic strangers among whom he was cast, for Ommon Hilleson 
was still in Chicago, or between tlie two places. To say tiie least, this 
was a painful situation, and Mr. Risetter will never forget it. But the 
cloud lifted somewiiat and the sun shone with a brigliter effulgence 
when Hilleson returned, for tiien was the meeting of old-time friends 
and near relations after long years of tedious separation and waiting. 
In the autumn he was married to Miss Gertrude Hilleson, who had 
taken passage with him from Norway, and immediately they hired out 
in Sublette, to Thomas Fessenden, for $15 per month for the labor of 
both. They continued so employed one year, and until they had saved 
enough to buy 80 acres of land from the government, when they began 
farming on their own account. Tiiey reared a little log cabin, in 
which they dwelt with much comfort until 1856, when they sold out 
and in February moved to Willow Creek. It should be recognized in 
this place that they were the first family of Norwegian settlers in Sub- 
lette township and the second in this. Mr. Risetter bought the S.W. J 
of Sec. 15 at the price at which the government sold public land, $1.25 
per acre, but was not forehanded enough to pay for it ; so Col. Dement 
advanced the money at ten per cent interest, and lield it in his name 
three years, when Mr. Risetter became the virtual owner. He and his 
wife labored with severe industry, and from this time dates a period of 
signal financial success in their history. At one time they owned 920 
acres of valuable land in a body, besides tracts in various other places, 
but they have sold off 280 acres, and the rest is occupied by their 
children. Both belong to the Lutheran church, and Mr. Risetter is a 
republican. They have had seven children : Anna, Lewis, Holden, 
Thomas (dead), and three infants (dead). Anna is the wife of A. C. 
Olson, minister and farmer, and lives in Kankakee county, this state; 
Lewis married Miss Melinda Johnson, and lives on tlie old homestead, 
and Holden, who was married November 11, 1875, to Miss Julia 
Christopher, lives on the N.E. \ Sec. 21. Ilolden's three children are 
Louisa, Betsy, and Lewis. The Risettere are among the most sub- 
stantial, influential and best respected people in this part of the county. 
IIe.nky Stevens, fiirmer, Compton, was born in Wayne county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1826. He was the eldest son of Nicholas and Ann 
(Ketterson) Stevens, and was reared a farmer by his parents. In the 
autumn of 1851 he came to Willow Creek and bought tifty-nine acres; 
returning to Pennsylvania he remained there that winter, and in the 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 813 

following spring came back, and at once set about improving his land. 
He has added to his oiMginal purchase until he now owns 136 acres of 
choice farming land, estimated to be worth $G,000. In politics he ad- 
heres to the principles of the republican party. He has been twice 
married, and celebrated his first nuptials with Miss Sarah Ann Sisco 
January 1, 1860, and by her he had two children, John and Sarah 
Annie. She died in February 1863, and on December 13 following 
he was married to Miss Mary Jane Sivey, who was born June 4, 1840. 
By this second marriage there ha%'e been born to him three children. 
The names of all his children and the dates of their birth are as follows : 
John, October 15, 1860 ; Sarah Annie, January 31, 1862 ; Rosetta, Sep- 
tember 19, 1864; Clarence, January 21, 1866, and Levi, October 24, 
1869. 

Jacob Edwaeds, farmer, Lee, the fifth of eight children by Od and 
Dora (Odson\ was born in Norway, May 25, 1842. In June, 1866, he 
emigrated to America and settled in La Salle county, where he lived 
till 1872, working first as a hand and afterward renting land. In that 
year he came to this township, and was married February' 10, to Miss^ 
Inger Odeson, daughter of John and Ann Odeson, who emigrated from 
Norway in 1858. Mrs. Edwards was born in the old country June 27, 
1854. Their five children were born as follows: Oscar John, Novem- 
ber 8, 1873 ; John Epliraim, May i, 1875 ; Dora, September 18, 1876 ; 
Andrew Oly, November 3, 1878, and Marshal Lewis, December 2,. 
1880. In 1873 Mr. Edwards purchased the farm he now occupies from 
his father-in-law, and his parents-in-law reside with him. His home- 
stead consists of eighty acres on Sec. 22, is five miles north of Paw 
Paw, and is worth §3,600. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are members of the 
Norwegian church. The former left his parents in Norway, and his- 
mother died after his departure, at the age of seventy, but his father is 
still living. In 1874 Mr. Edwards filed his declaration of intention to 
become a citizen, in 1878 obtained his naturalization papers, and in. 
1880 voted for Gen. Garfield for president. 

Samuel B. Miller, farmer and stock raiser. Paw Paw Grove, wag; 
born February 15, 1843. His father's given name is William, and his- 
mother's maiden name was Eliza Vosburg. In the autumn of 1856^ 
his father brought his family to Illinois, settling in Viola township,, 
where the subject of this notice lived until the spring of 1867, and 
then came to his present farm on Sec. 30. He owned 120 acres until' 
the spring of this year (1881); at that time he purchased 100 acres- 
more, and the whole, in a good state of cultivation, well stocked with 
implements, and containing first-class buildings, is valued at §11,000. 
Mr. Miller never learned a trade, but was descended from ancestors 
who were all natural craftsmen, and his own practical ability in this. 



814 HISTOKY OF LEE COUNTY. 

liue of industry has enabled him to use tools all his life with no little 
skill and real benefit. He does his own wood- work, and has put up 
all his buildings except one barn. His marriage with Miss Sarah Mil- 
ler, daughter of Adam Miller, was celebrated July 22, 1866. Mrs. 
Miller was born January 1, 18-17. They have had seven children : 
Joseph, Llewellyn and Lewis (twins), the latter dead, Nettie, Clement, 
Delia, and Mary. Mr. Miller is a republican. 

R.4LFH KicrrLKY, farmer, Compton, son of John and Ann (Paul) 
Kettley, was born in Wales in May 1828. He learned the shoemaker's 
trade, and in 1849 emigrated to America with only enough money to 
■pay his way, and settled in Chicago in the boot and shoe trade in 
partnership with John Blow. At the end of three years he moved to 
Peoria, followed his trade there three years, then came to Ottawa a few 
months, after which he moved to Bloomington, and was in that place 
nearly a year. Xe.vt he settled in Wyoming township, this county, 
working at farming summers and at his trade winters for several years. 
In December, 1864, he came into this township, where he had previously 
bought 160 acres of land on Sec. 18, which is now well improved and 
valued at §11,000. Mr. Kettley was married in 1852, to Miss Eliza 
Beddow, who was born March 6, 1827. They have had eight children : 
William, John, Lizzie (now Mrs. James Anglemycr, of Compton), Julia, 
Thomas, Harriet, Lillie (dead), and Mary. All these children except 
William were born in Wyoming township. John lives in Nebraska, 
and was married this year (1881) to Miss Nettie Knapp. Mr. Kettley 
is a republican. Mrs. Kettley's mother died when the former was onl}' 
ten years old, and for the ne.\t fifteen years she worked as a domestic. 
She borrowed mone^' on her own promise to pa^-, and emigrated to 
America, in 1852, and after her arrival repaid it from wages she earned. 
Her grandmother Beddow lived to the great age of one hundred and 
three 3'ears, and when a hundred years old walked six miles to Mrs. 
Kettley's mother's funeral and back. This couple have climbed a rugged 
path together, but the}' have reached the summit of life, and the de- 
scending sun looks down upon a happy famil}' and a comfortable home. 

James Tnioii'sox, deceased, was born in Virginia in 1803, and was 
the. son of John and Martha (Beard) Thompson. His parents remained 
and died in Virginia, while he, when a young man, came to Ohio, and 
living there two years, removed to Indiana. He was in that state some 
twelve years, and in 1834 was married to Miss Amanda Dunten, who 
lived near Fort Wayne. She was the daughter of Ephraim H. and 
Abigal Dunten, and was born in Watertown, New York, in 1S15, and 
united with the Methodist church when eighteen years old. In 1841 
Mr. Thompson moved to this county and settled at Malugin's Grove, 
rcmMiiiiiiir there two rears. In 1842 he boujrlit a claim of William 



"WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 815 

Moore at Twin Groves, in compan}' with Levi Lathrop, and the follow- 
ing year settled there. His health having become impaired, in 1851 he 
drove to California with an o.\-teani, remained there a little less than 
two years, and returned by steamship. Not long after his marriage he 
became a member of the Methodist church, and was always an active 
and exemplary christian. He took the principal interest in the building 
of the Methodist church at the Groves, and contributed very liberally 
toward that object. He was constable once in Indiana, and was once 
elected justice of the peace here, but did not qualify, and would never 
afterward hold public office. He was modest in manner, retiring in 
disposition, and loved a good name more than worldly goods, but 
secured both, and left behind many warm personal friends to revere his 
memory. His overflowing kindness to everybody, particularly to peo- 
ple moving into the country and needing-assistance, was proverbial. 
He was a large-hearted man, benevolent always, and very active in his 
charities, and man}- a poor heart has warmed in gratitude to him for 
such practical remembrances as drive the wolf from the door. In all 
his good works he was cordially supported by his estimable wife, wha 
is still living on the homestead which their joint labors secured to- 
make comfortable their declining years. Mrs. Gilbert Durin, formerly 
Catherine Norris, was reared in their home, as was also their niece, 
Lucy Jane Blair, daughter of Robert Blair, who is now Mrs. Ebenezer 
Pettenger, and lives in the Thompson home. "Aunt Amanda" has, 
no less than Mr. Thompson had, a warm place in the hearts of a wide 
circle of acquaintances. The latter died July 5, 1868. 

Patrick H. DAroHEKXT, farmer. Paw Paw Grove, was born in 
Hancock county, Mar^'land, March 17, 1833. His parents, John and 
Mary Daughertj-, both died when he was young. He has been a 
farmer most of his life, but during the four years immediately preced- 
ing his immigration to Illinois he was on the Baltimore and Ohio 
railroad, the first six months as brakeman and after that as freight con- 
ductor. Excejit the first three months that he ran from Baltimore to 
Washington, he was on the road from Baltimore to Martinsburg. In 
January, 1855, he came to this state, and though he never learned a 
trade, has worked as a mason since, about ten years altogether. He 
settled first in Lee county. In 1858 he married Miss Mary Jane 
Fisher, who was born July 28, 1835, and in 1861 he moved to Knox 
county, living there nearly three 3'ears. Returning, he lived at Jeffer- 
son Grove, Ogle county, one year. In 1865 he moved into Rochelle 
and was there two years, and for two years after occupied a farm ad- 
joining the town. In the fall of 1869 lie came into Lee county, and 
has since been in Viola and Willow Creek, four years in the former and 
the remainder of the time in the latter. In politics he is a democrat. 



^16 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Mr. and Mrs. Daugherty have had ten children : Thomas F., Alice J., 
Lydia Ann, James A., Ella P., John H., Etta R., Julia F., Jennie 
(dead), and Minnie. 

Adam Miller, farmer and blooded stock raiser, Paw Paw Grove, 
was born in Xorth Hampton, now Monroe county, Penns^-lvania, Au- 
gust 19, 1816. He was the eighth child of Frederick and Catherine 
(Brong) Miller, and was descended from Teutonic ancestry, one of his 
great-grandfathers being a German. He attended the common schools 
of his day, 'was raised to forming and lumbering, and at the age of 
eighteen began at the milling business. This he followed until the 
spring of 1857, when he emigrated to Illinois, a poor man with nine 
children and 8600, and located his family on the "W. i of N.W. ^ Sec. 
29. Afterward he bought the E. i of E. | of X.E. ^ Sec. 30, and the S. 
W. i of S.W. i Sec. 20, nmking 160 acres altogether, valued at $12,- 
000. This is beautifully situated, highly improved, and bears the 
nameof "Rosedale Stock Farm," on which Mr. Miller raises thorough- 
bred short-horn cattle, grade horses, and blooded Poland China hogs. 
He was born in "Wilkesbari-e, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, January 
20, 1839, to Miss Mary Neyhart, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth 
Neyhart. She was born October 10, 1817. They have had ten chil- 
dren : Cornelia (dead), Merritt, Clement (dead), Jenette (dead), Sarah, 
William, Seldon, Holden, Ciiarles, and Leonora. Merritt enlisted in 
Co. K, 75th 111. Vols., in August 1862, and fought at Perry ville; after 
that battle he was detailed as clerk, and in that position served the re- 
mainder of his term of three years. Clement volunteered in Februar\' 
1865, went to Chicago, where he was taken sick, and did not recover 
till after the close of the war. Mr. Miller has been a professing chris- 
tian since 1852. He united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 
that year, brought his church letter west, and when the Protestant 
Episcopal church was organized here, united with that and remained a 
member as long as it existed. He has no connection with any relig- 
ious society at the present time, but helps to support preaching at the 
Twin Groves Methodist church. Mrs. Miller was for many years a 
Presbyterian, but has not united with any church since coming to Illi- 
nois, and is now a Methodist in belief, having rejected the doctrine of 
election. Mr. Miller was raised a Master Mason in Brooklyn Lodge, 
No. 282, January 28, 1863; he was dimitted January 20, 1875, and 
affiliated with Corinthian Lodge, No. 205, November 4, 1875. He is 
a member of Rochelle Chapter A.F. and A.M., and belongs also to the 
Masonic Benevolent Society of Princeton, Illinois. He was a democrat 
up to 1856, but in that year cast his vote for Gen. John C. Fremont, 
and has adhered to the same line of political faith since. 

OsMAN J. Heng, hardware merchant, Lee, son of Jacob A. and 



WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP. 817 

Asher (Lenning) Heng, was born in Norway', April 19, 1854. In 1864 
the family emigrated to America and settled in Alto township. Mr. 
Heng attended the common schools at first, and was at the graded 
school at Marshall, Wisconsin, two winters. In 1877 he began to learn 
the tinner's trade in Leland, and was in that place up to the time he 
came to Lee, in March 1879. He is junior member of the firm of 
Weeks & Heng, and has been in trade in this town since December 
1880. These gentlemen have a full assortment of goods in their line 
and are doing a large business. They are young men full of enter- 
prise, honorable in their dealings, and agreeable in their intercourse. 
Mr. Heng was married September 14, 1878, to Miss Belle Thompson, 
of Lee, daughter of Thomas Tl)ompson, who still lives in Norway. 
They have one son, Jacob Otto, born August 7, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hi.'ns; are members of the Norwosian Lutheran church, and he is a re- 
publican. When an infant, Mr. Heng was overtaken b}' a serious ac- 
oitlent in the loss of his right leg, in the fall of 1854, in a horse power. 
In the spring of 1878 his parents removed to Iowa, and on July 4, the 
next year, while attending a celebration at Callanan, Hamilton county, 
his father was fatally shot by a drunken ruffian, and died in about two 
weeks. 

George Mullins, ftirmer, Lee, son of Robert and Sarah (Hullet) 
Mullins, was born in Sheffield, England, in 1842. His father had for- 
merly worked in the cutlery business, but when Mr. Mullins was a 
very small infant he quit that craft and went to farming, and followed 
it as long as he was engaged in any regular employment. In 1852 the 
family emigrated and made a home in Shabbona township, De Kalb 
county. His father's house stood within forty rods of the ti-ack of the 
tornado which swept through these parts in ISGO, and the doors and 
windows were shattered. His mother liad been in feeble health for a 
long time ; the shock to her nerves was more than she could bear, and 
she died in about two weeks. His father is now living retired in 
Shabbona. Mr. Mullins was married November 14, 1866, to Miss Mary 
Ann Bostock, who was adopted by William and Ann Bostock, when 
she was three months old. Her own mother, Catherine Gray, died of 
consumption nearlj' four years afterward. Mr. Bostock came to Amer- 
ica in 1865 to view the country, and was followed by the family the 
next year. They located themselves first at Shabbona Grove, but now 
live on the county line in De Kalb county. They never had children 
of their own, but have reared seven adopted ones. Mr. and Mrs. Mul- 
lins have seven children : Sarah Minnie, Emma Louisa, William, 
Eobert, George F. and Maud Mary (twins), and Mary Ann. Mr. Mul- 
lins owns 220 acres, valued at $11,000. His farm comprises the S. -^ 



818 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

of S.E. ^ Sec. 12, ninety acres on the N.W. ^ Sec. 18, in this township, 
and fifty acres on the S.W. i Sec. 7, T. 38, R. 3. He is a republican. 
Chakles Guilds, farmer and stock raiser, Lee, was born in Sharon, 
Vermont, January 28, 1830, and was the eldest child of Harvey and 
Clarissa fLittle) Childs. His father was a noted millwright and bridge- 
builder. In 1838 he moved to Illinois, and settled in Mendota, La 
Salle county. Both parents are yet living in that place, well advanced 
in years, and enjoying a comfortable fortune. The origin of the Childs 
family in the United States was the settlement of Ephraim Childs at 
Watertown, in the Massachusetts colony, 1630. The ancestor of the 
larger number of this name was Benjamin Childs, presumably a nephew 
of Ephraim, who, it is thought, crossed the ocean from England at the 
same time. He settled at Koxbury, where he lived a busy and useful 
life. The subject of this sketch assisted his father in the opening of 
several prairie farms in his younger daj-s, when the country was in a 
comparatively wild state. After having served out his minority on a 
farm, having a strong inclination to be a worker in wood, in his 
twenty-second year he took up the use of tools without ever serving 
an apprenticeship. He was handy with these by nature, so when he 
engaged in carpentering it was without inconvenience, and he followed 
the business successfullj' fourteen years as architect, builder and con- 
tractor. In 1851 he went to Lamoille, and though he was not there 
all the time, yet it was the place he called home, and it was there that 
he began his career as a craftsman. On September 28, 18.58, he was 
married to Miss Eliza A. Smith, daughter of Alonzo and Rebecca 
(Sheldon) Smith. She was born March 26, 1834. They have reared 
four children, as follows : Viola Alvaretta, Frank Leslie, Lyman Wliee- 
lock, and Nellie Eliza. Mr. Childs is a republican. On July 10, 1861, 
he came from Lamoille to his present location in Willow Creek, and 
bought eighty acres. He made his start in life unaided, and without 
outside aid he has kept adding on to his first purchase until he now 
owns a very desirable homestead of 285 acres, three-fourths of a mile 
south of Lee, and valued at $20,000. It is situated on the county line, 
and lies in both Lee and De Kalb. When Mr. Childs came, twenty 
years ago, not a slirub grew in sight of his place, and not a panel of 
fence obstructed travel between here and Rochelle. Now he is in the 
midst of beautiful improvements that have no limit on any hand. The 
iron horse that careers past the door of his pleasant and tasteful home 
sets him down in Chicago in little more than two hours. All the 
advantages of a brisk and flourishing town are at command at the end 
of a few moments' pleasurable ride in fine carriages and behind spirited 
animals, such as Mr. Childs keeps and drives. Should we wonder if 
social joy abounds in a home where stately rows of willows line the 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 819 

tidy and fertile fields, and trim and lofty maples spread their branches 
in the yards and around the comfortable farm buildings? 

William H. Emmett, book-keeper, Lee, was born near Niagara 
Falls, Canada, in 1S49, and lived there with his parents, James and 
Elizabeth (Dalsou) Eramett, till he was seventeen 3'ears old, farming 
at home summers, and attending tlie common schools winters. He 
then pursued a three years' course of study at St. Catherine's, and at 
twenty commenced teaching, following this two j'ears. In 1871 he 
celebrated his marriage with Miss Susannah Castleman, and in the 
autumn of that year he came to Willow Creek and engaged in teach- 
ing, keeping three terms in this township and one in Alto. In the 
spring of 1873 he moved to Lee, and was employed by J. Cheasbro & 
Co., and after a few months took charge of their books as book-keeper. 
He continued in the office of McLane, West & Co. after they bought 
out Cheasbro & Co., and until December 1874. In the winter follow- 
ing he taught the first school in the village of Lee, and in April 
accepted the position of book-keeper in the grain office of Christopher 
ct Jorgens, and has filled it to the present time. He has the agency, 
also, for eight of the leading insurance companies now doing business. 
Two years he was village trustee, and at the annual meeting in 1881 
he was elected justice of the peace for this township. He is affiliated 
politically with the republican party, and both himself and Mrs. 
Emmett have their membership in the Baptist church. They have 
three children : Burton Ellis, Clara, and Arthur D. Mr. Emmett has 
been active in promoting the Sunday-school interests and temperance 
work of Lee, and has been superintendent of the Union Sabbath-school 
two and a half years. AVe acknowledge with pleasure liis valuable 
assistance in furnishing material facts for the history of the village. 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 

The matter that follows, much of it of a veiw important character, 
was received too late for insertion in the portion of the book originally 
designed for it. Some of the slcetches were held for revision by friends 
until the sheets containing the matter most appropriate for them had 
gone to press. 

John W. Wodsworth, agricultural merchant, Dixon, was born in 
Frederick county, Maryland, November 1, 1844. He is a son of 
Christopher and Matilda (Feaster) Wodsworth, pioneer settlers of this 
section, wiio endured the manj' hardships and inconveniences alone 
known to pioneer life. John W., the subject of this sketch, came 
to Illinois with his parents in 1847, when three years old, and re- 



820 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

iniiined with liis parents on the liome farm, located in Ogle county, 
until 1S66, when he secured and creditably tilled the position of freight 
clerk and telegraph operator at the Illinois Central depot at Dixon for 
five years. He then went to Amboy, in Lee county, and acted as super- 
intendent's private secretary in railroad otKce at that place, which posi- 
tion he tilled for a year and a half; thence removing to Bloomington, 
Illinois, miing the important position of station agent in that city for 
six years. During his association with railroad matters he gained the 
esteem and contidencc of his employers, and his efficiency in the work 
made his resignation in 1873 a matter of regret. By economy during 
this ])eriod he saved from his earnings a sufficient amount to jnirchase 
120 acres of tine farming land in Harmon township, to which he soon 
added 40 acres more, onto which he moved after severing his relation 
with the railroads. In the two j'cars following he was very successful, 
and his income enabled him to purchase 120 acres more, giving him 280 
acres of well-improved land. From this land in 1880 and 1881 he sold 
as follows: corn, 9,000 bushels; oats, 2, .500 bushels; car-load of fat 
hogs, besides other stock, the whole aggregating over $4,525. He has 
now rented his farm, cash rent, and moved to Dixon to reside, having 
purchased the beautiful residence in North Dixon knowh as the Manny 
property, and is associated with Maj. Downing in the agricultural ini- 
})lement business. In 1868, while residing in Dixon, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Josephine Gohle, daughter of James Goble, Esq., an 
old citizen of Dixon, and for many years sherifi' of Lee county. The 
issue of this union was six children, four boys and two gii'ls. Mr. 
Wodsworth has live brothers and five sisters, all living. His mother 
is also liviuij, hut his father ]>assed awa}' in 1875. 

Jamks Santke, fanner, Dixon, was born in Luzerne county, Penn- 
sylvania, on April 9, 1803, son of James M. and Kachel (McNeal) San- 
tee, of Pennsylvania. He was married February 21, 1837, to Miss 
Margaret Clinetop, daughter of Christopher and Margaret (Varner) 
Clinetop, of Pennsylvania. In the month of April, 1837, thej' left 
their native state, and reached Illinois in June following, and settled 
in Lee count}' during the summer. They were among the first settlers 
of Lee county, and are associated with its early history in this work. 
The issue of their marriage was four children, two of whom are living: 
James M„ who resides on the home farm, and Lyidia, who lives with 
her aged mother on the same place. James Santee, the subject of this 
sketch, was an enterprising citizen and good farmer, and his death, on 
December 16, 1871, was generally lamented. His family that survive 
him are higiily esteemed and respected. 

David R. Bowles, merchant, Dixon, was born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1831. and was the son of Robert and Jane (Ross) 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 821 

Bowles. His parents removed from Hagerstown, Maryland, to 
Franklin count}-, Pennsylvania, in 1822, and resided there until their 
death. Mr. Bowles acquired his early education at an old log school, 
house in the vicinity of his home, and when twenty years old entered 
the office of a large ironworks in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, as 
a clerk. He remained there for nearly four years, and then removed 
to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, where he occupied a similar position. 
In 1860 he removed to Reynoldstown, Lee county, Illinois, where he 
purchased a farm upon which he remained until 1875, when he rented 
liis farm and removed into Dixon, and soon after engaged in the 
grocery business, which he still cai'ries on. Mr. Bowles was married 
in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1855, to Miss Kebecca 
D. Scott, daughter of Thomas Scott, Esq., and a sister of the Hon. 
Thomas A. Scott, lately deceased, who was assistant secretarj' of war 
during the administration of Abraham Lincoln, and widely known in 
later years as the president of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad Corn- 
pan}', and as one of the most energetic and capable railroad men in the 
United States. Mr. Bowles has six children : Thomas S., George K., 
Harriet, David R., Minnie J. and DeCharms B., all of whom reside 
with their parents. In political sentiment Mr. Bowles is a republican, 
but votes and uses his influence for what he deems the best interests 
of the countr}', independent of party ties. 

B. B. HiGGiNS, merchant and stock raiser, Dixon, was born at 
Perry, Wyoming count}'. New York, in February 1829. His parents 
were Seldeii and Polly (Taylor) Higgins. His father was a furniture 
manufacturer, and died while Mr. Higgins was quite young. He 
received his education at Perry and at the Homer Academy, located at 
Homer, Cortland county. New York. When he was seventeen years 
of age he started into the drug business at Perry and carried on that 
branch of business for some five or six years. He removed to Dixon 
in the spring of 1858 aud opened a drug store, which he still conducts. 
He also owns a stock farm in the vicinity of Dixon and has achieved 
great reputation as a successful breeder of blooded stock. An account 
of this farm appears elsewhere. Mr. Higgins was married in Perry, 
New York, to Miss N. A. Huntington, of Shaftsbury, Vermont, in 
1856, who died at Dixon in 1865. He has but one surviving child, 
Arthur S. Higgins, who was born at Dixon, August 2, 1863. Mr. 
Higgins is a republican in politics and an elder in a Presbyterian 
church. 

John A. Wernick, farmer, Dixon, was born in Saxony, June 14, 
1789, and is now in his ninety-third year. Notwithstanding his 
advanced age he is active and in the enjoyment of all his mental 
faculties. In his youth he served under the great Napoleon, and was 



822 HISTORY OK LEE COUNTY. 

present at tlie battles of Berlin, Reiseiibacli, and Katzbaoli, and was a 
participant in the disastrous Russian campaign. He was also present 
at the battle of Leipsie, during which the Saxon troops deserted the 
waning fortunes of Bonaparte and went over to the enemy. From that 
time until the final overthrow of Napoleon at Waterloo Mr. Wernick 
fought against his former commander, and carries with iiim two certifi- 
cates of honorable service in the shape of a saber-cut upon his head 
and a terrible scar upon his wrist caused by the thrust of a lance. Mr. 
Wernick migrated to America in 1848, settling first in Ogle county; 
but in 1851 removed to Lee county and purchased the farm now occu- 
pied by him. Flis son, Ernest Wernick, was born in Haringen, 
Prussia, in 1832, and was brought up in his native country. He came 
to America in 1848 with his father. He has been engaged in farming 
ever since and is now the owner of some 4.50 acres of fine land in Dixon 
township. In September, 18G2, he enlisted in T.5th 111. Inf and served 
in that regiment for three j'ears with great credit to liimself. He was 
married at Dixon in 18.55, to Miss Mary Page, who died in 18G2, and 
in 18(i5 he was again married, to Miss Catherine Rupert. He haseigiit 
children living: Henry, Annie, Mary, George, Minnie, Wesley, 
Oscar, and Carrie. Mr. Wernick is an earnest republican and a mem- 
ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church. 

Elias B. Stiles, capitalist, Dixon, was born in Huntingdon, 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on March 9, 1820, and was the son of 
Lewis and Sarah (Dodson) Stiles. He was brought up and educated in 
his native county, but when twenty years of age came to Dixon, wliere 
he became a clerk, which occupation he followed for two years, after 
which he formed a copartnership with Otis A. Eddy, under the firm 
name of Eddy vV Stiles, which continued until 1S4C, when Mr. Stiles 
moved to St. Louis. In 1848 he returned to Dixon and engaged 
largely in the land agency and real estate business. He o])ened a private 
bank in 1853, and enjoyed a large and prosperous business until 1S04, 
■when, owing to unfortunate speculations, he was obliged to suspend. 
Since 18G4 he has been largely engaged in farming and agricultural 
pursuits, and is also one of the largest and most daring operators on the 
Chicago board of trade, having experienced many favorable and unfa- 
vorable vicissitudes, but meeting good or evil fortune with equal nerve 
and fortitude. He has long been a prominent member of the democratic 
party in his district, and was for ten years county treasurer. In 1862 
he was the democratic candidate for congress in his district against 
Hon. E. B. Washburne, and made a shftrp and close contest for the 
position. Mr. Stiles was married at Dixon on August 8, 1847, to Miss 
Sybil Van Arnam, and they have tiiree sons : Ciiarles, born September 
18, 1848; Alexander, born July IS, 1854; and Eugene B., born No- 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 823 

veniber 8, 1861. On the morning of August 26, 1881 (and after the 
foregoing sketch was written), the sad and sudden announcement of 
the death of Mr. Stiles, in Chicago, from paralysis of the heart, came 
to the citizens of Dixon, taking them by surprise, as very few knew of 
his illness. He had experienced one severe stroke of paralysis 
some three years since, and one comparatively slight attack since, but 
had gone from Dixon to Chicago but a few days before his death in his 
usual good health and spirits, and no one anticipated such a sudden 
termination of liis active and energetic career. His remains were 
brought to Dixon, and the funeral services took place at the Methodist 
Episcopal church on Sunday, August 28, a large concourse of his fullow- 
citizcns attending and showing by their presence the esteem and respect 
in which he was universally held. 

Richard B. Loveland, deceased, Dixon, was born in Bainbridge, 
New York, May 1, 1819, and was the son of Otis and Mehitabel 
(Parker) Loveland. He was reared and educated at Bainbridge, and 
at an early age entered the employ of Smith Gilbraith, who afterward 
moved to Dixon and became one of the leading business men of that 
section. When Mr. Loveland was twent3'-two j'ears of age Mr. Gil- 
braith sent for him to coine to Dixon, which he immediately did, 
arriving at his destination almost penniless. His first employment 
consisted in overseeing the workmen employed in removing obstruc- 
tions from Rock river with a view to making it navigable. In 1842, 
in company with Elijah Dixon, a son of Father Dixon, he procured, 
tlirough the influence of Mr. Gilbraith, the contract for carrying the 
mails between Milwaukee and Janesville, "Wisconsin. Mr. Dixon 
dying a year later, his interest was purchased by Mr. Loveland, who 
continued to hold the contract for some years longer, making consid- 
erable money ; but when the passenger coaches of Frink & Walker 
were put on the route he I'eturned to Dixon and engaged in the general 
mercantile business, which he continued up to his death, which occurred 
in August 1851. He was married in May 1843, to Miss Susan Clute, 
of Dixon, and left three children surviving: Willett O., born in 1844, 
and now a merchant at Byron, Illinois; George, born in 1847, and now 
engaged in business at Mount Carroll, Illinois; Kittie, born in 1850, 
and married in October 1871, to Dr. H. E. Paine, of Dixon. Mrs. 
Loveland was married a second time in October 1854, to Maj. James 
A. Watson, of Dixon, who served for three years in the 75tli III. Vols., 
and since the close of the war has been actively engaged in railroad 
contracting and bridge building. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have three 
children : Fred M., born in 1854, and Samuel, born in 1858, both of 
whom are in the employ of prominent wholesale houses in Chicago, 
arnd Nellie, born in 1864, who resides with her parents. 



824 HISTORY OV LEE COUNTY. 

James M. Santee, iaiiiier and stock raiser, Dixon. Prominent 
among the pioneers of Lee county may be mentioned James M. Santee 
and his wife Margaret (Klintob) Santee. Tiiey came here from Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, with a team, and settled in Dixon town- 
ship. Mr. Santee died December 16, 1873, after a life of usefulness and 
honest toil, loved and respected by all who were favored with an acquaint- 
ance with him. Mrs. Santee is still (1881) living on the old home, at 
the advanced age of eighty years. Their son James M. was born in 
Lee county, Dixon township, September 11, 1845, and was reared and 
educated on the farm, finishing his education at the Mount Morris 
(Ogle county, Illinois) and Mount Vernon (Iowa) acadamies. Alter 
this he engaged in farming on his father's farm. On June 22, 1871, 
he married Miss Susanah, daughter of John and Martha (Cooper) Black- 
man, a native of England, who came with her parents to America in 
1851 and to Illinois in 1859. They are the parent-s of three children : 
Charles, Martha, and Wilber. Mr. Santee is now living on the old 
home in Sec. 10, T. 22, R. 9, of which he owns half, there lieing in 
the farm 240 acres. Stock raising and farming are his permanent em- 
ployment. 

Hett-ers, farmers, Dixon. Many men there are who, though <juiet 
and unassuming, "leave footprints on the sands of time." The deep 
stream moves silently on with scarce a ripple, yet far greater are its 
burdens and more lasting its wearings on rocky bank and bed. So it 
is with silent men. The}' bear the burdens of society. They are light- 
houses to the generations on the billow}- ocean of time, which men see- 
ing, take heed and steer their frail life-boats into calmer waters, away 
from noisy dashings of surf-beaten rocks and reefs. It is well that 
such men live. Such a man was Kathan Detlei-, a name positively 
German. Mr. Hetler was born in Columbia count}-, Pennsylvania, 
February 14, 1800. He early learned the cai-pcnter's trade, which he 
followed till coming west. He was married to Katharine Kul]>, who 
was born in the same county in l!^l)<i. Mr. and Mrs. Iletler, with 
their three children, Anna M., now Mrs. James A. Heaton, Mary A., 
wife of Aquilla Spencei-, and Hiram, moved across the country with a 
two-horse wagon, bringing their all and landing about June 6, 1837. 
Their first residence was on Sec. 35. T. 22, P. 9, W., in what is now 
Nachusa township. At the end of two years a change of location found 
them on Sec.'2, T. 21, R. 9, on an eighty-acre farm. This he improved, 
and on this farm J[r. Iletler built the first barn erected on the prairie. 
In this barn the Lutherans held services prior to the erection of their 
church. In a few years this farm was sold and what is now the home- 
stead was purchased. Here Mr. Hetler died. May 22, 1877, and here 
Mrs. Iletler still survives. Tiie names of both tiiese pioneers are on the 



I 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 825 

records of the Lutheran church as among its organizers. After tlicir 
arrival in Lee county five "children were horn to them : Jesse, Jeremiah, 
Amanda, John, Henry C. (dead). Hiram, the third child, was born in 
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1836. His early years 
were such as were common to pioneer children, the farm and the sub- 
scription school: In 1859 he made a trip to California, whence he 
returned in 1860. August 11, 1862, he was united in marriage to 
Nancy, daughter of Seth and Elizabeth (Smith) Crippen, both natives 
of New York, and who moved in 1856 to Dixon, where they resided 
many years, but subsequentl}' made their home in Michigan. Mrs. 
Hetler was born near Rochester, New York, May 17, 184-3. August 
22, 1862, Mr. Hetler enlisted in his country's service in Co. F, 1st 111. 
Light Art. He was actively engaged at Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, 
Missionary Ridge, in the series of battles and skirmishes from Chatta- 
nooga to Atlanta, and thence with Thomas to Nashville. When mus- 
tered out he was transferred to Co. A, with which he was finally dis- 
charged July 12, 1805. Mr. Hetler then returned to the quiet pursuits 
of the farm. He has now a farm of 240 acres, well improved. He 
has been much engaged in the affairs of his vicinity, having been school 
director continually since the war with the exception of three years, 
also assistant supervisor since 1878 and highway commissioner since 
1873. In the family are three children : Ida G., Lulu M. and Minnie E. 
John Hetler, the seventh child of Nathan and Katharine Hetler, has 
charge of the homestead. The farm, buildings, and all, speak order and 
system, doing honor to the owner. 

Jeremiah Hetler, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, son of Nathan 
and Katharine (Kulp) Hetler, was born in Lee county, Illinois, Oc- 
tober 4, 1842, and, like his father, was reared a farmer, and strictly 
trained in the ways of industry and economy, receiving such an educa- 
tion as could be obtained in the pioneer schools of this county's early 
history. He remained at home with his father till the farm was 
cleared of debt, at which time he was about twenty-six years of age. 
December 25, 1867, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of "William 
and Selinda (Morehead) McCleary. She was born in Lawrence 
county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1843, and came to Lee county in 
1864. They have three children : Grace M., Katie M. and Nettie S. 
In 1877 Mr. Hetler moved on his farm in Sec. 10, T. 22, R. 9, and 
engaged in farming and stock raising. 

Thomas J. Buckaloo, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, was born in 
Dixon, March 17, 1842. His early youth was spent in farming and 
attending school, the latter to a very limited extent, as his father died 
leaving him to care for himself at the age of twelve years. The next 
five years of his life was spent in working out by the month, after 



826 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

whicli lie engaged in farming for himself Januarj* 23, 1867, he mar- 
ried Miss Maggie A., daugliter of Mr. John and Margaret (Mong) 
Craddock, who was born in Maryland, May 11, 1843, and came to Lee 
county when a child nine years old. They are the parents of five 
ciiildren : Clinton C, Mabel E., Grace, Elizabeth L. and Allen T. 
Mr. Biickaloo is now the owner of the old homestead, where he now 
lives engaged in farming and stock raising. Ilis father, Joseph Biicka- 
loo, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1811; 
was united in marriage, in 1835, with Miss Eliza Kerr, who was born 
January 24, 1815, in Northampton county, Pennsvlvania. In 1839 
they came to Dixon, where, after renting around two years, they, in 
1841, bought a claim in Sec. 15 and 16, T. 22, R. 9, permanently set- 
tled, and lived till the death of Mr. Buckaloo in 1852. He is buried 
in the Dixon cemeter}'. Mrs. Buckaloo is still living, ami resides at 
her pleasant iiome in the city of Dixon. Of their six children three 
are living : Thomas J., Amanda, and George W. ; the latter in 1881 
removed to Wisconsin. 

Stephen Fii.lek, farmer, Dixon, is a son of Joshua and Sybel 
(Cliappen) Fuller, and was born March 17, 1797. His business 
through life has been farming. He came from Luzerne county, Penn- 
sylvania, to Dixon in au early day. At the time he first saw Dixon 
there were but a few houses or cabins there besides the old fort. His 
first winter was spent near Dixon, but in the spring he moved out on 
his claim in Sec. 37, T. 22, R. 9, and bought the same (320 acres) 
when it came into market, and has ever since made this place his 
home, preferring a home in the beautiful State of Illinois to one in 
the old rocky state of his nativity. He left Pennsvlvania with a team 
and wagon and drove through to Dixon. The country was then so 
sparsely settled that from twenty to thirty miles could be traveled and 
without seeing a house. He was married December 12, 1822, to Miss 
Anna IL Pratt. She died in 1851, leaving him with three children 
living: Champion, Caroline, wife of James Poorman, now living at 
Lyons, Iowa, and Abraham, who was born in Lee county, February 
9, 1837, and is probably the oldest native born citizen now living in 
the county. 

William Deity, farmer and lime dealer, Dixon, is a son of Har- 
mon and Catharine Dcpuy ; was born in Tioga county, New York, 
October 16, 1833, and in 183S came with his parents in a wagon to 
Lee county. For six weeks after their arrival in Dixon they lived 
tented in their wagon, after which they moved into a house on rented 
ground. Mr. Dupuy soon after bought a claim, but continued to rent 
land about five years before moving on his new home. This delay was 
caused by his loss of money (|il,500) lent to a man in the mercantile 



ADDITIONAL MATTER, 827 

trade in Dixon. After moving on his farm about two miles northeast 
of Dixon he remained there till the time of his death, which occurred 
September 15, 1856, aged sixty years. Mrs. Depuy died August 20, 
1869, aged sixty-two years. They are buried, and are now resting 
side by side in the beautiful cemetery in Dixon. January 25, 1870, 
William, the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Mary J. Mc- 
Evitt, a native of Ireland but of Scotch parents. They are the parents 
of six children, as follows : Oscar, Lillian, William H., Edner, Jacob C. 
and Frances. About 1851 Mr. Depuy, with his brother, began burn- 
ing lime near their home a short distance up the river from Dixon, but 
some 3-ears later they purchased a large and valuable body of limestone 
adi'oining the city of Dixon, where Mr. Depuy is now constantly burn- 
ing large quantities for both home and outside demand. 

Hon. Joseph Crawford, survej'or and banker, Dixon, was born in 
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1811, and is the son of John 
and Catharine (Cassedy) Crawford. In 1822 he removed with his par- 
ents to Huntington, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and at the age of 
twent}' he engaged in school teaching, in which profession he continued 
for four 3'ears. On April 4, 1835, he started for Illinois. Passing 
Chicago and Dixon's Ferry, he stopped at Galena, where he remained 
but a short time, returning to Dixon's Ferry, and located on a farm 
south of Grand Detour, in May of the same spring. He also engaged 
in business as surveyor, which he followed extensively uutil recent 
years, and made the original survey of most of the villages on Pock 
river from Rockford to Rock Island. In 1836 he was appointed deputy 
county surveyor for northwest Illinois, and was elected county surveyor 
of Ogle county, which then included Whitsides and Lee, and was elected 
surveyor of Lee county at the time of its organization in 1840, in which 
office he served for eighteen years. He served in 1841 as member of 
the first board of county commissioners for the county of Lee, and was 
elected to represent Lee and Whitesides in the Illinois state legislature 
in 1849, and reelected to the same in 1853. In 1852 he settled in 
Dixon, where he still resides. He has dealt extensively in farming 
lands, and owns about twelve hundred acres of fine farming land in 
Lee county ; one farm of 1,000 acres in one body three miles east of 
the city of Dixon, and one four miles southwest of the city, embracing 
200 acres. Both farms are devoted to grain and stock-wrowing. He 
was one of the chartered members of Lee county national bank, which 
was organized in 1865, since which time lie has sustained the relation 
of president. He was elected mayor of the city of Dixon in 1873, and 
reelected the two following terms. On September 16, 1852, Mr. 
Crawford was united in marriage to Mrs. Huld (Bowman) Culver. 
Resulting from this union is a son, Joseph Willber Crawford, born 
49 



828 HISTORY OF LEE COtTNTY. 

August 20, 1859, and still making his father's house his home. Mr. 
Crawford had two brothers and three sisters. His brotiier. Dr.' John 
S. Crawford, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was killed by a train of 
cars while crossing the track in his buggy. His brotiier, Samuel 
Crawford, resides at Sterling, this state; his two surviving sisters are 
Sarah and Catharine ; the former, Mrs. L. W. Hale, resides in Lee 
county, and the latter married Mr. John Litle, of Pennsylvania. They 
now reside in Hardin county, Iowa. His parents were born in Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania, and his forefathers were of Scotch blood. Mrs. 
Joseph Crawford was the daughter of John and Mary (Bretten) Bow- 
man ; the father was born on the banks of the Delaware river in Penn- 
sylvania, and the mother on Staten Island. Her grandfather, Christo- 
pher Bowman, was of German}'. 

Nathan A. Coktrigiit, farmer, Dixon, was born in Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania, on September 27, 1852, and is the son of Isaac 
and Mollie (Pollock) Cortright. His parents were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and resided in that state until 1862, when they removed to 
Illinois, and located in Dixon township. His father died in the spring 
of 18S0, but his mother is still living. Mr. Cortright received the 
principal part of his education after his removal to Illinois, and after 
leaving school engaged in farming, in which occupation he still "con- 
tiiines. He was married in 1873 to Miss Katie Burket, daughter of 
John M. Burket, deceased, an old resident of the township.- They have 
three children : John W., aged six, Charles N., aged four, and Shelby M., 
aged two years. Politically Mr. Cortright is a republican, and his 
wife is a member of the Lutheran church. 

William P. Coktrigiit, an elder brother of Nathan, was born 
in Pennsylvania in 1835, and when a young man was engaged in mer- 
cantile business, but at the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in 
Co. A., 28th Penn. Vols. From exposure in the service he became dis- 
abled, and being discharged, he returned home, and was employed in 
the office of a mining and railroad engineer company, at Hazleton, 
Pennsylvania. He remained with them several years, though in ex- 
tremely bad health, the result of his army career, and in the spring of 
ISGS his body from the waist down was completely paralyzed. He 
was then brought to the home of his parents at Dixon, and remained 
in a perfectly helpless condition until July 4, 1880, when death re- 
leased him from his suffering, which he had borne with heroic fortitude 
and resignation for over twelve years. 

Pkof. Jesse B. Dillk, principal of the Northern Illinois Normal 
School and Dixon business college, was born in Huntington county, Indi- 
ana, on December 10, 1856, and is the son of Ichabod and Rebecca (^Ha- 
vens) Dille. His father is a farmer, and still resides in Huntington countj'. 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 829 

Prof. Dille received his primary education in tlie schools of his native 
count}', and tlien entered tlie normal sciiool at Valparaiso, Indiana, from 
which he graduated in 1S7S, and then took charge of the school at Lagro, 
Indiana, remaining there a year. He then returned to Valparaiso and 
became a teacher in the normal school, where he remained until his 
removal to Dixon in 1881, when he, in connection with Mr. John C. 
Flint, established the school of which he is the head. Prof. Dille 
was married in 1879, to Miss Florence Flint, a resident of Valparaiso. 
He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. The flourishing: institution which is under the manaujement 
of Prof. Dille is yet in its infancy, its first term having but just been 
completed, but owing to the pluck and energy of its founder its success 
was assured from the beginning, and it already vies in the number of 
its pupils and in the variety and extent of its branches of study with 
similar schools of years standing and of established reputation. Prof» 
Dille has ten assistant instructors, and the course of study includes 
everything from the common branches to music and fine art. Phonog- 
raphy and type-writing are also taught by a competent and skilled 
instructor, Prof. J. D. Derr. So large has the attendance alread}' be- 
come, and such popularity has the school attained, that it has become 
a necessity to erect a new college building, and a campus ground of 
twelve acres has been purchased on which a large college building will 
be erected in the spring. The estimation in which the school is held 
by the citizens of Lee county is shown in the fact that the}' have donated 
to the institution the sum of $27,000, which will, witbont doubt, be- 
increased to .§40,000. 

" Whereas, Robert Hunt, son of Robert and Abigail Hunt, of 
Evesham Township, in Burlington County, in the Province of West 
New Jersey, Deceased, and Abigail Pancoast, Daughter of Samuel Pan- 
coast, of Salisl)ury, in the Connty of Bucks and Province of Pennsyl- 
vania, Deceased, and Abigail his wife, now Abigail Duer, have declared 
their Intentions of Marriage with each other before Several Monthly 
Meetings of the people called Quakers, at the Falls, in the County of 
Bucks and Province aforesaid, according to the good Order Used amongst 
them, and having Consent of Parents and Relations concerned, their said 
Proposals of Marriage was allowed of by the said Meeting. Now, these 
are to certify all whom it may concern, that for the full accomplishing 
their said Intentions, this Nineteenth Day of theTwelvth Month, in the 
Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Four, they 
the said Robert Hunt and Abigail Pancoast, appeared in a Publick 
Meeting of the said ])eople at Makefield, in the Count}' and Province 
aforesaid, and the said Robert Hunt taking the said Abigail Pancoast 
by the Hand, did in a Solenni manner openly declare he took her 



830 



HISTORT OF LEE COUNTY. 



the said Abigail Pancoast to be bis Wife, promising thro' the Lord's 
assistance to be unto her a loving and faithfull Husband untill Death 
should seperate them : and then and there in the said Assembly, the 
said Abigail Pancoast did in like manner declare that she took the 
said Robert Hunt to be her Husband, promising tiiro' the Lord's 
assistance to be unto him a loving and faithfull Wife untill Death 
should seperate them. And moreover, they the said Robert Hunt 
and Abigail Pancoast (she according to the custom of Marriage assurae- 
ing the Name of her Husband), as a further Confirmation thereof, 
did then and there to these presents set their Hands. And we whose 
Names are hereunder also Subscribed, being present at the Solemni- 
zation of the said Marriage and Subscription has as Witnesses there- 
unto set our Hands the Day and Year above Written. 

Robert Hunt, 



John Jenlay, 
Samuel Yard ley, 
Jos. English, jr., 
Benjamin Aronson, 
David Barton, 



Samuel Eastbern, 
Saml. Linton 
Bernard Taylor, 
James Jolly, 
Sarah Dean, 



Benjamin Taylor, jr., Mercy Beaumont, 



Agness Jenlay, 
Wm. Bidgood, jr., 
John Simpson, 
Jolm Taylor, 
Hannah Tayler, sr., 
William Taylor, 
Hannah Ta\dor, 
Timothy Taylor, 



Rebeccah Beaumont, 
Pehbe Jolly, 
Hannah Bates, 
Phebe Longshore, 
Abigail Evans, 
Deborah Duer, 
Samuel Pancoast, 



Abigail Hunt. 
Abigail Duer, 
Joseph Duer, 
Hannah Palmer, 
Benjamin Taylor, 
Hunnaii Taylor, 
Benj. Linton, jr., 
Jane Linton, jr., 
Hannah Linton, 
Margaret Pearson, 
Joshua Linton, 
Wm. Pearson, 
Jno. Hunt, 
Esther Hunt." 



Rachel Duer, 

The marriage of Robert Hunt and Abigail Pancoast took place on 
December 19, 1764, in Bucks county, Peunsylvauia, as shown by the 
foregoing copy of tlie marriage certificate, and resulted in the birth of 
the following children : Joshua, William, Samuel, John, Joseph, Seth, 
Mary, and Abigail. Joshua died at the age of si.\ty-two, and his only 
surviving son, Samuel, is and has been a prominent physician, but has 
now retired from practice and resides at Richmond, Indiana. The de- 
scendants of William and Samuel both reside in the State of Ohio, the 
former in Columbiana county, consisting of Elizabeth Coy, Martha 
'Mall, and John Hunt; the latter resides in the southern portion of 
the state. John died at the age of twenty, and Joseph, who served in 
the army during the war of 1812, died at the age of tliirt^'-one, soon 
after leaving the service in 1815. Abigail was the wife of Judge Henry, 
of Wooster, Ohio, and was the grandmother of the Henry family, of 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 831 

Waterloo, Iowa, and of the Cummins family, of the same town, and of 
Dos Moines, Iowa. The Painter family, living near Salem, Ohio, are 
descended from Mary. Seth Hunt, the youngest son of Robert and 
Abigail Hunt, was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, whither his 
parents had removed on February 2, 1788. Wiien he was four years of 
age his parents removed to Winchester, Virginia, and some time after 
went to Brownsville, Pennsylvania. In 180-i they again changed their 
habitation, this time going to Ohio, where his father died the following 
year. Seth was left in an almost unbroken wilderness, surrounded by 
wild beasts and savages, to earn a subsistence for his mother and him- 
self from a tract of land which was still unpaid for, but by the time 
he had attained his majority he had cleared off the debt and made a 
comfortable home. After residing here six years he sold this place 
and bought a quarter-section near Massillon, Ohio. His brother John, 
who had entered 140 acres in the vicinity, died in 1813, leaving Seth 
a part of his land, and he was now on the high road to prosperity, but 
by indorsing for one of his brothers he lost all he had accumulated. 
He then engaged in the manufactureof carding and spinning machines 
for several years at Millersburg, Ohio, of which town he was one of 
the founders. He also invented a machine for carding flax and engaged 
in their manufacture, investing all he had, some $1,600 in the business ; 
but this venture proved unfortunate, and he again lost everything and. 
was in debt some hundreds of dollars. He then commenced selling 
dry-goods on commission, and made money. He remained in the dry- 
goods business for about ten years. His mother died early in 1827, 
and on September 20 of that year he was married to Miss Rebecca 
Hull, of Coshocton county, Ohio, who was descended from an old 
Virginia family. Her parents removed to Ohio in 1808, and her father 
dying soon after, her mother took charge of the farm, and after many 
trials and hardships became wealthy, leaving at her death seven well 
improved farms. After his marriage Seth Hunt read law, was admitted 
to the bar, and eventually became one of the associate judges of the 
circuit court of his district, which position he held for fourteen j'ears. 
He died in July 1864, at the age of eighty-four, and was buried in the 
Methodist cemetery at Nashville, Oliio. He left three surviving chil- 
dren : Mary A., now the wife of Col. E. J. Pocock, a merchant of 
Coshocton, Ohio; Robert B., a resident of Columbus, Ohio, and 
Charles Cummins Hunt, of Dixon, Illinois. The latter was born 
in Millersburg, Holmes county, Ohio, on November 25, 1840. He 
was reared on a farm and attended the neijjhborins: schools. At the 
age of fourteen he entered Spring Mountain College, Coshocton county, 
Ohio, where he remained for two years. He then became a teacher at 
Holmesville, Holmes county, and taugiit for twenty-six days a month. 



832 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

and from eight in tlie morning until five in the afternoon. He was 
also a hard student at this time, remaining at tlie seliool-house during 
the evening and pursuing his studies by the light of the lire, feeling 
he could not afford the luxury of candles. It was at this time he first 
began his medical studies, going to Millersburg, Ohio, five miles dis- 
tant, each week, to recite to his preceptor, Dr. Thomas McEbright, one 
of the most prominent physicians in that part of Ohio. After remain- 
ing at Holmesviilc for two years he was appointed principal of the 
high school at Jefferson, Wayne county, Ohio, which position he occu- 
pied two years. He then entered the office of Dr. McEbright, at 
Millersburg, for the purpose of continuing his medical studies, and 
remained there, with the exception of one term, during which he 
taught at Jefferson, until the spring of 1803, when he entered the 
Long Island Hospital, at tBrooklyn, Xew York. Here he attended a 
course of lectures, and was then made assistant-surgeon of the 1.37th 
Ohio Vols. He had charge of the post hospital for several months, 
and was then detailed to Fort Ethan Allen, on Arlington Heights, 
where he was soon after placed in charge of the right wing of the bri- 
gade by the brigade surgeon. His regiment was mustered out in the 
fall of 1861:, and he immediately entered Bellevue Hospital Medical 
College, where he remained during the ensuing term, and received the 
.degree of M.D. in March 1865. Dr. Hunt then settled at Wooster, 
Ohio, and engaged in the ])ractice of his profession, and after remain- 
ing there for two years he went to Philadelphia and New York, and 
received private instructions in the colleges and hospitals of those 
■cities. On November 1, 1807, he came to Dixon and engaged in prac- 
tice, which he has continued since, with the exception of three months 
in the winterof 1873-4, during which he was receiving special instruc- 
tion in the hospitals of New York city. Dr. Hunt was first married 
on March 1, 1871, to Miss H. Jennie Pinckney, of Dixon. She died 
on December 17 of the same year, leaving an infant son, who died 
some months later. He was again married on September 16, 1874:, to 
Miss Lucy I. Webster, of Polo, Ogle county. They have two childre:'. : 
Eelura P., born July 18, 1875, and Nannie T., born October 9, 1876. 
Dr. Hunt has been a typical successful practitioner. Coming to Dixon 
young and unknown, he has built up an extensive and prosperous 
practice, and has made a host of friends. At the urgent solicitation of 
prominent and infiuential friends in New York city he has taken the 
question of his removal to that metropolis into consideration, expect- 
ing to find there a wider field for the exercise of his talents; and in 
the event of his removal, those who know him best are the most posi- 
tive in the belief that a successful and honorable career will reward his 
efforts. 



ADDITIONAL JfATTER. 833 

Daniel W. McKennet, liveryman, Dixon, is a native of Canada, 
where be was born May 17, 1830, and is tlie son of Jacob and Mary 
(McCall) McKeiiney. His parents removed to Illinois and located 
near Dixon in 18J:8, where his father engaged in farming, which occu- 
pation he still follows. Daniel remained on the farm until 1852, when 
he went to California. He returned in the fail of 1853 and again 
engaged in farniing until 1862, when he removed into Dixon and 
engaged in the livery business and has carried it on up to the present 
time. In 1878 he took in as a partner Mr. Vinal Hackett, under the 
firm name of D. W. McKenney & Co. Two of the uncles of Mr. 
McKenney were among the earliest settlers of Dixon, where one of 
tiiem, Fred. C. McKenney, still resides. Mr. McKenney was married 
about twenty-five years ago to Miss G. A. La Porte, a resident of Wyo- 
ming township, Lee county, Illinois. Botii Mr. McKenne^^ and his 
partner, Mr. Hackett, are stalwart republicans. 

Palmee Atkins, merchant, Dixon, was born in Rome, Oneida 
county, New York, August 28, ISil. His parents were Seth and Jane 
(Palmer) Atkins, who were among the earliest settlers of Oneida 
county. His father is still living at Monmouth, Illinois, but his 
mother died in April 1857. Mr. Atkins was chiefly educated in his 
native town, and when about fifteen years old his parents I'emoved to 
Chicago, but in 1857 Mr. Atkins went to Mendota, Illinois, where he 
began to learn the j^rinting trade. In December, 1858, he came to 
Dixon and entered the oflice of the " Republican and Telegraph," where 
lie remained until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the 
13th reg. 111. Inf. May 24, 1861. He served for over three years, dur- 
ing most of the time being detailed as staff printer at the headquarters 
of Gens. Grant, Thomas and Curtis, his position giving him an excel- 
lent opportunity to become acquainted with the peculiarities and char- 
acteristics of these famous leaders. When mustered out of service he 
returned to Dixon and resumed his connection with the "Telegraph," 
where he continued until August 1876, when he engaged in the 
grocery business. He was elected collector of taxes in 1870, and is 
now serving his third terra as town clerk. Mr. Atkins was married 
April 8, 1865, to Miss Cynthia Tillman, and they have one child living, 
Louis B. Atkins, fourteen years of age. In his political views Mr. 
Atkins is an out-and-out republican of the straightest sect. 

John Hess, real estate dealer, Dixon, is the son of Jacob and Salome 
(Fenstermaker) Hess, and was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 
April 3, 1831. His father was a farmer, and both parents died in 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Hess was reared and educated in Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, whither his parents removed during his infancy, and when 
seventeen years of age became a clerk. In 1852 he went to California 



834 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

via Cape Horn, and remained there about a year and a half, most of 
the time in the miningj districts. After returnino' to the east he again 
engaged as a clerk, but about a yeav later removed to a farm which he 
had purchased. He sold his farm in 1858 and about a year later came 
to Lee county, where he decided to locate, and in 1860 brought out 
his family, and the next four years were about equally divided between 
farming and clerking. He then engaged in the real estate business, 
which he has since carried on. For the last three years he has done 
an extensive business selling railroad and speculators' lands west of the 
Mississippi, having taken out several excursions, which resulted in the 
sale of large tracts of land. Mr. Hess was married in 1855, to Miss 
Eliza M. Hogenbaugh, whose family are residents of Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania. They have three children living: Leander, born May 
17, 1850, Albert, born March 8, 1SG4-, and Royce, born April 17, 1873. 
They have also lost four children, all of whom died before reaching five 
years of age except Adele M., who was born October 13, 1857, and 
died June 27, 1879. In his political sentiments Mr. Hess is a repub- 
lican. 

Gkoege M. Berkley, firmer, Dixon, was born in Clinton county, 
Ohio, May 15, 1834, and was the son of Gideon and Mary (Bowring) 
Berkley. His father followed the trade of a millwright, and moved 
into Bureau county, Illinois, in 1836, and died there a year after. His 
mother died in Loe county in Ma}' 1881. His father was a lineal de 
scendant of Sir. William Berkley, one of the governors of the province 
of Virginia, and both parents were natives of that state, but after their 
marriage removed to Ohio. The family removed to Lee county in 
1844 and located in Sublette township, where Mr. Berkley was reared 
and educated. He also attended the normal school at Bloomington 
for a year. After growing to manhood he engaged in farming, but 
rushed to arms at the outbreak of the civil war, enlisting in April 1861, 
in Co. C, 13th 111. A^ols., and after serving faithfully for more than 
three years was mustered out of service in June 1864. He then re- 
turned home and resumed his agricultural pursuits, but in 1866 was 
offered the position of deputy sheriff, which he accepted and took up 
his residence in Dixon. In 1868 he was elected sheriff and reelected 
in 1870, 1872 and 1874, holding the office for eight years. He then 
purchased the farm in Dixon township on which he now resides. He 
was first married July 4, 1860, to Miss Minnie M. Douglass, a daugh- 
ter of John L. Douglass, of Sublette, who was born in Genesee eountj', 
New York, in 1837. She died April 10, 1865, leaving one child, Min- 
nie D., who was born November 4, 1864. He was again married Sep- 
tember 20, 1868, to Miss Jane Adams, a native of Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, but then residing at Sublette. They have three children: 



ADDITIONAL MAITER. 835 

Daisy A., born September 30, 1871 ; Imo, February 23, 1873, and 
Maud, May 4, 1877. Mr. Berkley is a supporter of the republican 
party, and his repeated elections to a responsible position attest the es- 
teem and contidence in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. 

Henry C. Higgins, Dixon, joint proprietor with his brother, Thom- 
as Higgins, in the Dixon Gas Works, was born in Ireland, December 
18, 1848, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Gannon) Higgins. His 
parents came to the United States when he was five years of age, and 
settled at Freehold, New Jersey, where he was reared and educated. 
In 1SG4 he came to Illinois and engaged in farming in Whitesides 
county, and remained there until about 1870 when he became interest- 
ed in contracts upon the Baltimore & Ohio and Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne 
& Chicago railroads, and continued in this line of business until 1876, 
when he commenced the erection of gas works in different towns, 
which business he still carries on. He has made his headquarters at 
Dixon since 1876, the works there being the first built by him. Mr. 
Higgins is a democrat, but broad and liberal in his views, and is a young 
man of much enterprise and energ}'. 

James W. Reaedon, Dixon, was born in Matichester, England, 
September 5, 1829, and is the son of Hobbs and Margaret (Cunning- 
ham) Reardon. His father entered the British army in 1800 as a vol- 
unteer, and was shortly after made an ensign. He participated in the 
campaign on the Spanish peninsula which resulted in the complete de- 
feat of Marshal Soult, of the French army, b}' the Duke of Wellington. 
He was in almost every battle fought in that campaign, among others 
those of Vittoria and Corunna. After the overthrow of Bonaparte he 
was on duty at St. Helena for some time during the confinement of 
tiiat great chieftain. He was still in the service at the time of his 
death, which occurred in 1847 in the north of Ireland. James W. 
Reardon, when a little over two years of age, was sent to live with an 
uncle in Tipperary, Ireland, and remained there until twenty-one years 
old. when he came to America. He soon after came to Lee county, and 
becoming acquainted with Gov. Charters, he, at his suggestion, de- 
cided to make his home here, and with the exception of several trips 
to Europe he has since been a continuous resident. In 1863 he re- 
cruited a company for the 69th 111. Vols., of which he became captain. 
After serving some three montlis he was mustered out, their term of 
service having expired. He was married in County Waterford, Ireland, 
in 1860, to Miss Alicia J. Stokes, and lias two children: CliflFord C, 
aged twenty, and Annie S., aged fourteen years. 

Harriet E. Garrison, physician, Dixon, was born in Dixon town- 
ship, and is the daughter of William and Amelia (Omen) Garrison. 
Her lather is a farmer, and resides in Nachusa township. Dr. Garrison 



836 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

was parti}' educated at the Dixon public school, and parti}- at Rock 
River Seminary, at Mount Morris, Ogle county, Illinois. After leav- 
ing school she entered the Women's Medical College, at Chicago, from 
which she graduated in 1876, and at once entered upon the practice of 
her profession at Dixon. She is a member of the regular school of 
medicine, and has met with gratifying success in her career as a physi- 
cian. 

Alexander Charters, deceased, was a native of Belfast, Ireland, 
where he was born July 7, 1800. He was the son of Alexander and 
Eleanor (Mackey) Charters. He was reared and educated in his native 
city, and when sixteen years of age came to America and located in 
New York city, where he had two brothers established in business as 
linen importers. He entered their store, and in the course of time 
was made a partner, the firm name being J. A. Charters & Co. In 
1838 he retired from business and removed to Dixon, where he pur- 
chased a section of land unsurpassed by any in the state for natural 
beauty and fertility. He erected a house on a bluff of Rock river, from 
which views can be obtained of the surrounding country for many 
miles, and abounding in scenery of the most lovely and picturesque 
description. Here he exercised an unbounded hospitality, and his 
genial yet dignified address, and imposing personal appearance, well 
entitled him to the appellation of "Governor" Charters, by which he 
was 60 long and so widely known. Many of the political and literary 
celebrities of our own and other lands have met a warm welcome 
beneath his hospitable roof, among whom ma}' be mentioned William 
Cullcn Bryant and Margaret Fuller Ossoli. His death occurred Sep- 
tember IS, 1878, and he was laid to rest an)ong the scenes he loved so 
well, amid the sincere regrets of the multitude of friends by whom he 
was so loved and honored. He was married in 1827, to Miss Ellen 
Boomer, of Belfast, wlio died in New York in 1832. His only son, 
James B. Charters, is now the able and popular county judge for Lee 
county. 



Henry C. Brookner, farmer. South Dixon, is a native of Hanover, 
where he was born in 1S27. He is the son of George H. and Mary 
(Engel) Brookner. He came to America when eighteen years of age, 
and located at Dixon. After attending school for some time he learned 
the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked until 1849, when he 
removed to St. Louis, but soon returned to Dixon, and continued 
working at his trade until the spring of 1859, when he was employed 
by the Illinois Central railroad to superintend the building of bridges 
upon their line. He remained with this company for about ten years, 



ADDITIONAL JFATTER. 837 

and then entered t!ie employ of tlie Indianapolis & St. Louis railroad 
in the same capacity, remaining with them some eight years. During 
this time he purchased the farm he now occupies, aiid some two years 
ago moved upon it and engaged in farming. Mr. Brookner was mar- 
ried in April, 1875, at Litchfield, Illinois, to Miss Emma R. Keithley, 
a daughter of Seth M. Keithley, an old resident of Litchfield. They 
have one child, May D., born February 21, 1876. Mr. Brookner is a 
republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

E. H. AND D. B. Rayiiond, farmers, South Dixon, are the sons of 
Daniel and Lucy A. (Woodrutf) Raymond. Tiieir father was for many 
years a resident of Greene county. New York, where he carried on a 
farm, but removed to Michigan in 1833, and followed the same occupa- 
tion there until his death, whicli occurred in 184:5. The eldest of the 
brothers, E. H. Raymond, was born in Steuben county. New York, in 
1821, and removed to Michigan with his father. Upon the death of 
the latter he carried on farming operations in Michigan until 1865, in 
connection with his brother, but in that jeav he removed to Illinois 
and settled in South Dixon, Lee county, where he has since resided. 
He has no family. D. B. Raymond was born in Lenawee county, Mich- 
igan, in 1833, where he was reared and educated, but came to Lee 
county with his brother in 1865. He was married in Michigan in 
the 3'ear 1860, to Miss Maria S. Clark, a native of Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts, and tlieir union has resulted in three children: Daniel 
E., aged twenty, Agnus C, aged eighteen, and Florence M.,aged thir- 
teen. He is a thorongli-going republican, and a member of the Pres- 
byterian church. 

Harvey E. Williams, farmer, was born in Onondaga county. New 
York, in 1817. His parents were Abijah and Lucy (Edwards) Williams, 
and his father followed farming and died in Onondaga county in 1871. 
Mr. Williams was reared and educated in his native county, and when 
grown to manhood commenced taking contracts upon public works in 
the State of New York. In 1852 he came to Illinois, having a contract 
on the Northwestern railroad, and the following year took a similar con- 
tract upon the Illinois Central railroad, and remained upon this road 
until its completion. He purcliased his present farm in South Dixon 
in 1857, and has ever since been engaged in farming. He was married 
in 1843, to Miss Wealthy E. Cropse}', in Madison county. New York. 
Three children were the result of this marriage, of whom two survive: 
Comelia A., who is the wife of John A. Greene, of Morrison, White- 
sides county, Illinois, and Ella C.,who resides with her parents. A third 
daughter, Emma, was the wife of A. C. McAllister, of Morrison, lUi- 
inois, but died in April 1875, leaving one child, a daughter. Politically 
Mr. Williams is a member of the democratic party. 



838 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Ben.tamix W. Harnish, farmer, Palmj^ra, was born in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1830, and is the son of Michael 
G. and Elizabeth (Warfel) Harnish. His father is a farmer, and both 
are still living and reside in Lancaster county. Mr. Harnish received 
liis education in his native county and was a farmer there tor many 
years. In January, 1875, he came west and settled iu Carroll county, 
Illinois. After residing there for three years he removed to Nebraska, 
where he remained until 1880, when he came back to Illinois and 
located on a farm in Palmyra township. He was first married in 1856, 
to Miss Mary B. Hess, of Pennsj'lvaiiia, who died previous to his re- 
moval from that state. There arc four children by this marriage, all 
of whom reside with their father, the eldest being Henry, aged twenty- 
three years; Michael is sixteen, Samuel fourteen, and Elizabeth eleven 
years of age. He was married a second time in 1875, to Mrs. Catharine 
(Klein) Leonard. Mr. Harnish is strongly republican in his political 
views. 

Robert J. Dkyxax, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of Canada, where 
he was born June 12, 1845, and is the son of William and Elizabeth J. 
(McMurtry) Drynan. His father was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and 
was a ship-carpenter by trade, though farming was his occupation dur- 
ing the latter part of his life. He died in Canada in 1851, and his 
widow was married in 1853, to Mr. Johnstone, a clergyman, and re- 
moved the same year to Lyndon, Whitesides county, where Mr. John- 
stone preached for some three j'ears and where he died in 1857. Mrs. 
Johnstone is still living and is a resident of Palmyra. Mr. Drynan 
came with his mother and step-father at the time of their removal to 
Illinois, and in 1855 settled in the town of Palmyra, where he has 
ever since resided. His principal occupation has been running thresh- 
ing and corn-shelling machines. He was married September 6, 1867, 
to Miss Rachel A. Delp, a native of Pennsylvania, but at that time 
residing in "Whitesides county. They have seven children living: 
"Willie A., born May 14, 1868; Otis E., born September 1, 1869; 
Emma E., born May 15,1871; Gertie M., born January 20, 1873 ; 
Fremont R., born January 23, 1876 ; Grace E., born December 15, 
1878; Leone E., born January 20, 1881. Politically Mr. Drynan is a 
thorough republican. 

Fletchkr Seavev, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of Sandwich, New 
Hampshire, where he was born September 2, 1839, and is the son of 
Asa and Ruth (Ricker) Seavey. His father was also born in New 
Hampshire, and for many years was a farmer in that state, but in 1853 
he came west and settled in Lee county, bringing his family from the 
east in the spring of 185-1. He was carrying on a farm in Palmj'ra 
until 1877, when he purchased a farm in Ogle county, to which he re- 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 839 

moved and wliere he still resides. Fletcher Scavey has been fanning 
on his own account for the past thirteen years, and has recently pur- 
chased and removed to the farm of the late David A. Holly. He en- 
listed in the summer of lS6-t, in Co. D, 140th 111. Vols., and was hon- 
orably discharged after si.\ months' service. Mr. Seavey was married 
November 9, 1862, to Miss Eveline C. Eastwood, a native of Palmyra, 
and they have si.x children : Harry C, born January 17, 1864 ; Fred 
A., born February 19, 1866; Eda B., born December 30, 1867; Allen 
E., born March 24, 1870; Clyde L., born August 10, 1874, and Euth 
M., born June 6, 1877. In his political sentiments Mr. Seavey is 
strongly republican. 

William W. Tilton, farmer. Palmyra, was born in New Hamp- 
shire on July 15, 1817, and is the son of Jesse and Mary (Fitield) Til- 
ton. His father was of English descent, but was a native of New 
Hampshire, and in his youth was engaged in tanning and siioemaking, 
but afterward became a farmer and died about 1845. W. W. Tilton 
acquired his education in his native state, and when grown up en- 
gaged in farming, but came west in 1838, arriving in Dixon July 13, 
just two days prior to his twenty-first birthday. He located in Pal- 
myra township, and having learned the trade of shoemaking in the 
east, he engaged in that business. At the election in the fall for state 
oflBcials he acted as clerk, and his recollection is that fourteen votes 
were polled. After working at his trade for about four years he turned 
his attention to farming, which he has followed since. He was also 
for a number of years engaged in buying and selling stock, and was 
connected for some time with the late E. B. Stiles, in this business. He 
was married on November 3, 1843, to Mrs. Eliza (Martin) Hubbard, a 
native of Sandwich, New Hampshire, who came to Lee county with 
her brother, Jacob Martin (lately deceased), in 1836. They came all 
the way in a bugg}', the trip taking a period of five weeks. She was 
married in 1833, to Oliver A. Hubbard, also a resident of New Hamp- 
shire, who had come to Lee county in the spring of 1836, where she 
rejoined him a few months later. Mr. Hubbard died September 16, 
1840. M. D. Hubbard, still residing in Palmyra, is the only living 
issue of this marriage. Two children resulted from lier union to Mr. 
Tilton : Francis J., born August 15, 1846, wlio resides with his parents ; 
and Hortense L., born on January 30, 1851, and married to Horace M. 
Gilbert, a resident of Palmyra. Mr. Tilton is a life-long democrat, and 
though contending against odds in the political struggles in which he 
has taken part, he has never faltered in his devotion to what he con- 
siders the true principles of government. 

One of the most striking features of American institutions is the 
certainty with which any young man of integrity, energy and intelli- 



840 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

gence can achieve wealth and inHuence by his own efforts, unaided by 
any accidents of birth or position. Lincoln, Garfield, and many other 
brilliant and able men in various walks of life, have afforded notable 
examples of what can be done by untiring industry, sterling honesty and 
well-directed ability to overcome all adverse circumstances, and every 
county and every town all over our broad land will show instances of 
a similar character, differing only in kind and degree, and one of these 
is found in the career of the IIox. Abijah Powers, of Palmyra townshij). 
He was born in Hanij)shire county, Massachusetts, December 10, 1814, 
and is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Powers) Powers. His father was 
a laiiiier, and was descended from a long line of New England ancestry. 
He had four children, of whom three are still living, one son, Joseph 
Warren Powers, being still a resident of Massachusetts ; Abijah Powers 
and a daughter, Mrs. Allen, have lived for many years in Palmyra town- 
ship; the other child, a daugiiter, died in infancy. In 1S3S Mr. Joseph 
Powers and his son Abijah determined to leave the old Bay State and 
seek for more abundant returns for their labor on the western prairies. 
After the usual privations and trials of such a journey in those days they 
arrived at Ui.xon's ferry, where they remained several months, but in 
the fall of 1838 they located in Palmyra township and engaged in 
farming, and here Mr. Joseph Powers died, April 2S, 1853. His son 
has been a continuous resident of the township since his first settlement, 
in 1838, and for many years has been one of the largest and most 
successful farmers in the Rock river valley. He has also been exten- 
sively engaged in the breeding and sale of thoroughbred cattle, with 
gratifying results. He now owns about 900 acres of land, a portion of 
which lies in Whitesidcs county. Mr. Powers has always been a 
popular man and was elected justice of the peace at an early day ; was 
also commissioner of public highways for a number of years ; has served 
four terms as supervisor for his town ; was elected a member of the 
state legislature in the fall of 1S7G, and has been president of the Farm- 
ers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Palmyra, for the past fifteen 
years. In 1839 he returned to Massachusetts, , where he was married, 
September 8 of that year, to Miss Amanda Sprout, a native of Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts, who is still living. They have had six children, 
five of whom survive : Elvira A., born November 30, 1842, was married 
to Charles Eckles in 1868, and is a resident of Marsiialltown, Iowa; 
Helen C, born August 21, 1845, married to Anson E. Tiuimmel in 
1868, and lives in Palmyra; Mary A., born October 30, 1848, married 
to James Nickerson in 1870, and resides in Cliicano; Franklin W.,- 
born September 13, 1851, was married to Miss Mary Miller in 1872, and 
lives in Whitesides county; Austin A., born October 18, 1857, was 
married to Miss Adela Tallman January 6, ISSl. He resides with his 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 841 

lather. Mr. Powers has been a republican from tlie formation of the 
party, and is a member of the Congregational church. 

Charles H. Hughes, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Columbia 
county, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1846, and is the son of Ellwood and 
Elizabeth (Hill) Hughes. He was brought up and educated in his 
native county principally, but also attended for a time the Missionary 
Institute at Selin's Grove, Pennsylvania. He removed to Lee county 
in ISfiS and engaged in ferming, which he still carries on ; he has also 
dealt considerably in cattle and horses, and his especial pride at present 
is a tine bay stallion, a cousin of the celebrated queen of the turf, Maud 
S, and Mr. Hughes feels certain that at some not distant day his horse, 
or at least some descendant of his, will win a name not entirely' 
unworthy of their distinguished relative. In July 1S81, in company 
with O. T. Melick, he embarked in the coal and salt trade at Dixon, 
under the firm name of Hughes & Melick, and is making preparations 
at present to engage in the real-estate, loan and banking business at 
Peterson, Kansas, in company with his brother, Ellwood C. Hughes. 
He was married November 17, 1868, to Miss Hannah E. Williams, 
daughter of Mark Williams, Esq., of Palmyra township, and thej' have 
but one child living, Adessa, aged twelve years. In his political views 
Mr. Hughes is a republican. 

Having organized and drilled the Chicago Light Guards, the first 
company in Chicago that acquired any reputation, his services were 
sought by the authorities at Springfield at the breaking out of the war. 
There was a great lack of knowledge of military matters at this time, 
but what Col. Wymax possessed, combined with a mind of wonderful 
activity and bnsiness experience, made his services of great value, and 
caused the 13th 111. Inf. to select hiin as their colonel, and Gov. Yates 
■to commission him on April 20, ISfil. The 13th was a magnificent 
regiment, filled to the maximum, and composed almost wholh' of young 
men wlio knew and appreciated the issues of the struggle before them_ 
Wyman realized the great charge that was intrusted to him in the com- 
mand of this regiment, and stated to a member of the same as he looked 
over the body of 1,000 on drill, " I never felt before so much the need 
of being a christian as I do now. I am responsible for the lives and wel- 
fare of -these men, and I do not believe that any man in his own 
strength is equal to so great a responsibility." His experience as a rail- 
way superintendent fitted him for the very important duty of forward- 
ing supplies to an army campaigning a long way from its base of sup- 
plies, which he did from Rolla for the armies doing service in south- 
west Missouri under the command of Gens. L^'on, Fremont and Hunter 
respectively. This duty he did so well that his reputation spread 
through the western army, and when some months after Gen. Steele 



842 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

desired to embark his division on steamboats at Helena, Arkansas, to 
join Gen. Sherman's campaign against Vieksburg, lie sent for Col. Wj- 
man to assist him. The general and the colonel disagreed as to the 
number of steamboats required, but the latter in his positive, decided 
way said he could have all the transportation, artillery and horses 
loaded on his number of boats by five o'clock that day, and he did, to 
the surprise of the general and his regular array staff. 

It was during the campaign referred to above that Col. Wyman lost 
his life. It was the campaign under Gen. Sherman against the outside 
defenses of Vieksburg at Chickasaw Bayou. He here had the first op- 
portunit}' to show his capacity for active service. It was here that he 
and his regiment were under fire for the first time. He had shown 
marked abilities in the marching and care of men ; had no superior as 
a drill-master, and no man had more perfect control of a regiment than 
he had of his. The 13th was the old regiment placed in Gen. F. P. 
Blair's brigade, composed of new recruits, to act as a safety-valve. The 
13th always had the post of honor, which is the advance, which gave 
Col. Wyman the lead that he never relinquished, and really commanded 
and maneuvered the brigade in the engagements referred to above un- 
til he was killed. 

In the preliminary' skirmishing Wyman's bravery was put to the 
test, but it was pure gold, like that of an old veteran. He placed the 
battery, told the men how and where to shoot, and encouraged the men 
by his own fearlessness and utter disregard of danger. The clear, bell- 
like tones of their coloners voice to the regiment, now under tire for 
the first time, had the efl^ect of magic upon their spirits, somewhat dis- 
concerted by the shriek of rebel shells bursting in close proximity to 
their position. His commands were obeyed with alacrity, and his 
smiling face as he was quietly seated on old Jerry's back imparted 
courage to his men, and they would have charged upon any rebel posi- 
tion if he but commanded. 

The second day found Blair's brigade in position to fire upon a 
confederate fort, while Morgan L. Smith charged it from anotiier 
direction. Col. Wyman walked up to the edge of the fallen timber 
lying between the two positions, took out his field-glass and coolly 
surveyed the enemy's position ; during all of which time the rebel 
sharpshooters were popping away at him, and often shooting very near 
his person, as we could see by the falling of leaves and cutting of vines. 
Not until he had finished his survey did he lower his glass, and as 
he walked back to his regiment he said, " The bullet is not moulded 
that will kill me," and ordered the company commander nearest to 
him to send six of the best shots in his company and kill a certain 
sharpshooter, with a globe-sighted rifle, that had been firing at him. 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 843 

Lieut. -Col. Gorgas was ordered down to the center of the regiment to 
give tlie order to rise and lire, and tiien to order that they lie down 
while another regiment immediately in the rear should do the same 
tiling. Col. Gorgas was slow about executing the order for some reason, 
and Wyman becoming impatient of the delay stepped a few paces 
down the line and in front, and gave the order himself, i-etiring as he 
did so, so that he should not be in front of the men when they tired. 
Immediately after he passed the right of the regiment he was shot. 
He was stooping down that the regiment in the rear might fire over 
our heads, when he was hit under the right arm, the bullet passing 
entirely through his body and lodging in his clothing on his left side. 
Sergt. Pinkham, of Co. A, was the first to reach his side and unbutton 
his coat, and the writer was the next. The bullet hole through his 
shirt was in front of his shoulder, and led me to believe that that was 
the wounded part and not necessarily fatal, and I was on the point of 
saying, "Colonel, this will make a brigadier of you;" but he looked so- 
pale and death-like it was not uttered, bnt instead, "Colonel, I do not 
think this wound is dangerous, it is through your shoulder.'' " You 
are mistaken, Harry," he replied. "This whole side is paralyzed 
alread}' ; it is all over." We laid him down behind a stump, to protect 
liim from the bullets that were now coming in thick and fast, and in a 
few seconds he was in a stupor. He was taken from the field and 
revived by stimulants for a few minutes, during which time he con- 
versed about his family and private aflairs. He uttered no word of 
complaint nor gave expression to any signs of regret at his lot, bnt on 
the contrary, met his fate with a smile. The only question of CoL 
Wyman's making a brilliant record as a soldier was the one whether- 
he would live through an engagement. His tault was rashness. What 
he did, he did it with all his might. Every soldier in his regiment 
admired and loved him. From him they could borrow a dollar when: 
all other resources tailed. His name had been sent to the senate for- 
confirmation as a brigadier by the president, and in a few weeks more,, 
but for his untimely end, he would have been in command of abrigade.. 



P. H. S(no( K, farmer. Palmyra, was born on February 4, 1814, in 
Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Henry and Mag- 
dalena (Beck) Schock. His father was a miller, and also carried on a; 
farm, and died in Pennsylvania about 1835. Mr. Schock was educated 
in his native county, and when old enough assisted his father in the- 
mill. In 18-10 he engaged in mercantile business, which he followed 
for about six years, after wliich he became a fanner, and continued ia 
that occupation until 1850, when he removed to Illinois, and settledat 
50 



844 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Como,Wliitesides county. The following year lie came toPrairicville, 
Lee county, and purchased a farm, on which he has since resided. He 
was married in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, on November 27, 
184:1, to Miss Louisa Eyer. She died December 30, 1872, leavingfour 
•children surviving: Josephine, born November 11, 1843, who is the 
wife of Charles W. Marston, and resides at Lawrence, Kansas ; William, 
bora January 21, 1846, and a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah ; How- 
ard E., born March 31, 1859, and married in 1879, to Miss Lia Kelsey, 
of Sterling, Whitesides county. They reside on the old homestead. 
Florence L., born October 19, 1862, also resides at home. Mr. Schock 
has been twice elected supervisor of his town on the republican ticket, 
and has tilled almost every other town office. 

Daniel Reiciiaet, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Northampton 
county, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 1829, and is the son of Samuel and 
Catharine (Weidman) Reichart. His father died in Pennsylvania in 
1852, but his mother is still living in that state. After leaving school 
Mr. Reichart learned the carpenter's trade, and also farmed consider- 
ablv, and in 1853 came to the west, buf returned home during the fol- 
lowing winter. In 185-1: he came to Palmyra township and settled 
permanently, and still owns the original eighty acres of land on which 
he commenced to farm, but which has since increased to over two hun- 
dred acres. He was married January 1, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth J. 
Kressler, also a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and they 
have eight children living: Susan F., born May 13, 185-1, married to 
Albertus Miller, and resides in Cherokee, Iowa; Job, born June l'1, 
1855, also a resident of Cherokee; Elizabeth, born May 28, 1857, and 
married to William F. Seavey, who resides in Palmyra ; Samuel, born 
January 25, 1859; Sara, born May 8, 1860; Minnie, born October 30, 
1865 ; Edith J., born November 3, 1866, and Carrie C, born September 
10, 1868, all reside with their parents. In his political affiliations Mr. 
Reichart is a member of the democratic party. 

II IK AM P. Parks, farmer. Palmyra, is one of the earliest settlers 
of the town. He was born in Franklin county. New York, on August 
29, 1808, and is the son of Aaron and Rebecca (Prcscott) Parks. His 
father was a farmer, and died some twenty years ago. Mr. Parks was 
reared as a farmer in his native county, and removed to Illinois in 1836, 
locating in Dixon, where he remained two years, after which he bought 
a farm in Palmyra township, where he has ever since resided. He 
and his sons own some six hundred acres of the linest land in the county, 
and he has seen his tt>wnshi]i progress from an almost unbroken prairie, 
inhabited b}' some half dozen families, to its present state of develop- 
ment as one of the best cultivated and most fertile sections in the west, 
and settled by as enterprising and intelligent a class of citizens as can be 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 845 

found within the borders of our own or an}' other country. Mr. Parks 
was married in tlie State of New York, in December 1829, to Miss 
Martha Moon, a native of Otsego count}', New York, whose parents 
were natives of Vermont. They have been married more than half a 
century, and are still in the enjoyment of good health, and active and 
vigorous both mentally and physically. They have eight children, the 
eldest of whom is Mar}', born July 24, 1833, and the wife of John 
Lawrence, of Palmyra; Eunice PL, born February 25, 1836, is married 
to William Ayres, and resides in Iowa; Rebecca D., born April 13, 
1838, is the wife of Thomas Ayres, a resident of Palmyra ; Wayne H., 
born August 24, 1840, is a farmer and resides in Palmyra; Robert B., 
born December 13, 1843, is a resident of Pennsylvania; Henry A., 
born January 15, 1846, resides in Ogle county, Illinois ; Frederick N., 
born September 22, 1849, is a farmer and resides in Palmyra; Abner 
H. was born in Palmyra township on February 19, 1853, and has 
always resided in his native town. He was married May 5, 1875, to 
Miss Mary Drew, of Ogle county, Illinois, who died February 21, 1881. 
He resides at the old homestead. Mr. Parks has always been an earnest 
republican, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church of 
Dixon, the latter being the only survivor of the original founders of 
that church. 

James L. McGinnis, farmer. Palmyra, was .born in New York city 
on August 23, 1831, and is the son of Stewart and Mary (Law) Mc- 
Ginnis. His father was a very skillful machinist, and died, while 
James was a lad, in Louisiana, whither he had gone to superintend 
the erection of machinery upon a large sugar plantation. His widow 
being left in reduced circumstances, and with four young children to 
support, decided to accompany her father, David Law, and his family, 
to Illinois, and they arrived in Dixon in September 1839. During 
the following winter they suffered greatly from sickness and privation. 
In connection with Capt. Hugh Graham they purchased the claim 
to some 700 acres of land lying along Rock river, their portion of 
which is still owned by the family. James L. McGinnis was educated 
in the primitive schools of the neighborhood and at Di.xon, and when 
grown engaged in farming. Soon after the discovery of gold in Cali- 
fornia he went to that state, and after remaining there several years 
he returned to Palmyra township, and resumed his agricultural pur- 
suits, which he has since followed. He was married on March 12, 
1861, to Miss Mary B. Becker, a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, but 
whose parents were old settlers of Palmyra. They have nine children 
living: William C, born June 22, 1862; Ella, born March 12, 1864; 
Mabel, born August 15, 1865; James F., born May 3, 1867, Keziah, 
born March 11, 1869; Mark E., born November 12, 1870; Harry, 



846 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

born June 20, 1872; Oliver, born August 17, 1874, and Paul, born 
June 15, 1878, all of whom reside witii tlieir parents. Mr. McGinuis 
is a republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. 
WiLLi.vM G. McGiNxis, the brother of James L., is also a native of 
the city of New York, where he was born on September 19, 1833. 
The history of iiis earlier days is like that of his brotlier, and with the 
exception of three years' service in Co. A, 13th 111. Vols., into which 
he enlisted on the outbreak of the rebellion, his entire life since he 
was si.v years of age has been passed in Palmyra township, where he 
is engaged in farming. He has never married, but his mother and 
grandmother reside with him. The latter, Mrs. Keziah (Ilillis) Law, 
will be just one hundred years of age in July 1882, and is undoubt- 
edly the oldest person living in Lee county. 



Among the successful farmers of Ashton township may be men- 
tioned Peter L. Brecunier, born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, 
Februar}^ 14, 1834. lie was reared to the sturdy occupation of a 
tiller of the soil, receiving but a limited education in the subscription 
schools of his native state. In tlie spring of 184!) he with his father's 
family started for Illinois, and reached Franklin Grove, Lee county. 
Ma^' 12, that year they rented the farm now owned by J. C. Lah- 
man. During the same year they purchased the land on which a part 
of the village of Franklin Grove now stands. This, however, they 
soon sold, and purchased land in the southwest corner of Ashton 
township. Peter L., the subject of this sketch, purchased for himself 
a fi\rm of 205 acres in Sec. 31, T. 22, R. 11. This is one of the model 
farms of Ashton township, and indicates that its owner is a man of 
thrift, industry and enterprise. In 1874 he added to the beauty of his 
home by erecting a fine brick residence at the cost of §4,000. Besides 
farming he is now engaged in stock raising, giving some attention to 
grades. February 22, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Susan 
M., daughter of Jacob and Ilaiiiiali (Foreman) Riddlesbarger, Esq. 
She was born in Franklin count}-, Pens^'lvania. The}' are the parents 
of one child, Quinby A., born August 29, 1867. Mr. Brecunier's 
parents both died here and were buried in the cemetery at the German 
Baptist church near Nachusa. 

Thomas Paddock, retired farmer, is a native of Ohio, and was born 
August 14, 1814. He, with his parents, Ebenezer and Nancy (Furgu- 
son) Paddock, left Ohio at an early day, and removed to Vigo county, 
Indiana, where our subject was united in marriage, in 1835, to Miss 
Nancy Payne, a native of Vigo county. In 1837 Mr. Paddock left 
Indiana, and removed to Ogle county, where he made a claim, and 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 847 

thns became one of the pioneers of that county, whose nearest market 
was Chicago, or Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he hauled his produce 
many years with teams and wagon. He sold his produce for a price 
that now would not be considered sufficient to pay the expense of such 
a trip. But Mr. Paddock made the best use of his time and means, 
and has by industry and saving made a good property', now owning 
340 acres of land in Lee and Ogle counties. April 28, 1879, his home 
was broken up for the first since it was established, by the death of his 
noble wife. Since then he has made two or three moves, but is now 
permanently settled on his farm in Ashton township, and is enjoying 
the rest needed after a life of hard labor. His children are William 
H., now in Ogle county, and Jefferson, who died in the south during 
the war; Eliza J., wife of Joseph Cummins; Rebecca A., wife of 
George Brown ; Leathy, wife of Capt. J. L. Frost, of Ashton town- 
ship ; Koselhv, at home with her father, and Lorilla, wife of Enoch 
Self. 

John C. Bowers, deceased, came from Germany with his wife, 
Margaret (Fogle) Bowers, and settled in Somerset county, Pennsylva- 
nia, and there had born to them three children, one of whom is Law- 
rence Bowers, born August 19, 1829. He was reared on a farm, 
without the benefit of free schools, and but ver}' little subscription 
school privileges. In 1853 he came to Lee county in search of a place 
to make his future home. After looking over the remaining govern- 
ment land he decided it was too low and wet, and returned to Penn- 
sylvania, but the next spring came back, and purchased eighty acres in 
Sec. 19, T. 22, R. 11, paying $8 per acre for the same land he could 
have had the year before for $1.50. Land rose rapidly in value after 
the advent of the railroad through this section. Some years later he 
bought an additional 120 acres. In the fall of 1865 he married Miss 
Dianna Fogle, a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. They have 
six children : William C, Malinda, Hettie, George W., Harry G. and 
Nina May. Mr. Bowers' parents came to Lee county, where they 
died, and are buried in the Ashton cemetery. His brother and sister 
are now making their home with him. 

KiNCAiD, son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Swisher) Runyan, farmer 
and stock raiser, Ashton, was born in Lycoming county, Penns^'lvania, 
January 19, 18-38. He was brought up on a farm, and with but a lim- 
ited means of education, though by much reading and careful observa- 
tion he has gained what might be called a good business education. 
In the spring of 1801 he came to Lee county, and hired out to work 
on a farm. This he followed till the winter of 1865, when he enlisted 
in Co. K, 3d 111. Cav. After the close of the war, and a tour among 
the Indians through northern Dakota to the British possessions, he 



848 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

was honorably discharged, and returned to Lee county. January 19, 
1869, lie married Miss Charity, daughter of Daniel and Cliristena 
(King) Brecunier, and in the spring of the same year began as a renter 
on the farm he now owns. In the fail of 1874 he bought the farm and 
became permanently located, and is now engaged in farming and stock 
raising on Sec. 31, T. 22, R. 11. His parents were born, lived and 
died in the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Runyan is of the opinion that 
his ancestors are of French origin, the name far back in its history 
being De Runyan. Since the above writing Mrs. Kincaid Runyan 
departed this life, November 17, 1881, after an illness of about live 
weeks. She bore her long suffering with great patience, and leaves, 
besides her almost broken-hearted husband, a large circle of friends 
and relatives to mourn their loss. She was a citizen of Franklin from 
childhood, and a member of one of the best families in the county. Her 
early death is severely felt by her grief-stricken friends. 

Harlow E. Chadwick, son of Ambrose and Sarah Chadwick, mer- 
chant, Ashton, was born near Rochester, New York, June 11, 1840. 
When still an infant his parents moved to Oneida county. In 1856 
the family removed to Iowa, and remained one year, after whicii tliey 
removed to Bradford township, in Lee county. Mr. Ciiadwick is one 
of the firm of BI3' & Chadwick, engaged in business in Ashton in 1879, 
and is quite a prominent citizen. He conducted the county farm sev- 
eral years. August 14, 1862, he enlisted in the 75th 111. Inf., was with 
the regiment one year, and was tiien transferred to the veteran reserves. 
Was discharged May 20, 1865. Is a member of Odd-Fellows' Lodge, 
No. 422, and also a member of the Presbyterian church, with which ho 
united in 1879. Was married in 1866, to Miss Esther P. Starks, a 
native of Lee county. 

David Sanfoud, postmaster, Ashton, son of Salmon and Elizabeth 
Sanford, was born near Dayton, Ohio, December 25, 1820, where he 
resided until eighteen years of age, when he went to Noble county, 
Indiana, and resided nine years. Then he came to Ogle county, 
Illinois. In the spring of 1850 he went to California, and remained 
until 1857 in the gold rejjions, then returned to Oirle countv, where ho 
remained until 1862. In that year ho enlisted in the 75th 111. Inf. and 
served until the fall of 1863. In that year he came to Lee county. In 
1867 he was appointed postmaster at Ashton, and since that time has 
officiated in that capacity. Married, in 1863, Mrs. Mehetabel Oneil, a 
native of Ohio. Before his return from the army he was promoted to 
a captaincy of Co. G, and is now familiarly called " Cap." 

Henry Bly, merchant, Ashton, son of Thomas R. and Nancy Bly, 
was born in Clienango county. New York, June 9, 1827, where he 
resided until eighteen 3'ears of age; at that time he came to Light 






ABDITIONAL MATTER. 849 

House Point, Ogle county, where he was engaged in farming until 
1850. In that year he went with a party of wealth-hunters to Califor- 
nia, crossing the plains in a wagon drawn by oxen. While there he 
traveled through a large portion of the mining district, and encount- 
ered a great many difficulties and dangers that beset the paths of those- 
hardy, daring men who cast their lot in the wilds of California. Was. 
in that state fifteen months; returned by way of New York. In 185T 
was elected supervisor of Ashton township, and held the office eleven 
years. In 1853 was elected justice of the peace, and with the exception 
of a few years has held the office ever since. Is a member of Odd- 
Fellows and Masonic orders. Was married in July 1818, to Miss 
Anna J. Wood, a native of Canada. 

Melvin IIaedesty, hotel-keeper, Ashton, son of Richard and Sarali 
Hardesty, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1814. His father came 
to Ogle county in 1835, and was one of the pioneers of that county. In 
1862 Mr. Hardesty removed to Ashton, and for ten years has beea 
engaged in carriage and house painting. In 1879 he bought a hotel, 
now known as the Clifton house, and since that time has been conduct- 
ing it in addition to his other business. He was married in 1872 to 
Miss Mary Beard, a native of Brooklyn, New York. In 1865 he 
enlisted in Co. H, of the llOth 111. luf , and served si.x months. 



Edwin M. Bla.ir, farnaer and stock raiser, Ainboy, was born in 
Oneida county, New York, November 23, 1826. His parents, James 
and Fanny (Hamilton) Blair, were born and reared in Massachusetts. 
His fatlier was hotel-keeping in Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New 
York, when in 1838 (the date is erroneously given in the township 
histoi'y a year earlier) he quit the state, and coming here made a 
claim on the N.W. i and half of the S.W. ^ Sec. 29, T. 20, R. 10, 
besides somewhat more land than this which we cannot describe. This 
subject now owns 200 acres of the original claim. In 1839 the rest 
of the family, including the mother, the two daughters, Elmina and 
Caroline, and four sons, Winthrop H., Edwin M., William W. and 
Charles L. joined liim. The latter was drowned in Inlet creek in the 
autumn of 1850. Winthrop resides in Marion township, and William 
at Sandwich, De Kalb county. The eldest son, James K., stayed 
behind in the east until about 1816; he then also came and lived here, 
where he died in 1857. Mr. Bhiir was married December 24, 1854, ta 
Miss Juliet, daughter of Jacob J. Conderman, of Marion township, 
who removed there from Steuben count}'. New York, in 1851. Her 
death occurred in 1873. Siie was the mother of four children : Ida 
(dead), Frank, William J. and Ruth C. Mr. Blair was married again 



850 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

on September 2-t, 1877, to Mrs. Ruth M. Marsh (^Crowder), widow of 
Edmund Marsh. She had by her first marriage the following chil- 
dren: Nettie, Dessa, William (dead), and Albert W. Mr. Blair has 
held office most of the time since the township was organized. He 
has been deputy sheriff one term, school trustee three terms, road com- 
missioner many years, and also assessor. He is a republican, and was 
a member of the Amboy lodge of Odd-Fellows before it lapsed, in the 
time of the war. Mrs. Blair belongs to the United Brethren church, 
but was formerly a Methodist. 

Adoniram J. Tompkins, tanner, Ambo}', son of Nathaniel S. and 
Sally (Reynolds) Tompkins, was born in New York in 1831. As 
early as Mr. Tompkins can remember, his father, who was a black- 
smith, moved to Ohio and settled on a farm, where he followed his 
new calling, and worked also at his trade. Mr. Tompkins learned the 
carpenter's trade, and early in 185G came to Dunlcith, Illinois, and the 
following spring, obtaining employment from the Illinois Central rail- 
road company, worked six months as foreman. After that be had 
charge of the carpenter work on station buildings between Dunleith 
and Wapella until about 1873, when his superintendence was extended 
to Oentralia. In the spring of 1879 he quit the service of the compa- 
ny, and moved to his present farm, about two miles west of Amboy. 
Mr. Tompkins was married in 1858, to Miss Mary A. Smith, of New 
York, by whom he has three children : Walter, Elma, and Stella. Both 
parents are communicants in the Baptist church. He has been road 
commissioner of the township, and was alderman of Amboy five years. 
In politics he is a republican. 

J. Haevey Ives, senior member of the firm of Ives & Slauter, 
lumber and coal dealers, Amboy, was born in Berkshire county, Mass- 
achusetts, December 29, 1827. He was the youngest sou of John and 
Hannah (Ford) Ives, whose ancestors settled in New Haven, Connecti- 
cut, in the earl}' da^'s of the colony. Mr. Ives obtained a common 
school education, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. At the age 
of seventeen he engaged in carpenter work, and for twenty-five years 
that was his only business. On May 12, 1852, he was married, in 
West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, to Miss Antoinette I. Tobey, of that 
place, who was born March 2, 1833. They have reared one daughter, 
Clara, now Mrs. Willis Bristol, of Denver, Colorado. In December, 
1850), Mr. Ives and his family removed from the east and settled in 
Amboy, where he continued working at his trade until Jul}' 1, 1870, 
when he embarked in liis present business in partnership with D. W. 
Slauter, under the firm name of Ives ct Slauter. He has been elected 
alderman of the city three times, and is a republican politically. Him- 
self, wife and daughter are members of the Congregational church. 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 851 

Arthur P. Wasson, farmer, Ainboy, son of Lorenzo D. and 
Aurelia (Gaylord) Wasson, was born in Ainboy townsliip, May 3, 
18-1:9. In his father's family tliere were six children: Henrietta, 
Benjamin (dead), Arthur P., Andentia E., Marietta, and Joiin C- 
(dead). Mr. Wasson was married February 22, 1872, to Miss Lizzie 
M. Sprague, daughter of James Sprague, an early settler of Putnam 
county. They have the following children : Oddy, Lorenzo D., 
Arthur Guy, and Winn. We append the following interesting sketch 
of the grandfather of onr subject, his removal to the west in an early 
day, and settlement in Aniboy township. It was furnished by Mrs. 
E. DeWolf: 

Benjamin Wasson removed with his wife, formerly Elizabeth 
Hole, and five children, from Broome county, New York, to Illinois, 
in the fall of 1836. The entire journey was made with their own 
teams, and consumed forty daj's. They camped out most of the time 
after leaving New York, as they found that pleasanter than the hotel 
accommodations on the frontier at that time. For the comfort of his 
family he stopped first in Farmington, Fidton county, where a house 
was procurable. The same fall, with his eldest son, Lorenzo, he vis- 
ited the Rock river country, and made woodland claims in Palestine 
Grove, and prairie claims a mile or two north. On the latter they 
erected, during the following year, a log house. When they had the 
body of it up, an oil-cloth carpet was stretched over the top for cover- 
ing, and here the eldest daughter, Clara, not yet fifteen years old, 
kept house for her father and brother, while thej' cut the trees and 
converted them into puncheon for the floor, and shakes with which to 
cover the roof. When nightfall came, and the wolves began as usual 
to howl, the young girl used to seek shelter and safety in the covered 
wagon, drawing down the curtains closely all around, and waiting for 
the return of the men. This house, the first, I think, built on the 
prairie between Palestine and Fraidilin groves, was located about 
three-quarters of a mile northeast from the depot of the Illinois Cen- 
tral railroad, in the city of Amboy. Energy and perseverance were 
necessary to meet successfully the obstacles in the pathway of the early 
settlers, and these traits were prominent in the character of this pio- 
neer. While the pine clapboards, glass, sash and all had to be brought 
from Chicago on wagons and sleds, in a very few years a new and 
more comfortable dwelling, with other farm buildings, surrounded the 
first rude home in the then far west. To this all the family I'cmoved 
from Farmington, in 1837, and here they lived unharmed through the 
perilous banditti times. The log house remained to welcome and give 
shelter to the families of relatives and friends who came, while they 
were building abodes for themselves. In this home the youngest 



852 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

child and daughter, the writer hereof, was born in August 1839. 
Although no sign of entertainment ever hung beside the gate or door, 
the weary wayfarer was always cheerfully welcomed, and the question 
" Do you need dinner ?" or supper, as the case might be, or " Are you 
hungry?" became a habit with the ever kind and careful mother of 
the household. In 1849 the California excitement induced the old 
gentleman to take his youngest son and cross the plains. From this 
journey he never returned, but died of shagress fever while on his way 
home in February 1851. Tlie widow continued to live on the old 
place until near the end of 1863, when, to the hardships of pioneer 
life, and numerous added atHictions, her health gave way, and the old 
home was broken up. The mother followed the fortunes of the 
youngest child until May 18, 1874, when she was called from eartli to 
paradise. The older children, Lorenzo D. Wasson, Dr. Harmon Was- 
son, and Roxy Emma, wiio became Mrs. Simon Badger, all died at 
Amboy in the prime of life. The surviving children are Mrs. Clara 
Backensto, of Iowa City, Iowa ; Mr. Warren Wasson, of Carson City,. 
Nevada, and Mrs. E. DeWolf, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The eldest 
grandson, Arthur P. Wasson, owns and lives on the old farm, while 
the remaining grandchildren and great-grandchildren are scattered 
from New York to Colorado and Nevada. 



Thomas Brown, Franklin Grove, was born in Newport, Bhode 
Island, in 1820. He is the only son and youngest child of Thomas 
W. and Rebecca (Vial) Brown, whose family numbered six, five of 
whom are living. His paternal grandfather was a " revolutioner." 
His father was a tailor, and the same craft was learned by the son. In 
1839 Mr. Brown came to Lee county, in company with Erastus DoWolf, 
and soon after made a claim. In 1840 he returned to his native state, 
and in April of the following year was married to Ruth Simpson. He 
then came back to Illinois. In 1855 Mr. Brown came to the village 
of Franklin Grove, having previously lived about ten years in Lee 
Center, at "Inlet." His family are Thomas W., Robert P., Mary E., 
Harriet, and Lottie. Mr. Brown is one of those men whose good 
memory and friendly, affable nature are indispensable in collecting mat- 
ter for a work of this nature. He has lived here to see tlie great growth 
of this county, its prairies transformed into beautiful fields producing 
a wealth of golden grain, its towns and villages, churches and schools, 
scattered all over this beautiful land. 

S. A. Griswold, physician, Franklin Grove, was born in the State 
of New York, Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, in the year 1839, son 
of Justinian and Prudence S. (Dole) Griswold, both of Vermont. His 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 853 

father, a teacher by profession, had a fainil}' of one son and one daughter; 
he died when our subject was two years old. The latter, while yet a 
lad, came with his mother to Lee Center; here he attended school, and 
as soon as qnalified began teaching. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted 
in the 13th III. Inf, Co. A, Capt. Noble, 1st Lieut. Henry Dement. 
He had hardly learned the drill before he was made a hospital steward. 
He was in Missouri and Arkansas till he was mustered out, early in 
1863. He then resumed the study of medicine, which he had but just 
begun before enlisting; in 1866 graduated from the Cincinnati Physio- 
Medical Institute. In lS6-t Dr. Griswold came to Franklin Grove; 
January, 1867, he mari'ied Olive May, who died August 1873, leaving' 
one son, DeWitt E., born April 30, 1869. Mr. Griswold is a republi- 
can and a Mason ; for six years he has been a member of the town 
school board. In February of 1877 his mother died, aged seventy-three 
years, after several j'ears of married life with her third husband, Elisha 
Pratt, an early settler in Lee county. The doctor is one of those men 
who are always ready to lend a helping hand to an}' enterprise which 
tends to benefit or build np the community in which he lives, and his 
long and successful business profession in this part of the county has 
won for him a great many true friends. 



In writing the history of the early settlors of this township we find 
the Reiniiaets worthy of honorable mention. They were natives of 
Germany, and came to Lee county, Illinois, in an early day. Andrew 
Reinhart was born in Hesse Cassel in 1843. He has by hard work, 
good management, and a close attention to business, with the help of 
an industrious and fiithful wife, accumulated a large amount of prop- 
erty. His farm, about two and a half miles south of Franklin, con- 
tains over 300 acres, is one of the best in that part of the township, 
and is evidence of the thrift of its owner. Coming with his parents to 
Lee county when a small child, he was thus deprived of the advantages 
of an education except such as was afforded by the pioneer schools of 
the county. In June, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Catha- 
rine Hafenrichter, a native of New York, who was born March 7, 1845, 
and came to Illinois when about one year old. They are the parents 
of eight children, five of whom are living : Charlotte F., Anna C, 
Henry C, Elizabeth, and John F. Mr. Reinhart's parents, Crist and 
Christina Reinhart, are buried at Lee Center. 

That some families are more certainly successful than others with 
the same advantages, and by economy and industry rise to prosperity 
and wealth, is certainly illustrated by the Hansens. The two brothers, 
Henry and Harrison, are the pioneers of the family. They left their 



854 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

native home near Bangor, Maine, in the fall of 1838, arriving at Frank 
lin Grove in October, and soon alter bought a claim of Erastus DeWolf, 
a man noted for his ambition to own every good piece of land in the 
county. The boys went to work on the principle that time is money, 
and that principle has characterized them through life. They went to 
farming and opening up their new home as soon as the means could be 
raised to make the start, hauling their wheat and pork to Chicago with 
ox-teams, and selling the former sometimes as low as forty cents per 
bushel, and the latter for two and a half cents per pound, and hauling 
back lumber or such other commodities as could not be dispensed with. 
Tliese trips were made on an outlay of less than seventy-five cents in 
cash. For their milling they generally went to Aurora. In the fall of 
1840 their father, Charles Hansen, with the rest of the family, came on 
and joined them in their new home. He soon bought a farm, the one 
where his son, S. C. Hansen, now lives. Here he lived till the time of 
his death, which occurred March 20, 1869, at the age of sevent^'-nine 
years. His wife died December 4, 1878, aged nearly eighty-nine years. 
Tiiey are buried in the cemetery at Franklin Grove, and a substantial 
monument marks their last resting place. He was the youngest of two 
brothers, Fredrick and Charles, whose paternal ancestor came from 
Saxony as an officer in the commissary department of Burgoyne's army 
in the time of the revolutionary war, and at the time of the surrender 
of that noted chieftain, when the choice was given the prisoners to be 
released on parol or join the Colonial ranks, he ]>roposcd that if Gen. 
Washington would assign to him the same ])osition he held in the 
British arm^- he would take the oath of allegiance to the American 
cause, and from that time he became forage master for Gen. Washing- 
ton, and rendered very efficient service in that position till tiie close of 
the war. He was a Saxon-German, born and reared in wealth, being 
a son of a family of high rank and a learned officer of that proud na- 
tion. He died in the State of Maine, where he had married and reared 
his family. His eldest son, Fredrick, remained east, where he reared 
a family, and his second son, Charles, came to Lee county, Illinois, as 
above stated, and reared a prosperous family, which is now (ISSl) living 
in the vicinity of Franklin Grove, where they first settled. 

Sylvanus C. Hansen, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove? 
was born in the State of Maine October 17, 1825, and in 1840 came 
with his parents to Lee county, Illinois. His school advantages were 
very meager, only such as were afforded in the old subscription schools 
of pioneer history. At the age of about sixteen he became the victim 
of a protracted fever, which finally I'esulted in a fever-sore settling in 
one limb. For a time his life was despaired of, at the agp of nineteen 
not weighing 100 pounds. Soon after, however, he changed for the 






ADDITIONAL MATTER. 855 

better, and at the age of twenty-one was entirel}' restored. December 
20, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Sal)ina Fellows, of Belvi- 
dere, Boone county, Illinois. They have become the parents of five 
children : Ida C, Charles F., Lillian, Grace, and May. Mr. Hansen 
made his start by working on his father's farm as a renter. Following 
up his first start, and by hard work and good management, he has been 
successful in so much that he now owns 680 acres of good, valuable 
land, and is living on part of the old homestead one mile west of Frank- 
lin Grove. 

William Forbes, deceased, was born in North Carolina, June 20, 
1817, and was reared a farmer, with but limited educational advantages. 
In 1856 he came to Illinois and settled in Ogle county, and there en. 
gaged in fiirming. December 20, 1857, he married Miss Susan Burges, 
a native of North Carolina, who was born January 22, 1827. They 
became the parents of si.x children, four of whom are living: Mary E.^ 
wife of John H. Parker, now in Kansas; Julias, Margaret, and Caleb, 
now at home. A son died in Washington county, Kansas, March 23, 
1881, aged nearly twentj'-one years. His death was a sore affliction 
to his mother. In 1870 Mr. Forbes removed to Lee county, Illinois, 
and bought a farm in the north part of China township, and there en- 
gaged in farming till the time of his death, whicli occurred January 23, 
1873. Mrs. Forbes with her children still live on their home in this 
township. 

Hexkt W. Hillison, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, was 
born in Bradford township, Lee county, Illinois, September 12, 1850, 
and was reared on the firm. He received a liberal education. During 
his early youth he attended the common schools at home, but finished 
his education with about two years in college, or high schools. May 8, 
1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John 
and Barbara (Burnhart) Roth. They are the parents of three children : 
John H., Christian A. and William C. At the time of his marriasre 
Mr. Hillison moved on his farm of 200 acres in Sees. 26 and 36, T. 21, 
K. 10. This farm is but one of the many prosperous ones of this town- 
ship, and proves its owner to be a young man of good taste and enter- 
prise. Iti 1881 he erected one of the finest residences in the township. 
His father, Oman Hillison, a native of Norway, came to Lee county in 
an early day, and settled near Lee Center. His first residence was a 
sod house in what is now Bradford township. He died in June 1854. 
His mother, Elizabeth (Rienhart) Hillison, is by nativity a Hessian- 
German, and came to America when only fourteen years of age, and 
also became one of Lee county's early pioneers. She is still living in 
Bradford township. 

Georoe W., son of Martin and Mary (Fisher) Eastwood, was bom 



856 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

in China townsliip, Lee county, Illinois, April 1, 1846. He, like his 
father, was reared a farmer. In 1804 he enlisted in the 34th 111. Vet. 
Vol. Inf., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. De- 
cember 10, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia R., daughter 
of E. C. Thomas, Esq., of Franklin Grove. She was born in this town- 
ship August 20, 1846. They have two children, Alice M. and Byron 
E. Mr. Eastwood began life by working out by the month, but not 
with the intention of making it his business through life, but only to 
get a start, for soon after we find him on a rented farm for a short time, 
and he soon after bought a form of his own in Sec. 26, T. 21, R. 10, 
which he has finely improved, besides adding to his first purchase till 
he now owns over 20U acres, which, if no unforeseen misfortune over- 
takes him, he will soon have clear of debt. His parents came to Lee 
county in 1840, and are still living. 

Leox.\kd W. Hale is one of the few early settlers yet living in Lee 
county. He was born in the State of New York May 25, 1806. When 
he was about eighteen months old his father (Jcssee Hale) died and he 
was taken by his grandfather, who in 1812 removed to Ohio, where 
young Leonard was reared in the backwoods among the Indians, and 
well trained in all that pertains to pioneer life and hardships. At the 
age of twentv he bcijan for himself bv workin<r out bv the month, which 
he followed successfully about eight years. He then rented a dairy 
farm and after following that business about ten or twelve years had 
secured means enough to enable him to undertake to make the trip to, 
and start in, a new country, so accordingly he set out for Illinois in 
1847, bringing with him his family, a team of horses, and wagon. He 
first settled in the north part of Di.xon township, where he worked on 
rented land three years, and then removed to his present home farm 
of 160 acres in Sec. 26, T. 21, R. 10, in China township. Here he per- 
manentlv' settled and has since lived, following the business of farming 
and stock raising. December 29, 1836, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Sarah A. Crawford, a sister of the Hon. Joseph Crawford, 
of Dixon. They are the parents of six children, three of whom are 
living: Mariett, now Mrs. John C. Leake: Alvira, wife of Adam My- 
nard, and Abi, wife of Bascom Decker. When Mr. Hale began in Lee 
county, he hauled wheat that he had raised on shares to Chicago, and 
sold it for thirty-seven and a half cents per bushel. 

Thomas Gilbert, Franklin, was born in England, May 1, 1760, and 
after growing up was engaged as a shepherd, following that business 
principally through life. September 29, 1783, he was married to Sarah, 
his wife, who was born December 31, 1761. Of their children, one 
they called Junia, was born in Northamptonshire, England, June 13, 
1800, and like his father, was reared a shepiierd. May 1, 1820, he was 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 857 

united in marriage with Miss Elizabetli Cobley, who was also a native 
of England. She was born August 16, 1797. After his marriage Mr. 
Gilbert engaged in teaming and timber hauling, and was also engaged 
as a grazier. In 1859 lie set sail for America in the steamship City of 
Baltimore. For one year he stopped at Courtland in this state, and 
then came to Lee county, where he went to work on rented land near 
Franklin. He soon after bought land and farmed with his son George, 
for a number of years. Ho then sold out to George and came into the 
village of Franklin, where he now live?, at the advanced age of near 
eighty-two years. His wife died in 1S69. 

Abeaiia>[ Gilbert, son of the above parents, was born in North- 
am]itonshirc', England, November 9, 1S28. His educational advan- 
tages consisted of about one month to a day school, and the balance of 
a fair education was obtained by attending night and Sunday-school, the 
latter being taught many years by his father. At the age of twenty- 
one he enlisted in the British army, serving nearly four years, being in 
Russia in the early part of the Crimean war. In the summer of 1856 
he was married to Miss Lucy Smith, also a native of Northamptonshire, 
England, and in 1858, with his wife and family, bade farewell to his 
native land and sailed for America in the steamship Kangaroo. He 
first stopped in Kane county, Illinois, but soon after came to Lee 
county, rented land and engaged in farming, working as a renter six 
years. He then bought his present home farm in Sec. 23, T. 22, H. 10, 
in China township. To tliis he has kept adding till he now owns 320 
acres of good land, all earned bj' his own hard work and the help of 
an industrious wife. They are the parents of eight children: Caroline 
E., Laura E., Junia T., Evasta A., Joseph J., Unice L., Lucy M. and 
-Hebecca. 

Thomas Gilbert, son of James and Elizabeth Gilbert, was born in 
Northamptonshire, England, January 25, 1833. He was reared at a 
mixed business of teaming, farming, etc., and received a limited educa- 
tion in the common schools of his native place. In 1852 he sailed for 
America in the sailing ship Albert Gallatin, an American vessel. His 
first two years in America were spent in the wood business in the State 
of New York, after which he went to Chicago, and engaged in the 
railroad business, in the capacity of brakeman, fireman and engineer, 
which he followed fifteen j'ears. Part of this time was spent in the 
soutli during the war as engineer. In 1870 he bouglit land in Brad- 
ford township and engaged in farming. Recently he bought a piece 
of land in China township, south oi" Franklin, where he now lives. 
December 5, 1861, he married Miss Ellen Gorman, a native of London, 
England, who was born July 12, 1817. They are the parents of ten 
children, and are members of the Lutheran church. The children are 



858 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

George W., Abram G., John J., Cliarles A., Rosa E., Jessee P., Carrie 
M., Tliomas J., Nathan N. ani Florence G. 

George Gilbert, son of Junia and Elizabetli Gilbert, was born in 
Northamptonshire, England, November 13, 1S39, and was reared in 
the village of Warkton, engaged in attending school and teaming till 
1856. He then left his parents and native land, sailing for America in 
the vessel City of Washington. After landing iti New York he at 
once went to Ciiicago, and soon after came to Lee countv and en<raged 
in working out by the month. In 1859, his fatlier coming here, they 
farmed together, first on rented land, but later bonght a farm in Sec. 
26, T. -22, li. 10, where they continued to farm together for a number 
of years. After tbis George bought bis father out, and now owns and 
occupies the old home. He now owns over 500 acres of farming and 
pasture land, and is extensively engaged in stock raising, dealing in 
horses. He has introduced on his farm some of the best blood of Ken- 
tucky. He is also giving some attention to sheep and swine raising. 

James W. PANKiuRsr, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, 
was born in London, England, April 11, ISil. At the age of eleven 
years he quit school and went to work in a wagon shop, where be 
remained till the age of si.xteen years. He then, seeing no prospect 
for the future by remaining in the land of his birtii, set sail in the ship 
City of Washington for the United States, landing in New York in 
June 1857. He at once came on to Lee county, and soon after hired 
out to work for John Leake by the month, where he remained till the 
outbreak of the war of the rebellion. August 13, 1862, he enlisted in 
the service of his adopted country in Co. E, 75th 111. Vol. Inf. He 
was honorabl}' discharged June 30, 1865. After his return home he 
again engaged in working out by the month till 1868, when be bought* 
eighty acres of land in Sec. 27, T. 21, R. 10, and began farming for 
himself. For the four years following he lived the unenviable life of 
a bachelor, being his own cook and housekeeper. March 27, 1873, he 
married Miss Louisa, daughter of William and Atiu (Wenham) Law- 
rence, wlio was born in Sussex, England, September 15, 1849, and 
came to America in the fall of 1872. Mr. Parikhurst has by hard 
work and ecouoni}' made for himself a good home of 200 acres of land, 
which he is now improving in good shape. The success which has 
crowned the efforts of Mr. Pankhurst is but an evidence of what pluck 
and a determined will will accomplish. 

William G. Bell, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is a 
son of James and Jane (.Brown) Bell, and was born near Perth, Can- 
ada, in the Province of Ontario, April 30, 1830. He was reared on a 
farm, and followed farming, lumbering and rafting on all the great 
rivers of that romantic region of northern Canada. In 1855 he went. 



^\DDITIONAL MATTER. 859 

west as far as the borders of Lake Huron, where he remained till 1861, 
when he came on to Lee county and hired out on a farm, working faith- 
fully for what is so much coveted by a young man having a spirit of 
enterprise, independence. February 1-i, 1867, he married Miss Free- 
dom Johnson, a native of Ohio, who was born September 13, 1840, 
and came to Lee county in 1866. They have one child, Maud, born 
July 5, 1880. After his marriage Mr. Bell rented land and engaged 
in farming, at the same time turning his attention to raising hogs, 
which he made a success. In 1871 he bought eighty acres of the farm 
where he now lives, in Sec. 23, T. 22, E. 10, to which he has since 
kept adding, till he now owns 200 acres of good land in this township. 
Success will crown the efforts of faithful industry. 

LuTUEE F. Ramsdell, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is 
a son of Farrington and Sarah (Fish) Earasdell,and was born in Wash- 
ington, Orange county, Vermont, September 20,1833. He was reared 
a farmer, and educated in the common schools of his native state. 
December 2-1, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet M., 
dangliter of Eansom and Eebecca i^Darling) Eastman, who was born in 
Orange county, Yermont, January 29, 1836. After his marriage Mr. 
Eamsdell became a partner with his father in the ownership and man- 
agement ot the old homestead, and followed farming till 1868, when 
they sold out, in view of coming to Illinois to secure a home on its 
beautiful prairies. In August of that j'ear Mr. Ramsdell found him- 
self in Lee county looking about where he might suit himself in a 
piece of land on which to make a future home. After a short time he 
decided on a 160 acres in Sec. 23, T. 21, E. 10. Here he permanently 
located and engaged in farming and stock raising, making the business 
a success. That he is a man of economy, thrift and enterprise is evi- 
denced by the neat appearance of his farm and its surroundings. Even 
the wind which passes over his farm is utilized in grinding grain by 
day and night. He has one son, Ferrie E., born in Washington, Ver- 
mont, October 31, 1858. Mr. Eamsdell's father died here December 
18, 1874, and is buried in the Pines Cemetery, on the farm, and his 
mother died April 14, 1867, in Vermont, and is buried in her native 
state. Mr. Ramsdell is a descendant of one of three brothers of that 
name who came from England to America about the middle of the 
seventeenth century. 

Erskine A. Bliss, son of Austin and Unice (Pease) Bliss, was 
born near Springfield, Massachusetts, November 13, 1824. His early 
youth was spent on a farm, receiving a common school education. Also 
during the years of his minority he learned the trade of carpenter. 
January 1, 1851, he married Miss Jane C. Ferre, a native of Spring- 
field, Massachusetts. After his marriage Mr. Bliss worked at his trade 
51 



860 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTT. 

in a sash and door shop till 1853, when he came west, stopping in 
Chicago five years, where he worked in the car shops of the Rock 
Island & Chicago and Burlington & Qniucv railroads. He then, in 
1858, came to Lee county and bought land in the south end of Cliina 
township, and there engaged in farming and stock raising. This he 
followed till 1871, when he quit the farm and went to Minneapolis, 
where he engaged in railroading and the lumber business till 1881, 
when he returned to his farm. He has one son, Frank E., now 
at home on the farm. 

Prominent among the early settlers of China township now living 
is Mr. Jacob Riddel.sbaeger, who was born of true German ancestors 
in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, starch 30, 1816. He was reared a 
farmer. He had very limited means of procuring an education, though 
by close observation and e.xtensive reading he has gained a fair business 
education atid on all subjects. Pertaining to practical business he is 
one of our best posted men. In the fall of 1837 he was united in 
marriage with Miss Hannah Foreman, a daughter of Mr. Abraham 
Foreman, a second cousin, who is also of German ancestry. After his 
marriage Mr. Riddelsbarger engaged in a mixed business of farming, 
butciiering and saw-milling till 1845, when he came to Lee county, 
justly believing that on tiie broad, beautiful prairies of Illinois he 
would find ample room to bring into practice that early training which 
has characterized his principles through life. After his arrival here he 
at once bought a farm and engaged in farming and stock raising, living 
on his first farm thirty years, and then fulfilled a long-cherished desire 
to see settled on the old home one of his children. He sold out to his 
son-in-law, Mr. J. L. Miller, and built himself a residence on a little 
farm of eleven acres near Franklin Grove, and is now enjoying the 
blessings which result from a life of industry and conscientious living. 
His children are Catharine, wife of J. L. Miller; Susan M., wife of 
Peter Brechnnier, and Daniel F., now an engineer in Chicago. One 
daughter, Mary E., died in March 1880. Mr. Riddlcsbarger and 
family are members of the German Baptist church, an organization for 
which he has given liberally. 

Jacob L. Mili.kk, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is 
among the few young men who came to Lee county poor and without 
means many years ago, and have since by industry, hard work and close 
attention to business, become wealthy, prosperous, and comfortably estab- 
lished in life. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (^Lahman) Miller, and 
was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1835. He was 
reared on a farm and received a common school education. In 1854, 
in company with Samuel Lahman and family, he came to Lee county 
and hired out to work on a farm for $12.50 per month. This and car- 



ADDITIONAL MATTER. 861 

penter-work he followed till 1858, when lie rented land of H. Hansen 
and engaged in farming for himself. December 18, 1860, he married 
Miss Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Foreman) Riddlesbar- 
ger, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1841. 
In about 1861 Mr. Miller bought his first land, and after buying and 
selling two farms he bought out his father in-law and permanently 
located on Sees. 35 and 29, T. 22, R. 10, near Franklin Grove, and 
actively engaged in farming and stock raising. Of their four children 
two are living, Elmer E. and Orvil F. The parents are members of 
the German Baptist church. 

John D. Lahman, farmer and stock grower, Franklin Grove, was 
born in Mar^'land, June 22, 1834, and is the son of Christian and Eliza- 
beth (Emmert) Lahman. In 1845 his parents emigrated to Lee county, 
and with their familj' made a start in the new country. Here young 
John grew up to manhood, early educated in all that pertains to the 
principles of industry, economj', and hard work. His first start for 
himself was made by working for his father by the month at his flour 
mill on Franklin creek. This he followed three years. He then in 
company with his brother, J. C. Lahman, bought the mill of their 
father and successfully carried on the business a number of years. No- 
vember 11, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Mar}' C, 
daughter of John C. and Elizabeth (Diehl) Haughtelin, a native of 
Adams county, Pennsylvania, who was born September 20, 1840, and 
came to Lee county in 1857. They are the parents of two children 
living, Clarence W. and Vinna A. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Lahman 
moved on his present home farm, where he is permanently located and 
engaged in farming and stock raising, making graded short-horn cattle 
a specialty. His farm of 160 acres is in Sec. 26, T. 22, R. 10, and indi- 
cates its owner to be a man of industry and good taste. 

Charles Beackett, deceased, was born in Orange county, Ver- 
mont, May 9, 1799, where he lived till 1854, following the business of 
buying cattle and sheep for the Boston markets. He was first married 
to Armina Bowman, a native of Vermont, by whom he reared one 
child, who is now Mrs. Marion Bates, of Amboy. His' second mar- 
riage was to Miss Julia A. Spear, also a native of Vermont, born March 
7, 1816. In 1854 Mr. Brackett came to Illinois, and after looking 
around for some time decided to buy laud near Aurora, and accord- 
ingly bought 160 acres near town, the same land on which the seminary 
now stands. This he sold the next spring, and on receipt of a letter 
informing him that the Temperance Hill farm could be bought, he 
came at once and made the purchase. This farm is located in the 
southwest part of China township, and is said to be the highest eleva- 
tion in Lee county. Here Mr. Brackett actively engaged in farming 



862 HISTORY OF LEE COUKTY. 

and stock raising, making Spanish Merino sheep a specialty, following 
the business closely till within the last few years. He died August 14, 
1881, aad is buried in the Temperance Hill Cemetery. Besides his 
wife he left three children who were born to him by his last wife, 
Julia M., now Mrs. Dr. Charles Gardner, who removed to Dakota in 
18S1 ; Mary E., wife of Job Bates, and Charles S., who was born on 
the farm at Temperance Hill, July 29, 1860, and is now owner of the 
farm and engaged in farming and stock raising. He is an enterprising 
young man for whom we expect a successful future. He began for 
himself when about thirteen years of age by renting his father's farm. 
He now has what promises to be one of the leading farms in this part 
of tlie county. 

Ezra WiTHET, one of the early settlers of China township, was born 
in Somerset county, Maine, October 22, 1813. His parents, Isaac and 
Polly (Russell) Withey, went far back into the wilderness on the Ken- 
nebec river when Ezra was about twelve years old, and there followed 
hunting, trapping and lumbering. Here the boy was reared to the 
wild life of a hunter, chasing the moose and bear, always depending on 
his trusty rifle, and trapping the beaver, otter, sable, and other animals 
of the fur tribe. To him schools were institutions known by tradition, 
and only in later years has he seen their benign influence shed over 
our land. January 1, 1838, he married Miss Abigal Bradberry, who 
was born in Somerset county, Maine, September 15, 1811. After his 
marriage Mr. Withey engaged in enterprises of various kinds till he 
secured the means to carry him to the western prairies, green tields de- 
lightfully beautiful, and in 1847 left the wilderness of the Kennebec, 
and came by team, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, to Boston, 
and from there, b}' wa^' of Albany, Butialo, and the lakes, to Chicago, 
where he hired teams to bring himself, family and baggage to Grand 
Detour. Soon after his arrival Mr. Withey bought eighty acres of 
land on credit in Sec. 22, T. 22, R. 10. This he paid for, and has kept 
adding till he now owns a farm of four hundred and forty acres well 
improved. Mr. Withev's first team here was a yoke of oxen, which, 
howevei", he soon after exchanged for horses. In 1850 he, in company 
with his brother-in-law, bought a Pitts threshing machine (the first of 
the kind in all this part of the country) and engaged in threshing, tak 
injj for toll everv tenth bushel. This was hauled to Chicago and sold 
for 25 cents a bushel, but later, after the railroad opened up an outlet for 
the produce, they got cash for threshing and times became better. Mr. 
Withey, with his estimable lady, are now enjoying the fruits of a life of 
indiistry. They have three children : George C, on part of the farm ; 
Abigal, wife of J. L. Strock, of Franklin, and John, born Jul}' 12, 
1850, and married Mary E. Negles, January 16, 1876. The last named 



ADDITIONAL MATl'ER. 863 

was born August 6, 1856, in Grand Detour. They have two chil- 
dren, Leo J. and Clida L. 

John Seebach, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin, was born in Ger- 
many, December 30, 1836, and is the son of John S. and Anna C. See- 
bach. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools 
of his native country. Early in life he learned the trade of millwright, 
which he followed till 1855, when, in company with his brother, he set 
sail in the sailing vessel Republic for America. They landed in New 
York, but at once came on to Lee county, where he engaged in work- 
ing out on a farm by the month. This he followed two years. April 
22, 1858, he married Miss Catharine, daughter of Casper Weishar, who 
was born in Germany, April 25, 1839. They are the parents of eight 
children : Conrat, Fredrica C, Catharine E., John S., Christian, 
Charlie, Anna B. and Martha. After his marriage Mr. Seebach farmed 
on rented land for awhile with his brother, and then bought a farm in 
Bradford township, which he sold and in 1870 bought the farm he had 
long wished to own in Sec. 25, T. 21, E. 10. Since then he has bought 
another piece adjoining and now owns a fine farm of 184 acres, which 
with the help of a faithful wife and industrious family he has earned 
by hard work and careful management. 

Singleton W. Riegle, farmer and stock grower, Franklin, though 
not one of the early settlers of the county, is one who came to the 
prairie without money or means, and by industry and good manage- 
ment has made for himself a home and a name for which any man 
should have just reason to be proud. He was born in Fredrick county, 
Maryland, November 11, 1831, and in 1837 with his parents, Peter 
and Elizabeth (Wilt) Riegle, removed to Adams county, Pennsylvania. 
During his early youth his time was spent attending school. At the 
age of eighteen he began teaching, which he followed in connection 
with attending school till twenty-four years old. In 1859 he came to 
Lee count}', prospecting with a view of finding a place suited to his 
taste for farming. In the fiill of the same year he returned to Penn- 
sylvania, and on December 28, 1859, was united in marriage with Miss 
Caroline M., daughter of David and Margaret (Moritz) Herman, who 
was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1838. In the 
spring of 1860 Mr. Riegle came to Lee county, rented a farm and en- 
gaged in farming. He continued renting till 1868, when, after an ex- 
tended tour of prospecting, he finally bought land and permanently 
settled on Sec. 10, T. 21, R. 10. In 1876 he built his fine brick resi- 
dence, which adds much to improve the appearance of this part of 
China township. Mr. Riegle is farming strictly on the principle of 
feeding his produce and yearly driving it to market in live stock, thus 
constantly keeping his farm up to a high standard of cultivation. His 



864 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

home is blessed with six children : Stella M., "Willis L., Charlie P., 
Paul S., Yergie C. and Hermione E. Mr. Riegle is a member of the 
Masonic and Odd-Fellows fraternities, and himself and wife are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran church. 

JosiAH Hughes, proprietor Hughes' Hotel, Franklin Grove, was 
born in Otsego county, New York, February 17, 180S. His parents 
were William and Sallie (Dilly) Hughes, born of English ancestry. 
The subject of our sketch spent his early youtli in a cotton factory, 
where he worked prior to the invention of the lirst power loom in the 
United States. January 1, 1831, he married Miss Lydia, daughter of 
Ephraim and Lydia (Wheaton) Barry, who was born in Madison county'. 
New York, February 16, 1809. In the summer of IS-ii he gathered 
up his little means and, with his family and a team, started west, 
arriving in Chicago September 30. He at once pushed on to St. Charles, 
Illinois, where he bought a farm and engaged in farming. Tiiis he 
followed, together with teaming, selling stoves and other goods all over 
northern Illinois, till 1854, when he sold out his farm and removed' to 
Lee county, Illinois, where he bought a small farm adjoining what is 
now the village of Franklin. Here he at once engaged in the stove 
and tinware business, the first of the kind ever started iu Franklin. 
The year following he built a large stone house and engaged in hotel 
keeping. This business he has never abandoned, and is now the oldest 
landlord perhaps in Lee county, if not on the Northwestern railroad 
between Chicago and Omaha. Of his five children one onl\- is living, 
Oscar, born September 23, 1832. He is married to Mary A. Dick. 
They have one child, Minnie. Mr. Hughes is the right man in the 
right place, as his house is always an enjoyable home for all who choose 
to come. 

Robert Hullah, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove. As an 
illustration of what can be accomplished by an indomitable will and a 
determined, persevering push-ahead character, we here give a few brief 
points in the life of this worthy citizen of Lee county, who was born 
of poor but honest parents in Yorkshire, England, February 14, 1813. 
His parents were William and Elizabeth (Sugdon") Hullah, also of 
English birth. Until the age of twelve years he was principally engaged 
in attending school, after which he was put to farm labor for the space 
of three years. At this time it was determined that he should learn 
the business of cloth making, and accordingly he was put to the trade, 
which he completed in five and a half years. He then, at the age of 
twenty-one, began for himself at his trade as a hired hand, and the fall 
following his release as an apprentice married Miss Ann, daughter of 
William and Sarah Pollard, also of England. By close application to 
his business in a few years he became a jobber, but after a time, the 



ADDITIONAL MAITER. • 865 

trade becoming so poor, abandoned it and took what little money he 
had saved and embarked in a small mercantile business. He had fol- 
lowed this new enterprise but a short time when he found liimself in- 
solvent and in debt. This failure was brought on by trusting his goods 
to men whom he thought honest, but who never paid. Not discour- 
aged at finding himself again at the foot of the hill, he went to work 
and was soon (with the help of a friend) able to buy a horse and cart. 
With this he went to work at odd jobs, and was after awhile able to 
buy another horse, and so kept on until he owned a number, and then 
went into the railroad business as a contractor. This he followed for 
a number years with great success, turning his attention (after paying 
his debts) to bu3'ing real estate and building houses, till he became the 
independent owner of twenty houses, and with a fair prospect of soon 
being able to retire to private life. But unfortunately for himself lie 
again entered into the cloth manufacturing business for the purpose of 
teaching the trade to bis sons. This time he took into the business 
with him two men, friends, who in a few years swindled him out of all 
his hard-earned mone}'. Again he gathered together a little means 
and started in the old trade of cloth making for the third time. After 
following the business closely for a few 3'ears he was again successful, 
but was induced to sell his goods in India through a commission mer- 
chant, by whom he lost his all, and for the third time became bank- 
rupt. He then, in 1866, gathered together a few shillings and, with 
his family, took passage on the steamship ^Etna for the United States. 
After seventeen days' sailing tbey landed in New York, and pushed 
on to Lee count}', Illinois, where he at once rented a farm for three 
years. Thus he started in what was to him a new business in a strange 
country. Before his time expired as a renter he purchased a farm in 
Sec. 27, T. 21, K. 10, containing 160 acres, for the sum of $4,000, pay- 
ing down $25, the balance to be paid as convenient, with 10 per cent 
interest. Some years later he bought 160 acres adjoining it of L. G. 
Fish, and now, with his son, Elijah, owns one of the finest farms in 
China township. His first wife died in 1853, aged forty-two years. 
His second marriage was with Miss Mary Appelby, a native of Leeds, 
England. He has five children : Elizabeth, David and Elijah by his 
first wife, and Ruth and Josiah by his present wife. 

Adam Geim, M.D., physician and surgeon, Franklin Grove, was 
born in Green county, Pennsylvania, October 23, 1850. His early 
youth was spent working on a farm and attending school, the latter 
occupying three or four months in the winter, till 1868. He then 
commenced teaching, which he followed in connection with working 
on the farm, handling coke, coal, mining, and attending school at 
every opportunity, till he graduated from Dnfi's College, at Pittsburgh, 



866 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY. 

Pennsylvania, in 1872. He came to Newman, Douglas county, Illi- 
nois, March 1, 1876, and there commenced the study of medicine under 
the instruction of J. M. Wagner, M.D. He soon, however, found him- 
self without means, and again resorted to teaching and working on a 
farm, keeping up his studies at night. He finall}' entered Rush Med- 
ical College, at Chicago, from which he graduated February 22, 1881, 
and the next day c. tu^ m Lee county and engage. the practice of 
his profession, whicii has been marked with signal success. 



ERRATA. 



Page 623, line 18, for first letter " W " read " N." 

Page 648, line 9, for "he" read "Alcott." 

Page 700, line 23, leave out "s" from first name. 



FAMILY RECORDS. 



FAMILY RECORDS. 



867 



868 FAMILY RECORDS. 



INDEX 



Discovery and Early History 9 

Topography of Lee County 1« 

Rivers and Navigation ^~ 

Natural History ^^ 

To a Waterfowl ^" 

Geological Formations oi 

Early History %l 

The Black Hawk War ow 

The Black Hawk Canoes 50 

After the Black Hawk War 5b 

Organization of Lee County bo 

Township Organization _?! 

Progress and Development 7^ 

Internal Improvements 7b 

Navigation '° 

County Buildings ^i 

Religious Progress ^* 

Crime J" 

City of Dixon j" j 

City Organization Ill 

Dixon Papers ]]' 

Dixon Schools •■ • • ji^ 

Dixon Hotels 1-^ 

Bridges ]-l 

City Churches I5O 

Other Societiei ]?° 

Fire Department ]f^ 

Disasters Iff 

Manufacturing Interests 14^ 

Founder of Dixon . . .■ 12q 

Lee County Volunteers lo^ 

Patriotism at Home l^^ 

Dixon Township • 1^^ 

Town Officers of Dixon Township. . . lib 
Old Settlers' Record of Dixon and 

Vicinity m 

Dixon Volunteers |^^ 

'Biographical }°:' 

Nathan Moorhouse ■ 1°^ 

William W, Bethea, James Goble . . IW) 
Mahlon P. Burket, John Courtwright 191 

Uaac Means, Walter Little 193 

Lorenzo Wood IJ^ 

JamesC.Mead 194 

Theron Cumins 1;^5 

Sherwood Dixon A* ■„■,"" V ' ' \n^ 

Jonathan N. Hills, James B. Charters 197 

John D. Crabtree ■ • ...•.••• 19» 

Samuel C. Eells, Wm. H. Van Epps. 199 

William Barge, Jason C. Ayres 200 

John V. Thomas 201 

Eugene Pinckney, Henry P. Becker . 202 

Abalino C. Bardwell ^0-^ 

A. C. Warner, George Steel 204 

Isaac S. Boardman 207 



Joseph Utley, John V. Eustace ... .208 

Lester D. Pitcher ;••■•••■ • • ,■ ' fJi 

Daniel B. McKenney, John Dysart. . -10 

Frank W. Little, Elias Bovey ^11 

Obadiah Downing -]}. 

Henry T.Noble ■■ 31d 

Josiah P. Dana. B.F.Shaw 215 

John Dement • ■.- • ~!:' 

W. W. Heaton, Luke Hitchcock. ... ^i» 

William Uhl 220 

David Welty ■ • • • • *Xi 

C. W. Latimer, T. P. Hodnett --^ 

G. W. J. Brown, W. H. Godfrey. . . . -^5 

Oliver Everett ; • W 'f," 5~w 

W. McL. Wadsworth, J. B. Pomeroy 3^7 
0. F. Avres, M. Dornan, J. G. Fleck 228 
W. W. "Waters, 0. B. Blaekman. . . . 2~y 

J. A. Hawley ■ ^f^ 

W. W. Wynn, C. F. Emerson ^si 

C. A. Davis, Horace Preston ~;5- 

Jacob Brubaker *°2 

S. K. Upham, Nicholas Plem ^^4 

Samuel Shaw, Henry D. Dement. . . . jAO 

Thomas McCune, J. B. Brooks ^^^ 

Ezra Emmert %?' 

D.B. Ayres, E.C.Smith -^sS 

C. A. Todd, Josiah Fry -^^ 

Charles Dement • f.-! 

C. A. Dement, John Coffey -*" 

Wm. Plein ifi 

Geo. G. Rosbrook •% 

Sublette Township f*1 

Early Settlements ^*4 

Township Organization ^*' 

Masonic - Z^ 

Churches and Schools ^ou 

War Record ^^d 

Biographical 

Jonathan Peterson 

Charlotte (F.) Baird 

Wm. Dexter ^52 

Alpheus H. Clink • -. f' 

Alpheus Crawford, E. M. Lewis ^o» 

'^ F. Swartwout, A. L. Swartwout . 2bl 



254.^ 

254 

255 



262 



N. 

C. H. ingalla 

Sherman L. Hatch *bd 

Joel Cook fJt 

W. W. Ireland, E. W. Patten 265 

A. L. Wilder 266 

Mrs. Harriet L. Gardner. . .^. . . . ■ • . ^e» 
Frank Thompson, Prescott Bartlett. . 2b( 

FMward Fessenden . . ■ • • • ■ 2bS 

Warren Clarke, J. D. TourtiUott ... 270 

Newton Stanard 271 

S. F. Baird, C. D. Hubbard 272 



870 



INDEX. 



James Black, C. M. Miller 273 

0. A. Wood, J. C. Spielman 274 

Jacob Richert 275 

C. Biester, J. H. Schwoub 276 

F. Oberhelman 276 

Elijah Austin, S. D. Reniff 277 

T. S. Angler 278 

Philip Fauble 279 

Amboy Township 279 

Squatters' Association 284 

Banditti 296 

Ortjanization 302 

Public Improvements 303 

Schools 305 

Religious 306 

Binghamton 310 

Rocky Ford and Shelburn 313 

City of Amboy 314 

Incorporation 321 

Illinois Central Railroad Buildings.. 324 

Fires 329 

Education 332 

Churches 334 

Orj^anizations 343 

Temperance 350 

Journalism in Amboy 353 

Tornado 354 

-Biographical 359 

Joseph B. Appleton 359 

Samuel E. Appleton 360 

Elisha Manning, Charles A. Wilcox. 363 

Alfred H. Egan, John B. Kelker. ... 364 

Lyman C. Wheat 365 

Calvin D. Vaughn, Henrv E. Badger 368 

Chester Badger ". 367 

F. R. Dutcher, John C. Church 368 

The Little Family, E. R. Travers. ... 369 

W. H. Badger 371 

Isaac Edwards 371 

R. H. Mellen, Lemuel Bourne 372 

E. E. Chase 372 

J. B. Graves, D. W. Slauter 373 

C. M. Butler, W. B. Stuart 374 

A. W. Spafard 375 

E. A. WilcOK, John Gunning 376 

W. H. McGraw, I. S. Smith 377 

H.T. Ford 378 

Charles Tait, C. H. Marston 379 

H. S. Wvman, C. C. Stone 380 

William B. Andrus 381 

Simon Badger .382 

0. A. Comstock. A. J. Poland SSS 

Philip Flack, G. H. McFatrich 384 

C. W. Bell, a. W. Freeman 385 

J. E. Lewis 386 

C. W. Deming, J. Slauter, F. J. Mer- 

row 387 

J. H. Long 388 

B. Smith, G. F. Morgan 389 

A. K. Merwine, R. W. Rosier 390 

M. Egan, B. B. Howard 891 

E. S. Reynolds, H. Chapin, F. F. 

Northway 392 

John Trude 393 

H. A. Millard, A. H. Wooster 394 

A. B. Searles 397 

Caroline A. Bartlett 398 



; D. S. Clark, W. N. Fasoldt 

M. Maus 

, W. H. Hale 

J. M. Blocher 

0. Spangler 

J . H. Preston ... 

I George Ryon 

I Lewis Clapp 

W. E. Ives, C. D. Diion 

John Hook 

C. M. Robbins, Jacob Luce 

Jason Chamberlain 

I C. F. Bridgman 

I S. W. Holmes, G. D. Baird 

X. Burnham, 0. M. Clark 

I F. H. Chapin, H. C. Shaw 

I B. Treadwell, W. I. Fish, D. C. Badger 
I n. Pet ticrew, W. H. Dresser 

I 'arl Hegert 

hee Center Township 

' Village of Lee Center 

' Churches 

\ Robberies, Casualties 

Biographical 

C. F. Ingalls 

L. B. Rix, E, Morey, J. Derr, M. Crom- 
I bie 

T. Nicholson, 0. M. Lewie. S. Trow- 
' bridge, L. Corapton, C. Wellman. . 
, L. C. Sawyer, W. Salsbury, E. Wood- 
bridge 

V. Bliss 

J. Wedlock, W. D. Clink, J. W. Win- 
bolt, E. Whitney, J. A. Hodges. . . . 

S. Shaw, J. W. D. Blake, C. E. Loomis, 

Brooklyn Township 

Villages 

War Record 

Biographical 

J. P. Johnston 

P. Miller, H. H. Miller, S. P. Fairchilds 

A. V. Christiance, A. Gilmore, 0. P. 
Johnston 

B. F. Holdren.J.F. Clapp 

J. W. Dorn, J. P. Anglemier, S. W. 

Carnahan, T. D. Yocum 

S. .\rgraves, M. M. Avery 

A. J. Carnahan, L. Compton, H. Car- 
nahan, D. Holdren 

^Nelson Township 

Biographical 

A. Coggswell, W. Groover, W. Covert, 

C. F.Hubbard, S. Stone 

J. Harden, L. F. Long, A. Hubbard. . 

\Elijah Walker 

"^ Harmon Township 

Biographical 

S. Ackert, G. W.Hill 

J. T. Swan, T. Sutton, A. C. Welch, 
W. E. Mechem, L. Hullinger 

W.H.Allen 

.A.Berlin, A.B.Smith, J. Hetler 

■'Bradford Township 

Biographical 

W. S. Frost ■. 

W. S. Frost, Ira Brewer 

L.T. Wellman 



i)i 



399 

400 

400 

401 

402 

402 

403 

404 

405 

406 

407 

408 

409 

410 

411 

412 

413 

414 

415 

415 

417 

418 

419 

420. 

420 

421 

422 

423 

423 

424 
425 
426 

427 
428 

428" 

428 

431 

432 
433 

434 
435 

436 

437 

439 

4;^9 

440 

441 

442 

442 

443 < 

443 

444 

445 

446 

447 

450- 

450 

451 

452 



INDEX. 



871 



H. A.Williamson. P. Runyan 453 

P. Eisenberg, L. Baldwin 454 

Catherine E. Aschenbrenner 454 

R. Gross, 0. Reinluirt 455 

B. Albrecht, E. W. Pomeroy 459 

South Dixon Township 457 

Schools 458 

Literary and Debating Societies 459 

«^EIdena Vilhige 400 

.^Biographical 460 

Abram Brown 460 

Daniel Brown 461 

Jacob Groh, 0. E. Fellows 462 

W. J. Fritz, H. Uhl 465 

E. Fritz, D. W. Bailey, J. MostoUer, 
Isaac Seitz 466 

jT. Glessner, J. Senneff 467 

^May Township 468 

^ Biographical 470 

John McGinn, Peter Lannen 470 

John Darcy. P. McCann 471 

Andrew Kessler 473 

J. G. Hall, G. Ash 473 

S. W. Avery, T. Boyd 474 

H. Fitzpatrick 475 

P. McMahon, W. Cullen 470 

,M. Barron. W. Dolan 477 

.^^ HMarion Township 478 

-^ Biographical 479 

Geo. Keith, A. McCrystal, B. Brooks, 479 

C. E. Abell, J. R. Hawkins, F. H. 

) Church 480 

"Talmyra Township 480 

Early History 482 

Prairieville 488 

^Biographical 489 

J. C. Jacobs 489 

John H. Page and family 491 

F. N. Parks 493 

G. A. Tucker, W. A. Kintner, W. L. 
Rogers 494 

M. D. Hubbard, C. F. Furley 495 

T. Wilson, M. W. Brauer, W. Mc- 

Gattey 496 

S. T. Martin, H. E. Johnson 499 

C. Lawton, J. P.Goodrich. C. A.Guyot 500 

S. R. Rutt, B. Stauffer 501 

H. S. Fischer, E. Hughes 503 

H. Decker, Diana Warn, J. H. Mc- 

Wethy 504 

D. A. Holly 505 

E. H. Johnson 505 

C. A. Martin. A. Goodwin 506 

J. Martin, M. Schick 507 

J. L. Lord, C. A. Becker 508 

W. Myers, E. B. Chase 509 

J. L. Klostermann, G. Rickert 510 

J. F. Stager, J. T. Lawrence 511 

C. B. Thummel, A. E. Thummel, 

A. A. Beede 512 

F. Hutton, D.G. Book 513 

A. Harms, R. E. Johnson, H. Miller. . 514 

B.Miller, A. R. Rutt 515 

R. C. Peck, W. Seavey, T. A. Butler. . 516 

,E. A. Hughes 517 

■^ Nachusa Township 517 

Early SettlemenU 518 



Village of Nachusa 531 

Churches 523 

Biographical 523 - 

Jonathan Depuy 533 

J. A. Heaton 524 

Z. T. Stover, D. Johnson 525 

W. W. Darker, S. Crawford 526 

W. H. Fiscel, J. P. Brubaker 527 

B. Kesler and family 528 

J.Hill 530 

A. P. Dysart". 530 

W. C. Dysart, W. Dysart 533 

John Leake 534 

Thomas Leake 535 

J. C. Leake, H. Wingert, J. W. Win- 

gert 536 

J. Wingert, J. Heckman, D. N. Strat- 

ton 537 

S. Miller. J. B. Eicholtz 538 

S. A. Bender, J. Atkinson, S. Boyer. . 539 

C. Burkett, E. Hart 540 

F.Miller, J. M.Allwood 541 

J. M. Crawford, J. H. Abbott 542 

L Brink, J, R, Merrill 543 

William Garrison -i-H 

The Hausen family 544 

G. Palmer, J. H. Burkett 545 

J. Wertman, T. J. Wertman, W. 

Brandon 546 

J. Emmert, M McNeel 547 

J. Eicholtz, J. Hittle. 548 

C. Harrington, J. Garrison 549 

A. Depuy, G. J. Hitt, H. Bothe 5.50 

I I. Slothower 551 

Alto Township 551 

Organization 552 

Creameries 553 

Schools, Churches, Lodges 554 

Steward 555 

Biographical 557 ■ 

Wesley Steward 557 

Gardner W. Thompson 557 

T. J. Lawton 558 

W. H. Tibals, H. P. Ely, J. P. Bly. . . 559 

V. W. Wells, M. L. Barnett 560 

0. I. Selgelid, V. A. Billion, J. Sever- 

son, J. J. Patterson 561 

W. E. Hemenway, A. H. Todd, M. 

Miller 562 

M. Cook. H. Southard, C. B. Davis. . 563 
W. T. Preston, H. W. Dunning, Caro- 
line Hill 564 

C. Osmundson, W. S. Herrick 567 

H. Van Patten, W. F. Carpenter. ... 568 

Ut. F. Henning, H. A. Robinson 569 

rleynolds Township 569 

Organization 570 

Churches 571 

Biographical 572 ■ 

Martha E. Sandbrock, M. Wagner. . . 573 

J. Trotter, G. Boley .574 

C. Gooch, Margaret Vaupel 575 

J. Griese, E. Wiener, H. Speak 576 

J. A. Griese, Lydia A. Horton 577 

^China Township 578 

Tragedy, Schools 581 

Organization 582 



872 



INDEX. 



Military 583 

Fianklin Grove 584 

Incorporation 586 

Secret Societies 588 

Religious 590 

^ Schools 593 

^"Biofjrraphical 594 

Nathan Whitney 594 

A. R. Whitney, W. Dysart 595 

S. Dysart, B. F. Uysart 596 

A. Hussey, G. H. Taylor 597 

U. C. Roe 598 

C. Darkes, E. A. Wood 601 

H. A. Black, T. W. Scott 602 

W. C. Robinson, D. R. Minor 603 

D. K. Lahman, I. Zug 604 

J. D. Sitts. D. B. Senger, J. Hughe*. . 605 

G. F. Fishback, J. L. Strock, J. Blocher 606 

L. M. Blaisdell, 0. G. Smith 607 

Joshua Lahraan, Joseph Lahman. . . . 608 

G.W.Hewitt 609 

J. Leake, W. Graves 010 

•tV^iola Township 611 

Schools 612 

Officers 613 

-^Biographical 613 

M. W. Harrington 613 

Catharine J. Gray 614 

W. W. Gilmore 614 

Margaretta H. Barr 614 

M. B. Van Campen, J. M. Abell .... 614 

C. F. Van Patten 615 

J. Merrill. B. F.Johnson, E. Adrian. . 616 

H. B. Cobb, C. Noe 619 

Ashton Township 620 

Ashton Bank 622 

N. A. Petrie and S. F. Mills 623 

S. Beach, J. King 624 

P. Plantz. M. Beach 625 

Riley Paddock, E, Anderson 626 

•H. Saunders, A. A. Heckart, J. A. An- 

drus 627 

Hamilton Township 628 

Schools 630 

East Grove Township 631 

Wyoming Township 640 

Incidents 655 

Patriotism 658 

Tragedies 659 

Schools 084 

Pioneer Preachers, Postnffice 6()0 

Organization and Statistics 667 

Paw Paw 668 

Newspapers 675 

Churches 676 

Sunday Schools 678 

Fraternal Organizations 678 

Phj-sicians 681 

An .\merican Elephant 683 

East Paw Paw 684 

South Paw Paw 687 

' Biographical 692 

.Tohn ColviU 692 

William Mc.Mahan 693 

Israel F. Hallock 694 

J. Rosenberger, A. B. Clapp 695 

0. W. Bryant 696 



Daniel Pine 698 

John Edwards 699 

Almeron Potter, E. A. Stanton 700 

J. Beemer, F. M. Case 701 

W. M. Strader 702 

J. Baker, F. E. Rogers 704 

A. Merriman, A. May 705 

Lowren Sprague 706 

I. E. Hunt 709 

J. H. Braffet 709 

T. D. Palmer. A. H. Rosenkrans. .. . 710 
H. L. Roberts, W. P Hampton 711 

B. J. Agler 712 

A Florence, C. Quackenbush 713 

T. W. .Marble 714 

0. Marble, H. D. Merwine 715 

A. R. Harp 716 

J. Little, G. S. Hunt 717 

Ira Baker 718 

J. B. Briggs 719 

S. A. Abbott 720 

M. R. Reams. A. Field, A. Siglin ... 721 

5. C. Mitchell 722 

J. Patrick, A. Prentice 723 

G. W. Miller, A. C. Radley 724 

N. Lane, F. H. Chaffe 727 

L. Potter, J. Brittain 728 

W. J. Brittain, W. Mayor, L. Jones. 729 

W. A. Pratt 730 

J. Hendershot, S. Bunker 731 

J. N. Jacoby, H. Lewis 732 

6. W. Lindsey, W. M. Geddes 733 

J. W. Mayor. 734 

W. C. Bryant, Pierce & Barringer . . 735 

E. Swarthout, W. C. Runy.m 736 

William Merrell 737 

H. H. Harrington, T. H. Stetler .... 738 

G. T. Noe, B. J. Wheeler 739 

A. G. Fowler 740 

.Tesse Brittain 741 

C. Pierce, J. H. Thompson 743 

John .-Vllen 745 

Mrs. Susan P. Detamore 747 

W. M. Sproul 747 

W. Motfiitt & Bro., J. Buchanan. . . . 749 

John Harding 750 

E.G.Cass 7.52 

J. Fonda, J. Epla 753 

Lester Harding 754 

D. M. Harris 755 

W. A. Conant, I. B. Berry 756 

Willow Creek Township 757 

Germans, Norwegians 766 

Pioneer Facts 768 

Educational 770 

Po.st-offices, Pioneer Worship 772 

I'olitical and War History 77S 

Tornado 776 

Country Churches 778 

Village of Lee 783 

Biographical 786 ■ 

Robert Smith 786 

David Smith 788 

N. A. Nettleton 789 

L. M. Fairchild, L. E. Durin 790 

E. W. Holton 791 

D. Davenport, A. Glasspoole 792 



INDEX. 



873 



C. Vandeventer 793 

J.C. Hewlett 794 

H. G. Hewlett 795 

S. W. Weeks, W. H. Bryant 797 

0. G. Jelle, Edwin Edwards 798 

William Grove, L. P. Boyd 799 

John Yetter 800 

G. L. Erbes, George Erbes 801 

0. W. Oleson, Amund Hilleson 803 

Henry Barnhard, R. J. Thompson . . . 803 

J. B. Fisher, W. Dunkelberger 804 

L. P. Smith, H. L. Hilleson 805 

J. E. Miller, Andrew Stubbs 806 

Nathaniel C. Allen 807 

Noah W. Davenport 808 

.G. A. Brittain, S. Vosburgh 809 

Thomas Nelson, C. B. Bacon 810 

Lars Larsen Risetter 811 

Henry Stevens 813 

Jacob Edwards, S. B. Miller 813 

Ralph Kettley, James Thompson .... 814 

Patrick H. Daugherty 815 

Adam Miller, 0. J. Heng 816 

George Mullins 817 

Charles Childs 818 

Additional Matter 819 

John W. Wodsworth 819 

James Santee, D. R. Bowles 830 

B. B. Higgins, J. A. Wernick 831 

E. B. Stilae 883 

Richard B. Loveland 833 

J. M. Santee, The Hetlers 824 

Jeremiah Hetler, T. J. Buckaloo .... 835 

S. Fuller, W. Depuy 836 

Joseph Crawford 837 

N. A. Cortright, W. P. Cortright. . . 838 

J. B. DiUe 838 

C. C. Hunt 829 

D. W. McKenney, P. Atkins, J. Hess 833 



G. M. Berkley 834 

H. C. Higgins, J. W. Reardon 835 

Harriet Garrison 835 

Alex. Charters, H. C. Brookner 836 

E. H. & D. B. Raymond 837 

H. E. Williams 837 

B. W. Harnish, R. J. Drynan 838 

F. Seavey 838 

W. W. Tilton 839 

Abijah Powers 839 

C. H. Hughes, John B. Wyman .... 841 

P. H. Shock 843 

Daniel Reichart, H. P. Parks 844 

James L. McGinnis 845 

P. L. Brecunier, T. Paddock 846 

J. C. Bowers, Kincaid Runyan 847 

H. E. Chadwick, D. Sanford, H. Bly, 848 

M. Hardesty, E. M. Blair 849 

A. J. Tompkins, J. H. Ives 850 

A. P. Wasson, B. Wasson 851 

T. Brown, S. A. Griswold 853 

The Reinharts, The Hansens 853 

S. C. Hansen 854 

W. Forbes, H. W. Hillison 855 

G. W. Martin 855 

L. W. Hale, Thomas Gilbert 856 

A. Gilbert, Thomas Gilbert 857 

G. Gilbert, J. W. Pankhurst 858 

W. G.Bell 858 

L. F. Ramsdell, E. A. Bliss 859 

Jacob Riddelsbarger, J. L. Miller . . . 860 

J. D. Lahman, Charles Brackett .... 861 

Ezra Withey 862 

J. Seebach, S. W. Riegle 863 

Josiah Hughes, Robert Hullah 864 

Adam Grim 865 

Errata 866 

Family Records 866 



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